23. Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two

Skyla

T he next morning, I can hardly walk. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I am so fucking sore it’s crazy. Not to mention the way my back is absolutely wrecked from sleeping on the floor all night. I guess someone could have slept in the bed and another on the couch, but it felt too right to all be together. I’m kind of regretting that choice now, though.

When I woke up, the kitchen counter was filled with snacks from Wesley’s bag. I chose a protein bar and a piece of bread before drinking a little more water and getting dressed. The blizzard has died down to a barely there snowfall, and the light streaming through the windows gives us a little hope. Still, no clue how we are going to get off this mountain. I’m just going to try not to die in the process this time.

Once we are all dressed, we say goodbye to our safe haven shack. Without it, there is no doubt we all would have frozen to death last night. It also doesn’t hurt that we made some good memories in it, ones that will definitely be living rent free in my head until the end of time.

We strap into our boards as soon as we step outside, the cold already biting its way through our clothes.

“Alright, everyone, stay safe. Stay together. Let’s try to head east back towards the lodge or at least as close as we can,” Wesley says as he pulls out a compass like the boy scout Ronan accused him of being.

Everyone nods as we pull on our goggles, and Vincent comes over to me, cupping my face in his hands before delivering a bruising kiss to my lips. When he pulls away, his tone is firm and harsh.

“No more giving me a goddamn heart attack, siren. If you feel like you’re going too fast, turn sideways. If you’re going slow enough, fall on your ass, alright?”

I nod my head. “I promise.”

“Good,” he says before giving me one more peck. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“And I’ll be right beside you,” Liam says. “After all, I am the one who saved both of your asses yesterday with my sick ass skills.”

Liam flexes his arms, kissing his bicep in a way that has everyone groaning and rolling their eyes. Vincent smacks the back of his head as Wesley pushes off.

“Let’s go,” he says as he leads the way.

Asher follows after him, followed by me, Liam, Vincent, and Ronan. It is so much easier without the intense wind, the blinding snow, and the panic that was practically clouding my vision. We keep the pace nice and easy, and when I feel like I’m going too fast, I move my board sideways, and I slow right down. One time, I got a little wobbly and almost took Liam down with me, but we’re fine; everything is fine.

It takes us about fifteen minutes, but finally, we find our way back onto the main slope that I deviated from in the first place. Relief practically pounds inside me when I see the bottom of the mountain. I love the snow so much, but from the inside of a cabin or a car or something. I’ve tried snowboarding and almost got everyone I love killed. I think we are going to chalk it up to it being not for me.

When we get to the bottom of the hill, we all unclip ourselves from our snowboards and hand them to a couple of attendants before grabbing our boots. Ronan heads inside to oversee everything is taken care of while the rest of us head for the car. Wesley already turned it on and has the heat going before we even get to it, so when we slide in, it’s nice and warm.

I practically sink into the back seat between Liam and Asher, their arms wrapping around me as Vincent slides into the middle and Wesley into the driver’s seat. Ronan comes out only a minute or so later, and when the door shuts, Liam shouts into the car.

“Let’s get the fuck off this mountain!”

Hear, hear.

We spent the next few days in a lot more relaxing ways. We watched Christmas movies, drank buckets of cider and hot chocolate, ate so much delicious food, thanks to Ronan and Wesley, and fucked practically nonstop. If I thought I was sore on that mountain, it has nothing on how I feel on our drive home.

Christmas came and went; we all slept in on Christmas morning and sat around the tree. There was no gift exchange, apart from Liam handing out hand scribbled one oral session coupons to everyone. Vincent crumbled his up so fast and threw it at Liam’s head before he could even walk away. However, I noticed not just Asher tuck his away, but Wesley too. Liam must have made a good impression. Even Ronan didn’t trash his, which took me by surprise.

Since we came down from the mountain, there hasn’t been anything remotely flirtatious or sexual between Ronan and Wesley. Somehow, I truly think the nature of their relationship is physical. Heat of the moment kind of thing. Obviously, I’m not going to pry and possibly put pressure on a delicate situation, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed. I love watching Asher and Liam’s relationship bloom.

Each night, I spent the night in someone else’s bed, but every night, Liam and Asher shared their own. I even asked Liam this morning if they had sex just the two of them, and he said they hadn’t, no particular reason, just that the moment hadn’t come yet. I wanted to ask why the hell not, because when we were all together, it was like goddamn fireworks, but again, I left it alone.

It was hard to say goodbye to the cabin. I begged Ronan to rent it again next year and the year after that. I want to spend every Christmas here, every holiday. It feels like…home. More than any home I’ve ever lived in has felt.

Now, we’re almost back to Salem, and like a lead ball, something heavy and foreboding drops into my stomach. My chest tightens and it becomes harder to breathe the closer we get to city limits. It was a nice little break from reality while it lasted, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

As soon as we got home, Vincent changed into a new pair of clothes, kissed me and hopped on his bike to take off. He said that he had some work to do and that he’d be gone for a few days. I’m not going to lie; I hate that I don’t know all that he does. Mainly that, I don’t know where he goes. Obviously, what he’s doing is dangerous. It’s how his parents died; how many eliminators before him have no doubt died. The thought of losing him is…I can’t think about it.

We spent the evening unpacking and getting settled in the house again. Ronan and Wesley have all but moved in, each of them taking up residence in a room at the house, which seems to be fine by Asher and is obviously preferred by me.

