Page 73 of The Season
“I’m thinking about it,” Summer says slowly, considering.
I can’t help but smile at that, because I know what she really means is she’s researching the crap out of it like she does everything else. By the time she makes her decision, she’ll be able to publish a peer-reviewed paper detailing the pros and cons of nonmonogamy, based on multiple longitudinal studies.
“Can you send me a Cliffnotes version of your research when you’re done?” I quip, only half joking. “For science, obviously.”
Summer lifts one brow, wary consideration giving way to sharp interest. “You’re thinking about dating all of them, aren’t you?” she asks.
I snort, waving one hand dismissively, grateful again that this call isn’t on speaker. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course not.”
For some reason, my voice raises at least an octave.
Ihavethought about it. Quite a bit, actually, since my conversation with Seth. I just don’t see how it could ever work. And even if it did, even if I dated any of them, what would happen at the end of the winter season, when I fly back home to Hawai’i and they scatter across the globe, like snowflakes in the wind.
“You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”
I narrow my eyes at her. This is why I shouldn’t have friends.
“Lily?” Liam’s voice catches me by surprise, and I nearly drop my phone. He must get a glimpse of Lani and Summer’s faces on my screen, because he cocks his head in curiosity, like he’s trying to get a better look.
I signal to him that I’ll just be a minute, then turn back to my so-called friends with a meaningful look.
“Hey, one of my roommates just showed up. I’ll call you guys back later?”
Of course, they both make obnoxiously loud noises that resemble a cat in heat, and I give a silent prayer of thanks that I’m wearing my earbuds before ending the call.
“Friends from home?” Liam asks, mercifully oblivious to the fact that he’s just been the source of their amusement.
I nod, tucking my phone away before one of their inappropriate messages can flash across my screen. “Did your lesson get canceled too?”
“Yah.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, and I notice he’s changed out of his uniform already. “I was thinking about going to the gym.”
I stare at him blankly for a moment, not sure why he’s telling me this. He doesn’t seem like the sort of guy to broadcast his workouts, post thirst traps on social media and all that, but then I guess you never do know.
“It’s… it’s a pretty chill gym,” he continues, and pink circles flare on his high cheekbones, dark lashes fluttering as his gaze drops to his boots. “It’s got a heated pool and hot tub. Not full of gym rats or anything…” His eyes lift to mine, gray glinting under fluorescent lights. “If you wanted to come along.”
There’s a warm, almost overwhelming pressure behind my ribs as his words register. He wants to hang out with me. This isn’t just us sitting next to each other on the chairlift or at dinner, or me driving him around in my car. And this isn’t him having to hang out with me because he’s being paid to train me.
“Did you say they had a pool?” I ask, smiling brightly and rising to my feet. “And a hot tub?” I grab my duffel, not bothering to keep the excitement from my voice.
Back home, there was hardly a day that passed where I didn’t get in the ocean, and I’d show up to most of my university classes with hair salty and damp from an early morning surf. Since I’ve been here, the closest thing I’ve had to a swim has been the shower. Usually with one of my roommates banging on the door.
I’m in such a hurry, so preoccupied with slinging my duffel over my shoulder and rustling through my pocket for my keys, rushing with all the desperate eagerness of a puppy, that I don’t notice Antoine rounding the corner until I’m practically colliding with him.
“Lily.” He grabs my shoulders, keeping me upright, his green eyes crinkling ever so slightly at the corners as he smiles at me. “You’re off early too.”
I nod, my breath catching in my throat at having him so close to me, so suddenly, with his lips only inches from mine and his strong hands on me. But then Antoine’s gaze moves to behind me, to where Liam is, and his expression shutters.
“Oh. Liam.”
“Antoine…”
The silence that falls is terrible, a tense hum punctuated by the ticking of fluorescent lights and the rattling of the building against the blizzard. It’s a silence that makes me think of dynamite in snow, like the bombs the ski patrol set each morning to trigger an avalanche, cold and explosive and dangerous.
“We’re just going to the gym,” I say, turning back to look at Liam.
He gives me a flat, unreadable look, and I cringe inwardly, but carry on. Maybe this will be the last time he invites me to anything. Maybe he’ll hardly speak to me again after this.
I turn back to Antoine and give him a wide smile, as if I can’t feel Liam’s cold disapproval at my back. “Do you want to come too? Liam said there’s a pool. And a hot tub.”
