Page 25 of Defying Ella
“How are you holding up?” Mel asked, her concern almost tangible through the phone.
“As well as expected… given my cabinmate.” I settled back against my pillows, holding in the sigh desperate to escape.
The wall of white remained pressed against the glass. I’d honestly given up trying to track the time. When I shut myself in my room, the hour of the day didn’t matter. I slept when I wanted, read when I felt like it and ate when I got hungry. So what if none of it lined up with my normal daily routine? I’d pretty much destroyed the tiny amount of structure I’d reintroduced to my life after my year of travels by going on tour. Another couple of days without any rules wouldn’t hurt.
If only I didn’t have to share space with a split-personality Mr Loves-and-Leaves. The entire ordeal would feel like a well-timed intervention without his animosity.
Plus I could do without the endlessly looping replay of that kiss.
“I could try and get Dan to talk him into laying off.” Neither of us believed that would achieve anything. I hadn’t told her about our heated moment on the sofa. Safer that shedidn’t know. “Or Alys could get Ryan to call him. That might be more effective.”
“I appreciate the thought. Honestly, I do.” I rubbed at my face, failing to hold on to so much as an ounce of positivity, but somehow masking it from my voice. “But we both know Jared’s a rebel.”
It wouldn’t matter how close he was to either Rhiannon’s bassist or lead singer. The moment either of them issued an order, Jared’s instinct would be to do the opposite. I’d seen it far too many times on tour and at home. At the very start, I’d asked him to stop parading his half-naked flavour of the night around the venue, even admitting that the sight sickened me. He then invited them onto our bus.
I did not need him taking their warning as permission to mess with my head more than he already had. I’d deal with it myself.
I filled her in on Jared’s truce suggestion.
“Do you trust him?”
I snorted. “Not even a little bit, but I’m willing to try if it gives me a reprieve.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind, you tell me, and I’ll guilt Dan into action.”
“Leave my future brother-in-law out of it.” I chuckled imaging Dan’s horror at her orders. He couldn’t win.
“I wish I could do more to help you. Andy said the rescue services would get you out as soon as they can, but the roads are still impassable.” Mel sighed. “I guess there must be a lot of snow to move.”
“It also hasn’t stopped coming down. They’re probably clearing a section and losing ground fast.”
If you trusted my voice, you’d think I wasn’t terrified of being trapped in the lodge for another couple of days. In the moments of silence, when I locked myself away with a book, it became truth. That, of course, lasted until I had to surface for food, but at least there were moments of peace.
“Don’t worry about me, Mel. It could be a lot worse.”
“Just stay safe, okay? We’ve got a lot to catch up on still.”
Guilt wormed its way to the forefront. “I know. We’ll be back together soon enough and we’ll have plenty of time to make up for the last year.”
I might have been MIA for most of my travels. Before I left, no one would have thought it’d be an issue. I’d been attached to my phone, always a quick text away. Then the further I got from home, the more I shook off all of the shoulds and the less it occurred to me to check in. Travelling through South America had been incredible for me, but my family spent days on edge waiting for contact to prove I was safe.
So not only had I missed a lot in twelve months, including Phoebe’s crazy growth spurt, I’d also put my mother and sister through untold stress. Something I vowed to never do again.
Mel blew out a shaky breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I just feel helpless.”
“Same, but you don’t need to apologise. I get it.” I chewed my lip, warring with the need to speak my mind and leave her to do what she thought she should. Ultimately, keeping my mouth shut had never been one of my strengths. “Listen, even if they get us out today or tomorrow, we’re not going to be able to stay here. Maybe you guys should head home.”
Mel didn’t answer. I didn’t need a video call to tell me she chewed her lip with indecision. I knew my sister too well. Although, a video call would have been lovely. Seeing someone other than Jared might have helped my morale.
The clattering of plates and the chatter of voices filled the line. She must have been in a coffee shop or restaurant. At least someone would get to enjoy some European sights.
“There’s no need for you to be holed up in a hotel, worried and waiting for me.” Maybe I wasted my breath trying to reason with her, but I had to try. I’d claimed ownership of enough guilt to last a lifetime. “Plus Phoebe’ll behappy to have you home. I know you were uneasy about leaving her in the first place.”
“How can you be so considerate right now?” Her voice wavered. “Shit, Els, how can I just leave you stuck there?”
My chest squeezed. I might be trapped with a man who hated me, but at least I had people like my sister waiting for me outside the lodge. If anything could fuel me through Jared’s antics, that should certainly be enough.
“It’s not all that bad.” I forced a jokey lightness into my tone. “There’s a fully stocked pantry and a hot tub on the deck. I’m going to spend my evening on the deck with a glass of wine, warm water soothing away the tension of dealing with Jared and a beautiful view of the Alps covered in a fresh dusting of snow.”
