Chapter Nine
Later that eveningI sit at the table with the brothers, swallowing down the rising sickness I feel and trying to act like nothing’s thematter.
“You not hungry, Louisa?” Hudson asks, pointing to my half-eatenlasagne.
I plop my fork on the plate, giving up on trying to eat. “Nope, I’m not feeling that great. I don’t have an appetitetonight.”
“Do you think you’re coming down with something?” Bryce asks, a look of concern on his handsomeface.
“Nope, just a cold or something. I feel a bit bunged up, shivery. I’ll be fine with some paracetamol and an early night,” I say, ending the conversation. They eat the rest of their meal and talk about their day on the slopes, every now and then giving me surreptitious looks. I pretend not to notice. As soon as they are all finished, Hudson gets up and starts clearing thetable.
“Hey, you don’t need to do that,” I say, placing my hand on his arm. His eyes flick up and I snatch my hand away, the skin of my palms burning from thecontact.
“We want to,” Bryce says, looking between me and Hudson. “It’s about time we took care of you.” He’s doing that sexy thing with his voice again and it's distracting me. I look at Max helplessly, but he too has a strange look on his face like he’s about to do somethingsilly.
“Erm, thanks. I’m just going to sit on the sofa, watch a movie then. Have fun thisevening.”
“You shouldn’t be alone if you’re unwell. One of us will keep you company,” Hudson says from his spot in thekitchen.
“Don’t worry about it, honestly. I’ll probably just turn in early.” I go and sit on the sofa and start flicking through the choice of movies that are available towatch.
It doesn’t take the three of them long to tidy up and after a few minutes they are making their way to their rooms. I can hear the low murmur of their chat, but I can’t make out what they are saying. I imagine it will have to do with which one of them is willing to stay behind, not that I want any of them to do that. The fact that they are willing to spend their own precious holiday time staying in with me when they could be out having fun makes me feel so muchworse.
A wave of nausea hits me as I recall the five hundred pounds I stole this morning. Trust me to have a mother who gets herself in trouble with a loan shark then uses her daughter as a cash cow. The hate I have for her right now is toxic, making the nauseous feeling worse. I’ve never stolen before, but Mum had sounded so scared, desperate even, that I couldn’t think of anything else to do. I’m not due my first wage packet until the end of the month, and no matter how much I hate my Mum for putting me in such a predicament, I can’t allow anything to happen to her. So, I did what I promised myself I’d never do, I withdrew the money from the cash machine in the resort using the credit card I’d been given to buy supplies. Then I deposited the cash into my bank account and transferred it directly into Mum’s account. It had been thateasy.
Now, as I sit on the sofa absentmindedly flicking through the cable channels, I hate myself even more than I already do, and a very real pain blooms inside mychest.
“Here, take this,” Max says, bringing me out of my worrisome thoughts. I push them aside as he strolls towards me. He’s wearing a pair of slacks and a loose jumper. In his hand is a hot-water bottle. I guess he’s drawn the short straw to stay behind withme.
“Thanks,” I say softly, surprised by hisconsideration.
He settles himself next to me. “I’ve decided to stay in tonight, keep you company,” he says, making himself comfortable. His blonde hair is rough dried, and he smells of the vanilla shampoo that has become so familiar now. I find myself having the sudden urge to lean in and sniff his hair.Stop it. Don’t even gothere.
“Good, you’ve got the hot water bottle. That should help with the chills.” I turn my head and Hudson is staring at me, a strange look in hiseyes.
“Where are you going tonight?” I ask, noticing the casual attire he iswearing.
“I’m not going out.” He looks at me, his eyes trailing over myface.
I smile brightly, trying to hide my growing nerves but almost jump out of my skin as Hudson sits beside me. Stealing that money has sure made me a nervous wreck. I really hope the brothers don’t notice and start questioning me aboutit.
“You don’t have to, Hudson. Max has already said he’s staying in. I’m sure Sacha would be glad to seeyou.”
Hudson frowns. “Sacha and I arehistory.”
“Why?”
“I like someone else,” he says,shrugging.
“Oh,” I say, not sure why that makes me feelworse.
“Actually, we’re all staying in,” Bryce says as he strolls into the room. He too has showered and changed into something more comfortable than skiwear. He has a pair of soft slacks on and a fine-knit, greyjumper.
“You okay with that?” He chooses to sit on the floor rather than the sofa, and I can feel the warmth of his arm as it presses against myleg.
“Sure, okay,” I murmur, not certain that I am okay, given the strange mix of nausea and butterflies I’mfeeling.
“What are we watching then?” Max asks, gently prising the control from myhands.