Snowed In With You

Chapter Fifteen

Sara

I was still tired when I woke up the next morning.

My muscles were pleasantly sore and the gentle sound of Fletcher’s breathing in my ear made me smile sleepily.

We’d stayed up most of the night talking and laughing and having a lot of sex.

Like, at some point I’d thought I’d run out of energy or that he’d finally be satisfied, but we had mostly passed out from sheer necessity rather than the want to stop.

I gave a long stretch and Fletch’s arm tightened around my bare stomach.

We’d made a sort of fort on the sofa with pillows and blankets and had wound up falling asleep there – having sex in a bedroom again was going to feel like a novelty the next time we did it.

The thought filled me with a purr of satisfaction – Fletcher wanted me.

I hated that we’d lost out on time just because of a misunderstanding and one day I knew we would laugh about it the way we’d started to last night.

‘While I’m thrilled to see you two getting along together, I do wish I wasn’t seeing quite so much of you both right now.’

My eyes flew open.

No.

How had we forgotten? This was possibly not the best way to break the news to my brother that I was sleeping with his best friend.

We were dead.

Rob was going to blow a fuse any second and kill us both.

Well, at least, definitely me because I was sure he’d find a way to make this all my fault.

I loved my brother, really, I did – but nine times out of ten he treated me like I was still ten-years-old.

Fletch cursed, sitting upright quickly and attempting to hidemy very naked body behind his.

‘Rob–’ Fletcher apparently didn’t know what else to say and to be honest, I didn’t either.

When we’d spoken briefly before about what – and when – we’d tell my brother, it had always involved the both of us being fully clothed in a room that probably didn’t smell like a sex-fest had just occurred.

Rob and Tanya stood in the entryway, their bags on the floor at their feet.

Tanya looked amused and Rob looked… not angry? It was hard to tell though, my brother had always been described as classically handsome, but I thought that was mostly code for emotionless robot.

Seriously, he could make a killing at poker if he tried, his poker face was that good.

That’s why his relationship with Tanya always baffled me, she was fun, bright, cheerful.

I guess it was true what they said – opposites really did attract.

‘So… how was your flight?’ I said and Rob raised his eyebrow but didn’t comment on my obvious diversion tactic.

‘Good, I guess you forgot we were coming in early?’

‘Ah yes,’ I mumbled and Tanya giggled before hiding it behind a cough.

The silence stretched on until Rob sighed.

‘Look, Tan and I will find ourselves a room for our bags and you two can get… presentable.’ With that, he turned and walked up the stairs, their overnight bags in hand and shoulders tense.

Tanya gave me a broad grin and the sight of her cheery pink afro-curls made me relax a little as I shot her a small little wave in between grappling for the blanket to keep myself covered.

When she was out of sight I turned to Fletcher with wide eyes, he was reclining on the sofa with the blanket covering his lap and his hands over his eyes.

I could hear Tanya giggling somewhere upstairs and my mouth opened and closed like a fish.

‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ I said and Fletcher gave a low sound of agreement that shouldn’t have turned me on but did.

He removed his hands from his face and looked at me like he knew exactly what filthiness was occurring in my thoughts and I blushed.

‘I can’t hear you moving!’ Rob called and I pulled a face as I mimicked him.

‘Sorry, Mom,’ I yelled back and heard Tanya shushing him.

I grinned, I’d won that round at least – but it felt like Rob had won the war after catching me with my literal pants down.

‘Is it just me, or did he seem pretty… calm, to you?’

Fletcher winced, ‘Maybe he’s saving his rage for when we’re both dressed.

It’s not very sporting to beat up a naked man.’

I laughed, ‘My brother will not beat you up.

You could totally take him, plus, Tanya won’t let him.’

Fletcher grinned at that and I wrapped one blanket carefully around myself as I tugged him up with a roll of my eyes.

‘Come on, let’s go and get dressed before he has a hissy fit.’

???

