Page 44 of The Mountain
Antoine pulls away, swiping at his face with the back of his hands, then reaches up to take the plate from Liam, offering him a watery smile. “Thanks,mon amour,” he rasps.
Liam’s cheeks darken, and he looks almost pained. “Sure. No worries.” He shrugs, then shoots me a look of reprimand when I start to rise. “No, you stay with him. I’ll get your plate too.”
The guys arequiet all through dinner, Antoine and I eating on the couch while everyone else eats at the table, speaking in low voices, occasionally shooting worried glances in Antoine’s direction.
Antoine is silent beside me, expression shuttered as he meticulously cuts mouthfuls of steak. I wonder if he even tastes anything, or if grief really does turn food to ash, like they say itdoes. I’m more aware than ever of how privileged I am—that I’ve made it to twenty years old without losing someone close to me. It’s enough to have me feeling almost ashamed.
“What are you reading?” Seth asks brightly, sinking onto the couch beside us once all the plates have been cleared away. He leans across me, peering at Antoine’s pages. “Oh, I’ve heard that’s good,” he says when he reads the title. “It’s in English, too.” His smile widens, reminding me of thinly stretched glass, bright and fragile. “You should read it to all of us.”
I feel my brow dip, instinctive defensiveness rising up on Antoine’s behalf. He just lost his grandfather; he doesn’t want to be reading out loud to everyone.
“I’d like that.” Liam shoves his hands into the pockets of his sweats, worrying his lip with his teeth as he leans against the island that separates the kitchen from the living room. Like he isn’t quite sure he belongs in here, with the three of us. “You said it’s in English, right?”
Antoine nods wordlessly, long fingers tightening on the spine of his book as he closes it, clutching it protectively against his chest.
“Ooh, are we getting an invite to the exclusive massage-and-book club?” Eddie chimes in, settling a newly empty can on top of the ever-growing wall of beer cans that lines the kitchen island. Then, without waiting for a reply, he strides past Liam, sinking cross-legged on the carpet in front of where Seth is sitting on the couch. “Dibs on a massage, thanks.” He shoots Seth a cheeky smile over one shoulder, scooting until his back is flush against the base of the couch, right between Seth’s legs. He rolls his shoulders dramatically, then gives Seth an encouraging tap on the knee. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”
Beside me, Antoine sputters out a laugh, the sound fragile as a bird call in winter. “Of course I’ll read to you.” The paperback drops to his knees, and he offers Liam a hopeful smile. “You never have to ask.”
Just like that, Liam relaxes, his eyes tilting with the hint of a smile as he lets out a breath. He makes his way across the living room, settling on the floor with his side leaning against Antoine’s legs, one arm draped over his knees.
Liam’s eyes find my own, and I can practically read his thoughts in this moment, hear the silent command in those gray eyes.Distract him, comfort him, he seems to say.Make him feel better.
I give a small, approving nod in agreement. If Antoine wants to slip away into some fictional world for comfort, what could be better than to have all of us join him? To have all of us close to him?
“Matty, you come too.” Liam’s voice is full of authority, his chin lifting as he strains to see over the wall of beer cans. “Come sit with us.”
Matty mumbles out some objection, even as he rises to his feet, apparently unable to disobey Liam’s command. He hesitates, eyeing the five of us with trepidation, like he thinks he might interrupt something if he comes closer.
I remember then that first night Antoine read to Seth and me, when Seth had massaged my injured muscles and Antoine’s lilting French had filled the living room, some alien-human romance that was delightfully at odds with his crisp accent. Matty had watched from the kitchen table, a look of unmasked longing on his face.
I’d felt so guilty after.
“Sit here,” I tell him, rising to my feet.
I grab his hand, warm and solid in my own, and pull him toward me, guiding him to my newly vacated seat. The seat I’ve claimed as my own for weeks now, when it’s just been the three of us cuddled up together. But Liam is right. Antoine needs all of us now.
“I can sit on your lap,” I tell him, flashing him a teasing smile.
Matty’s cheeks flush crimson as I settle myself across his thighs, my knees facing Antoine.
Liam gives me an approving nod, then stretches out his hand, reaching across Antoine to rest one hand on my knee. “That’s a good girl,” he murmurs, giving me a look that says he knows exactly what effect his words have on me. “I knew you could make everyone fit.”
Heat flares through me at his words, at the challenging look in his gaze. I bite my lip and press my cheek against Matty’s shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him.
“That’s what she said,” Eddie quips from the floor behind me, his voice slightly strained as Seth kneads his shoulders.
I snort out a laugh. Antoine rolls his eyes, but the corners of his lips quirk with the hint of a reluctant smile.
Liam gives Eddie an approving nod, then nudges Antoine with his arm. “Come on then, let’s hear this story.”
It’s notuntil the second chapter that Liam makes his move.
Seth’s hands have stilled, resting on his knees instead of Eddie’s shoulders. Eddie sits against Seth’s legs, head back and eyes closed. He might be asleep, actually. I’m snuggled up in Matty’s arms, my head against his shoulder, practically asleep myself, when Antoine gives a stifled gasp midsentence, dropping his paperback to his lap.
“Keep reading,” Liam murmurs.
My eyes dip to Antoine’s lap, to where Liam’s hand is resting precariously high on Antoine’s thigh, the paperback spread on top of it.
