Page 25 of On the Slopes of Tahoe
“You didn’t.” It’s Breck who speaks this time, and I notice it’s just the three of us in the kitchen now.
“Where are Wes and Joss?”
“I think they pulled an Irish goodbye and went to bed. Maybe all the excitement took the last of their energy,” he says with a shrug.
“I really did ruin the night then. I’m sorry.” My shoulders slump and I look at the floor.
“Hey, you didn’t ruin anything. They were bound to go to sleep early regardless. You could probably use an early night too. Do you need help getting upstairs or anything?” The thought of him helping me into bed makes a blush rise in my cheeks.
“No. No, I’m fine. Thank you though. Willow, raincheck on the hot cocoa, yeah?”
“Yeah, okay.” She’s disappointed, but her dad gives her neck a squeeze.
“Let’s let Rory go to bed. We’ll see everybody tomorrow.” He says it like it’s a sure thing, but there’s a question on his face when he looks back to me. Honestly, I may just hide out forever.
“Yeah, tomorrow.” I don’t meet his eyes when I say it, unsure if it’s true. He gives Willow another squeeze and they head for the door.
“Night, Rory,” Willow calls, the door closing behind them.
My head hangs and I keep leaning against the counter, unmoving, unwilling to consider how I’m going to get up the stairs. Maybe I’ll just sleep on the couch.
“Hey, little sister.” My head snaps up to find Wes watching me from across the island. “You okay?”
“Oh yeah, just wishing I could erase the last thirty minutes of my existence.”
“Ah, come on, it wasn’t that bad. It could’ve happened to anybody.” He comes around the bar and leans against the counter next to me, bumping me with his hip.
“Yeah, but it didn’t.” I drop my head against his strong shoulder, absorbing the comfort that only ever comes from being near him. “I thought you snuck off to bed?”
“Nah. I just wanted to get Joss settled. She’s beat.”
“I’m sure you are too. I won’t be far behind you if you want to head that way.”
“I want to hang with my little sister for a minute. You sure you’re okay? You’ve been pretty quiet since we got home—and I mean before the whole mug-throwing debacle.” He smirks down at me.
“I didn’t throw it.” I roll my eyes and bump his shoulder.
“I’m just giving you a hard time. It’s my job as your big brother, ya know?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So, uh…” His words drift off as he runs a hand through his hair. “What’s up with you and Breck?”
I stiffen. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Rory. Even before whatever all that was with him helping you with your foot—”
“He was just being nice… His dad mode kicked in. And I’m glad it did because I’d be way more embarrassed if I’d actually passed out.”
“Okay, we’ll come back to that, but… did something happen?”
“Seriously? No. Goodness, Wes, he’s here trying to pick up the pieces after Talia and you’re asking if something happened with us?”
“No, I wasn’t….” He looks genuinely surprised. “I just—it felt tense between you two, and I wanted to make sure everything was okay. I know Breck isn’t really himself right now so I expected him to be a little off, but you’re being weird with him too. What gives?”
“Nothing. I just… I think I overstepped. I was trying too hard to be you for them.” I shrug. “It’s stupid.”
“Did he say that?” Wes sounds defensive. Of me or Breck, I’m not sure.
