Disarranged (7 page)

“You must be Morgan’s parents,” I say. They look irritated, but I don’t want them to take it out on her, so I have to diffuse the obvious tension. I extend my hand for them to shake. “I’m Rose Jensen, in Morgan’s skiing class. She’s very talented –”

“What are you doing out here without Cosette?” The man barks at Morgan, who flinches. He grabs her arm and shakes her, but before I can even react, Lee steps in between them.

“With all due respect, sir, there’ll be no need for that kind of physical interaction. I’m sure we can all speak calmly without resorting to that.”

“Who are you?” The man snaps. The woman shoots a dirty glare at me, but I bite my lip and let Lee do the talking, for now. Morgan looks on the verge of tears. If the man grabs Morgan like that again, I’ll –

“I’m Lee Montenegro, sir. A friend of Rose’s. We were just making snowmen, and Morgan’s been very well looked after.”

“You’re strangers!” The woman shrieks. “Where is Cosette, Morgan? How did you get out of the room without her?”

“I didn’t!” Morgan sniffs. “You signed me up for the classes! She couldn’t come because you didn’t pay for her! I asked her to, but she said she didn’t want to spend her money on something ‘that dumb’! But then I met Rose,” Morgan motions to me. “And she’s really nice and she makes sure I don’t fall and hurt myself and stuff, just like Cosette would. So don’t be mean to her!”

“You.” The woman points at her. “Are in big trouble, young lady. You made us all worry. And you –” She points at Lee and I. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I don’t trust you with my child. So please don’t act like I do. You have no business playing with her when I don’t know you.”

“Those are all perfectly understandable fears, ma’am –” Lee starts.

“Let’s go!” The man barks. “I’m going to have a word with Cosette, and then someone needs to be put in time out.”

“No!” Morgan protests. “I didn’t do anything, Papa!”

“Come along.”

Morgan shoots me an apologetic look. Lee musters a smile.

“It’s okay. We’ll see you around. And the Icy family will still be here in the morning, waiting for you, so you can come see them whenever.”

Morgan runs up and hugs me, abruptly, her mother and father calling sternly for her to stop and follow them. She runs after them, little boots kicking up snow. We watch them go, and Lee sighs.

“Oops.”

“Oops indeed,” I say. “It must be tough, being a parent.”

“I can’t imagine it,” he says. “Especially when I had shitty role models. Well, one shitty role model. I can’t remember what Mom was like, except that she made tacos way too much and drove like a maniac.”

I feel myself smiling, even though it’s depressing a subject matter. The way he talks about his mother is so fond in itself I can’t help but absorb a bit of that happiness.

“You must’ve loved her a lot,” I try. Lee nods, eyes following Morgan and her parents mistily.

“Yeah. She was one hell of a cool woman while she was alive.”

Felix walks up then, and Lee narrows his eyes at him. Felix just smiles genially.

“You two look like you’re having fun.” He gestures to the snowmen. “Are we gonna burn the effigies later, or what?”

“Don’t you dare,” Lee says. “They’re really important to a young girl. Leave them be.”

“Fine, fine, jeez.” Felix puts his hands up. “Don’t gotta be all harsh with me.”

“I know what you’re up to. So cut out the shit act of being harmless.” Lee grabs my hand, and pulls me away. I try to wave goodbye to Felix, but Lee snarls. “Don’t bother. The guy’s evil.”

“What? Since when do you call people evil?”

“Since Kiera hired someone just out of jail to stalk you.”

“What?” I pull from his grasp. “Lee, what are you talking about?”

“That guy is bad news. Kiera’s dad got a lot of bad people out of jail, and she wants to keep us apart. She keeps saying – she keeps saying she’ll sic him on you if I don’t listen to her.”

My blood runs cold, colder than the mountain wind that toys with my hair.

“You can’t be serious,” I say.

“You know how serious she is about this!” Lee exclaims. “Please, Rose, I know it sounds extreme, and, okay, a little crazy, but Kiera will stop at nothing to keep us apart. Nothing.”

“Then why are you with her? I thought – I thought you –”

“You thought wrong.” Lee steps into me, tilting my head up as if to kiss me. His hands are cold, but beneath the chilly skin I can feel the warm flow of his blood. My body tingles, an electric wire being dragged across my every nerve.