Fletcher and I had showered together, ‘To save time,’ I’d argued.

He’d just grinned and climbed in and by the time we came back down again, Rob and Tanya were waiting.

My brother’s face was as coolly impassive as usual and I shot Tanya a questioning look to try and work out how worried I needed to be, she gave a light shrug in response.

Great.

Rob held my coat out to me, ‘I thought it might be nice for us to all go for a walk to the lake, now that it’s safe to leave here again.

Not–’ he muttered under his breath, ‘that it looked like you two were having much trouble staying occupied.’

I shrugged my puffer coat on and my eyes met Fletcher’s as we walked out of the front door.

‘Do you think he’s going to murder us and dump the bodies in the lake?’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Rob said from behind me and I jumped, ‘the lake is still frozen.’

I wasn’t sure whether or not that was a comfort.

It was nice to get out of the lodge, just me, Fletch and… my brother.

Tanya had stayed behind in the warmth, waving us off after claiming she felt a little nauseous, and I looked behind regretfully, half-wishing I’d done the same.

Except, that would leave Fletcher alone with Rob and that did not seem like a wise (or fair) decision right now.

Rob had the right idea though, it was almost mild outside – or as mild as Alaska in the snow could be – it was snowing very lightly and I pulled my gloves out of my coat pocket and slipped them on.

I wanted to move closer to Fletcher, huddle in his warmth and share a kiss to chase away the cold.

My brother cleared his throat and I realised I’d been stuck in place, staring at Fletcher for a couple seconds too long.

My face burned as I quickly moved forward to join them, there were footprints in the snow and that brought me a little relief because it meant that there would be other people out at the lake, saving me from an otherwise awkward excursion.

Plus, Rob couldn’t murder us if there were witnesses, right?

The lake was beautiful.

It was completely frozen over and a few people were ice-skating over on the far left ahead of us but I hesitated on the edge.

‘It’s definitely safe, right?’

Fletcher wordlessly offered me a hand and I threw a cautious look Rob’s way before taking it and letting him lead me out.

It wasn’t too slippery, surprisingly, most of the ice was covered in snow, so we could walk out and enjoy the view of the mountain face opposite and the copse of fir trees capped with white.

Fletcher’s hand was warm through my cotton gloves and I smiled at him.

It was funny really that I’d thought Fletch looked the part of Cali-boy before, but here on the lake I realised he looked more at home against the back-drop of the snow.

I could feel Rob’s eyes on us as we walked around the lake, chatting and laughing and I raised my head to look at him challengingly.

My brother and I used to get along amazingly, and sometimes we still did, but more and more I felt like he saw me as a problem or a burden to be carried.

Doing wedding prep together was the first time in a long time that it seemed like he’d seen me for me and not the teenager he remembered.

‘Does he seem a little too chilled out to you?’ I asked Fletcher in a low undertone and he glanced back to where Rob stood, taking a photo of the snow on his iPhone before making a noncommittal hum.

‘I mean, if you had a sister and Rob went behind your back and slept with her, wouldn’t you want to tear his head off? Or am I just being paranoid?’

‘Maybe he’s just hiding it really well,’ Fletch suggested with a quirk of his lips.

‘Rob passing up on a chance to ridicule me and my life choices? I don’t know… Quick, he’s coming over, put your arms around my waist!’ Fletcher looked startled but immediately did so and I relaxed into the warmth of his arms as my brother came to stand next to us.

Rob tilted his head, ‘so, what, are you guys a couple now or something?’

And just like that, my brother took the upper hand once more.

I looked to Fletcher, his face unnervingly close to mine and he looked at me.

I licked my lips and he cleared his throat as we both looked at each other and then away.

This was not a conversation we’d managed to have yet after only just deciding to do… whatever it was we had done last night.

Here Rob was, charging in and asking us right here and now to define the relationship.

I shot him a glare and he looked at me as if he couldn’t imagine what I was upset about.