The next morning, Wesley drives me to school like usual, except this time, Asher and Liam accompany me. I steal a quick kiss from Wesley behind the tinted windows before he parks upfront.

When we get out of the car, Liam and I are holding hands while Asher walks with his arm around my shoulder. Everyone is staring and whispering, rightfully so, I suppose, and I know we should probably be more discreet. Then again, it’s not like Christopher doesn’t already know and approve, at least of the whole ‘them fucking the same woman’ thing. The whole love bit would be our downfall, honestly, but for some reason, I don’t fear him, not as much as I used to. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be seen all over Vincent, Ronan, and Wesley to top it off. I do have a little thing called self-preservation.

We are walking through campus when a body comes charging at us out of nowhere. We all are slow to react, and they collide right into me, a familiar voice ringing in my ears.

“I missed you bitch! Where have you been? I called you like a hundred times this weekend alone,” Maggie says.

“Oh, sorry about that. We were up in New Hampshire for Christmas; it was a busy weekend,” I say with a small smile as I glance at Asher and Liam, both watching me with their own guarded smiles.

“Based on those smirks, I’d say busy is short for filthy, and you know I want all the details. Thank you for hand delivering my bestie, boys, but your services are no longer required.” Maggie grins as she drags me away from the guys.

“What the fuck?” Asher growls as Liam rests a hand on his chest, telling him to relax.

Asher pushes him off quickly, looking around for a moment before his shoulders relax. I smile sadly at them, hating that they have to adjust their dynamics once more. They can’t just be who they are, who they want to be here. Not with all of these eyes, all of these whispers. We are back to reality, and in the Brethren…with Christopher as his father…it wouldn’t go over well.

“Sooo, give me the horny details. I can feel something vibing between Asher and Liam, are they fucking yet?”

“Shhh,” I hiss as I cast a look around us.

Maggie’s eyes are the size of saucers, her mouth parted as she stares at me.

“Holy fucking shit. I was just teasing. No way, Asher is gay?”

“SHH!” I say once more, rolling my eyes as we step into our first class. “Jesus, you’re so loud. We will talk later, but not here.”

“Okay, cranky,” she huffs. “Have you had an orgasm yet? No one can be cranky if they’ve come. Want me to help you out?” she says with a waggle of her fingers and a raise of her eyebrows.

I laugh at that. “Nooo, thank you. My roster is officially fullll.”

Maggie faux pouts before she glances around the room and lowers her voice.

“Well, between you and me…so is mine.”

I raise my eyebrows at her in surprise.

“Oh really? Do tell.”

“You know Maryia Sewall?”

I think for a moment. “That girl you hooked up with at the back to school bonfire?”

She points at me and nods.

“We’re sort of dating,” Maggie shrugs, a blush touching her cheeks.

My mouth drops as I shove her softly.

“Mags! Since when? Wait. Now you give me all the horny details.” I tease.

Maggie smirks. “Don’t think I won’t. We’ve fucked around a few times since the bonfire; for a while, I thought she was just experimenting with me, you know? Which was fine since I was still hung up on…you know.”

Bridgette.

I nod as she continues.

“But her family came over to my place for our Christmas Eve party. We spent some time together, and she admitted that she’s had a crush on me for a while and wanted to see where things led. I mean, both of our futures are pretty bleak, but we’re happy. Plus, she has one of the most delicious cunts I’ve ever tasted, and when I get her to squirt I—”

“Okay, maybe that’s enough horny details.” I laugh.

Maggie rolls her eyes and nods, but I don’t miss the brief flicker of sadness that comes over her.

“What does Bridgette think? Of you and your girlfriend?” I test.

Maggie’s head whips up, and she shrugs.

“That I’m disgusting, that it’s a sin. That she doesn’t want to be within ten feet of me, or she’s worried she’ll catch a disease.”

I frown at that. “Are you sure that’s actually how she feels or just what she’s saying because she’s scared?”

“Scared of what?” Maggie complains as she tosses her hands out by her side. “I’ve been patient, so fucking patient. Every fucking time with her, it’s like one step forward, three steps back. I’m done.”

Maggie shakes her head, opening her mouth to speak before closing it once more.

“Maryia is good for me. She makes me happy. I make her happy. We are good together. Not some toxic forbidden bullshit. I like Maryia ,” she says, emphasizing her name like it’s for her benefit. Like she is forcing her heart to believe what her head wants so badly. If I’ve learned anything, though, it’s that the heart wants what it wants, no matter who or how many. We don’t get to choose…it…it chooses us.

Liam jogs into class, followed by an older man I’ve never seen before. The man settles in at the desk in the front of the room as Liam comes up the steps, scooching into his normal spot beside me. I smile at him, and he winks at me before squeezing my knee. Someone else also darts in at the last second. Andrew Hutchinson.

His head is down, hair a frazzled mess as he quickly takes a seat in the front row. Liam and I share a curious look before the professor calls our attention.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Professor Danforth. I’ll be taking over this class.”

Taking over because Professor Corwin is gone. Because he was beaten half to death by two of my boyfriends before the sweet golden retriever boyfriend to my left squished his head like a grape with a lamp, and my other boyfriend burned his body to a crisp.

God.

That feels like it’s been months since that happened, when in reality, it’s been weeks.

Disassociation for the win, I suppose.