“Everything you think is wrong,” He says. “Nothing is how it should be. You can feel it too, right? You should be with me. We should be together, somewhere not here. We made a mistake, but it’s not too late to fix it.”

“Lee, I –”

“Lee!” Felix’s voice rings out. He holds up his cellphone as he walks towards us. “Kiera wants you. She’s in the dining room.”

“Tell her I’m busy,” Lee snaps, parting from me. I ache at the loss of warmth.

“She says it’s important. Don’t worry.” Felix steps up and puts his arm around my shoulder. “I’ll escort Rose back to her room.”

Lee nearly lunges at us, but he pulls back at the last second and grits his teeth.

“Get your hands off her.”

“I will. If you go see Kiera. She wants you.”

Felix’s voice changes with that one sentence. Something about it is drier than his usual deadpan voice, and much, much colder than the mountain air can strive to be. Something unspoken passes between Lee and Felix, and Lee finally looks at me with an injured, if serious, look.

“Don’t trust him. Stay safe.”

I’m too shocked, and Lee’s too fast walking away for me to say anything. I shrug Felix’s arm off me, and glower.

“Don’t touch me.”

“As you wish,” he chuckles. “Not that I take orders from you, or anything.”

“You take orders from her. Kiera.”

He shrugs. “Not really. She asks me to do stuff but I only do it if I want to. She’s a bitch. I won’t give her the satisfaction of acting like her whipped little dog. Lee on the other hand -” Felix sucks in a breath. “He’s got the masochistic slave thing down pat. You two slept together, right? You ever order him to do something? Slap him around a bit? I bet he’d like it. He’s the type of guy who would.”

“Be quiet,” I hiss, a flush rising on my cheeks. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Neither do you,” he says lightly. “Lee was your first, right? So you’ve had no other guys? Pity. You could do well for yourself, you know. Get some idiot guy wrapped around your finger, or maybe five. You might know a lot, but I know someone like me when I see them. You and I – we got a dark side that doesn’t come out often, but when it does, when we’re cornered and got nowhere else to go…”

He trails off and whistles.

I turn on my heel, not wanting to hear anymore, and stride away from him as fast as I can. Dark side? Me? No way. I barely mustered up the courage to tell Kiera she was ugly in the restaurant, and I couldn’t do anything when Morgan’s parents accosted her. If I’ve got a dark side, it’s the helpless kind. Or is it? Have I just not been pushed into a corner far enough? Is what Lee says true? Can we really fight back against someone like Kiera – with money and charm and connections to spare? Did she really hire Felix to follow me? And was Felix really as dangerous as Lee made him out to be? He seemed strange, but harmless enough. He taught ski lessons well, he interacted with people like a normal person. He didn’t seem too messed up, at least not messed up enough to hurt anyone.

I shake my head and pray Lee is alright. All I can do is keep communicating with him, keep him from descending too deep into whatever shady pit of revenge he’s set on. Kiera might be bad, and need to be stopped, but going down to her level isn’t any better – people would get hurt that way.

I see Morgan’s parents in the lobby, but they turn their noses up and walk past me without a second glance. I hope she’s alright. She’s the sweetest little girl I’ve ever met, and I’d hate to see her get in trouble with her jerky parents because of me.

I suddenly realize I’m ravenous. Jacques’ serves lunch, and I surprise myself by eating two plates of fettuccine, and an entire basket of garlic bread all by myself. I haven’t eaten this much since I was in high school, and growing nearly an inch a month. It must be all the skiing and exercise, and I’m probably burning more calories on average to keep my own body at regular temperatures. Even the waiter looks surprised. I leave a good tip (Riley’s a waiter at his part time job, and he always complains about the importance of tipping), and head into the lobby. The massive fireplace holds a warm blaze, couches strategically placed in a semi-circle around it. I sink into the soft cushions, and, exhausted by skiing and all the emotional drama, I fall easily into a gentle sleep.

Chapter Four

In Which Rose Jensen Is Being Followed

When I wake, the light outside the massive lodge windows is dimming slightly. Sunset is still far off, but I look at my phone and start in my seat – I slept nearly seven hours! I must’ve been more tired than I thought. Grace has sent me a dozen texts, all worried and asking where I am. I respond quickly, and she says she’s got a surprise for me. She says to bring my swimsuit, and meet her on the fourth floor. Swimsuit? Since when did this place have a pool? And even if they do, there’s no way this California girl is swimming in below-freezing water.

