Page 10 of Wedlocked

“There’s a pool at the chalet,” Jamie countered.

Emmett made a face. “I highly doubt it’s as big as Elite’s.”

“There’s a gym too,” Arsen said, glancing down at his phone. He must have googled the place.

“Please, Em.” Bodhi batted his lashes. “Unless, of course, you ski as good as you surf. Then maybe we should stay home.”

Emmett’s face darkened. “Listen here, you little brat. I’ve been skiing my whole life. I’d outski all of you in my sleep.”

Bodhi looked proud that he’d riled him.

“Did they even have skis when you were a kid, Coach?” Ben asked.

“They probably just strapped sleds to their feet,” Win mused.

Emmett sighed. “I’m jealous of all the people who have never met you.”

“Order up!” Shirley called, appearing with everyone’s food.

We all sat quietly as she passed out burgers, sandwiches, and fries.

I sipped on the trauma latte and leaned over Ben toward Arsen. “Can I see?” I asked quietly.

Arsen handed his phone over, and I scrolled through the listing for the chalet, aka castle, in the snow. I’d never stayed in a house so big. So opulent. Sure, I knew they existed, but never in my life did I imagine I’d be looking at one, pondering sleeping in it.

The young girl who used to cower under her covers in the dark while her mom and latest fling got high in the living room and screamed at each other never would have dreamed that big.

Ben’s hand slid over my upper thigh. “You like?”

I made a sound. “What’s not to like? Look at it!”

His chin rested on my shoulder. “Let me see,” he rumbled in my ear, making my scalp prickle with awareness.

I angled the phone so we could look at it together.

“You wanna go?” he asked after a moment.

Who wouldn’t? “I don’t think I can afford this place, even splitting it sixteen ways.”

He made a rude noise. “As if I’d let you pay.”

“I didn’t realize youletme do anything, Benjamin Hayes.”

“I can think of lots of things I’d let you do to me,” he murmured, tugging my earlobe between his teeth.

I grabbed his nose and pinched his nostrils together.

He jerked back. “What the hell, final girl?” he exclaimed, voice nasally.

Everyone laughed.

I let go, and he glowered.

“I’m not letting you pay for me,” I insisted. It was bad enough that he paid all the rent on our townhouse a year in advance so I couldn’t argue about pitching in.

“I want to,” he said, rubbing his nose. Men were such giant babies. I didn’t even pinch it hard.

“You can all go without me,” I said, the words trying to stick in my throat.