Page 53 of Season's Schemings
I note with pleasure that he’s sitting next to Jax, and Jax doesn’t look like he’s about to stick a fork in his eye.
I also note with pleasure that Adam is sitting across from them, and has clearly been watching them talk with an expression that’s halfway between disbelief at Seb being here, and jealousy that Seb and Jax are talking to each other, and not him.
Jax never cared for Adam, and while he was never blatantly rude, his distaste was always somewhat apparent. Which irked my ex to no end.
But my jolt of pleasure is short-lived. As I walk to the empty seat on Seb’s other side, my mother frowns at me. “You look tired, Madelyn. Do you need some of my concealer?”
Elizabeth presses her lips together, and the rest of my confidence slides straight into my under-eye bags, filling them up bigger and mauver than ever. Santa's sacks of eyebags.
I slide onto my seat with my tail between my legs, but as my butt hits the cushion, Seb already has an arm around me, pulling me close.
“Morning, my love.” He presses a kiss to my forehead that’s featherlight and flutter-inducing, then smiles at me before declaring, “You look beautiful today.” He turns to my mom and adds, “If she looks tired, Mrs. Grainger, it’s probably because I kept her up late. We were having a really interesting debate.”
He’s giving Mom this endearing, earnest smile that must prompt her to ask, “What about?”
“How effective The Great Wall of China has been for, erm,bordercontrol.” He gives me a secret little look, and I’m sure my entire head turns blistering red.
“I didn’t know you were interested in ancient history,” Adam says.
“Oh, she’s not at all. Maddie’s much more interested incurrent events.” Seb gives him a jaunty wink. “Told me all about it last night. Three times, in fact.”
Adam’s normally alabaster-pale cheeks redden and Jax snorts into his water glass. Which is as good a signal as any that Seb has won my brother over, once and for all.
Iknewthat Seb Slater charm would get to him, just like it gets to everyone else.
“Well, I think it’s lovely that you two have so much to talk about that you chat into the wee hours of the morning,” Alicia says pleasantly, the double entendre of the conversation entirely lost on the old folks at the table (thank goodness). “But I hope that means that you’re not too tired to ski today.”
I groan inwardly, especially when I see Seb’s face light up and his blue eyes sparkle.
This is one of the more insufferable Plumlee-Grainger Christmas Eve traditions. If the weather allows it, the whole crew of us—including the parents and the grandparent—hit the slopes for the day before après-ski fondue.
I like the cheese part. A lot. What Idon’tlike is the slipping and falling down a mountain like a graceless idiot with two left feet, while everyone else perfectly, effortlessly carves their way through the snow.
I’d say that I never took to skiing… but it’s more like skiing never took tome. The whole sport and I have a mutual loathing, and it’s been that way since the time I slipped while coming off the chairlift and it whacked me on the back of the head.
I’d much rather curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book, any day.
“It’s going to be such fun.” Elizabeth sparkles as she spreads a thin layer of blueberry jam on her croissant. “I’m itching to get out there and hit some black diamond runs.”
Of course she is.
“Do you ski, Seb?” my stepdad inquires. “Growing up in Canada, I’d assume you ski or snowboard.”
“Both,” he replies easily. “I grew up near a ski resort, and when I wasn’t skating, I spent my entire childhood on skis or a board. I love skiing, but I like snowboarding even more.”
“Excellent.” Elizabeth’s lips curve upward. “We’ll have one more expert to join us more daring members of the family today.”
Adam gives a jolly chuckle. “Yes. You’ll have to come with Elizabeth, Jax, and myself. I’m sure you’ll be bored spending all day with Maddie falling on the bunny hill, as usual.”
Elizabeth laughs like a tinkling bell at this, and my dislike for her only grows.
“I’m skiing alone,” Jax responds immediately, the look on his face communicating that the thought of spendinganytime with Adam is the most repugnant thing he can possibly imagine. Which I appreciate.
Meanwhile, I force my face into a pleasant, neutral smile. “I think I might sit this one out… Seb’s right, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
I’d much rather impale myself on one of Elizabeth’s ski poles than have her laugh at me sliding face-first down the ski hill.
Dot shoots her grandson alookbefore tilting her head my way kindly. “Nonsense, deary. You must come. I can keep you company in the beginner area.”