She says to bring my swimsuit, and meet her on the fourth floor. Swimsuit? Since when did this place have a pool? And even if they do, there’s no way this California girl is swimming in below-freezing water. I put my one-piece on under my silk underwear and jeans. I pull on Lee's sweater, gingerly, not wanting to ruin it, even though I've ruined it already. I can't put it on without thinking about him, and it only leads to a hot pooling between my thighs and frustration in my heart.

I sigh, grab a couple of towels just in case, and lock the room behind me. To my dismay, an OUT OF ORDER sign is hung over the elevator. The fourth floor is a bit of a walk, and my legs start cramping after the third flight of stairs. The stairwell is eerily quiet.

Just then, I hear a soft footstep not my own. I freeze up and strain to listen for another, but it never comes. I look up and down the stairwell, but there's no one I can see. I shrug and keep walking. The footsteps are louder this time, and I whirl around immediately. I still can't see anyone.

"Hello?" I call out. My palms are starting to sweat, and a tiny kernel of fear settles in my throat, but I push it out and keep walking.

The footsteps start running.

I instantly burst into a sprint, taking the stairs two at a time until I shove through the fourth floor door. I don't even bother looking behind me as I run down the hall and turn the corner, frantically looking for someone, anyone, so that I can feel less alone and terrified. If there's someone after me -

"Rose!" Grace's voice floats down the hall. Relief washes over me as I see her waving at the end of it, and I run towards her.

"Are you okay?" She asks. I pant, trying to catch my breath. When I can talk again, I grab her arm.

"Someone was...running behind me in the stairwell!"

Grace's eyebrows furrow. "Are you serious?"

"I-" I look behind me. There's no one there. "I heard them! Someone was running after me."

Grace holds my hand and leads me around the bend in the hall. "C'mon. This way."

She pulls me down more halls, and finally we reach a fire escape leading to the roof. These stairs are tiny and gray, the chilly dusk air making me shiver instantly. That's when I see it - on the roof is a massive hot tub, bubbling and steaming and looking more inviting than anything I've seen in my life. Grace steers me towards it.

"You stay here and get in the tub. I'll go see if I can find one of the staff and tell them what happened, or better yet, the creep who was following you. There's only one way up here, the door, so you'll definitely be safe."

I murmur a thanks, and watch her go nervously. I skim my hands over the hot water. It soothes the tension in my hand almost instantly. I look around to make sure what Grace said was true - sure enough, the roof is five stories up and the only way here is through the door I have a clear view of. There's a platter of cheeses and crackers balanced near the hot tub that I hadn't seen before, and though it's silly, I feel better knowing a small sharp knife is near if I need it.

Why would someone chase me, try to scare me like that? Kiera? No, the footsteps had been too heavy to be a woman. 

I shake my head and undress. The hot tub water is searing, but combined with the cold temperature it feels like slipping into heaven. The contrast warms my cheeks and eases my aching muscles. I make sure I position myself in the hot tub so I can always see the door, and cut myself some cheese and crackers. I nibble, then chew, suddenly realizing how ravenous I am. I poke at my belly - I've been eating way too much, and in the swimsuit it definitely shows. I've put on weight.

By the time Grace gets back, I've eaten nearly everything on the plate. I shoot her a sheepish smile.

"Sorry."

She glances at the plate and waves it off. "It's fine. I talked to the maid, and she said she'd send security to check out the stairwell. I didn't see anyone in there, but maybe they will."

"Thanks so much, Grace."

She undresses and reveals her tiny yellow bikini before sliding into the hot tub. She lets out a content sigh as the hot water bubbles around her.

"Work's been tough, huh?" I ask. She nods and massages her neck.

"Ferdinand's been a slave-driver lately. He's really eager to see you, you know."

I point at my belly. "I bet he'll be less happy to see me like this."

"Like what?" Grace frowns. I stand in the water and show her.

"See? I've gotten fatter. My arms are wider, too."

She inspects me with scrutiny, narrowing her eyes, and finally she leans back.

"Huh. You're right. I almost couldn't tell. It's not much. You could probably lose it in a month or two."