Then Fletch’s hand closed over my hip, the warmth sending a bolt of desire through me and I looked up at him in surprise.

‘Yeah man, if you’re cool with it I think that’s where this is headed – I need to take her out on a proper date first though.’ Fletcher’s eyes were warm as they met mine and I bit my lip to stop the smile from overtaking my face.

Okay, so maybe Rob didn’t quite win that one.

I gave a quick laugh at the brief look of surprise that sped across my brother’s face, ‘Yeah I guess Rob and Tanya’s wedding doesn’t really count as much of a first date.’ As soon as the words were out I wanted to kick myself, the widening of Fletch’s eyes told me I’d made a mistake and the small frown twisting Rob’s mouth made me feel ill as I waited for his response.

My brother was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.

He took in the look of horror on Fletch’s face and the abject guilt likely written across mine and let out a deep breath, his nostrils flaring.

‘This,’ he said, gesturing between the two of us, ‘Didn’t just happen for the first time in the lodge, did it.

That’s why you were mopey after the wedding, Fletch, and why you were acting like you were heartbroken by that guy you met-up with like one time.

God, at my wedding?’ Rob shook his head but still didn’t seem as mad as I had expected.

‘Could you two be any more of a cliche? I mean, the groomsman and the maid of honour?’

A lick of anger made its way through my body and I suddenly couldn’t hold back any of my old hurt as his condescending words hit me.

‘Huh, that’s so funny Rob, because I’m actually just trying to recall when I asked for your opinion.

Or why you’d think I care about it.

God knows you’ve proved over and over that you think you’re so much better than me, so why bother inviting me on this trip in the first place? Just so you can make me feel more inadequate?’

Rob’s dark eyes were wide and Fletcher’s hand squeezed mine as I blinked away a stupid rush of tears and shook my head.

‘I’m going back to the lodge.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Fletch said gently and I couldn’t look at him, knowing the soft, pitying look he was probably wearing would only cause the tears to come back and I didn’t want to cry, damnit, I was mad.

Rob followed us at a sedate pace and the short walk back to the lodge was silent except for our heavy, chilled breaths and the crunch of the snow under our feet.

Tanya had clearly spotted us coming from one of the windows and met us at the door, the big smile on her face withering as she took in our expressions.

We knocked the snow off our boots without a word and my eyes fell to the patch of floor that had still been sticky with hot chocolate when we’d left.

It looked like Tanya had cleaned it up and I gave her a grateful smile as I hung up my coat and sat down in front of the fireplace.

Someone sat down next to me on the sofa and I turned around, expecting it to be Fletcher, but it was Rob.

I immediately twisted myself back to face the fire, not having anything more to say to him.

‘I didn’t know you felt that way,’ he said eventually, ‘that I made you feel that way.

I’m nothing but proud of you, Sara.

You’re my sister and I just… I just wanted what was best for you.’

I felt some of the ice coating my heart crack and I let loose a sigh, ‘You have a terrible way of showing it.’

‘Yeah Tanya says I need to work on being more ‘emotive’.’

I burst out laughing and he joined in, the sound ringing strangely but comfortingly and I relaxed into his side.

‘Hey,’ Tanya said, coming over and standing next to the sofa.

‘We bought supplies for the lodge on the way, so I made us all grilled cheeses.’

My stomach grumbled loudly and I beamed, standing up and kissing Tanya on the cheek as I made my way to the dining table.

‘I’m so glad my brother married you, Tan.’

She let out a peel of laughter as she strode off to the kitchen and Rob caught my hand before I could completely pass him.

‘In the spirit of honesty,’ he said, face back to its characteristic solemnity but the twitch of his eye betrayed his nervousness for once, ‘I have something I need to tell you.

And Fletcher.’

My heart thudded a little faster.

Was he going to give us his blessing? Not that I really felt that we needed it, we were grown adults and Rob didn’t own me or Fletcher.

Or maybe he was about to tell us he hated the idea of us together.

Rob stood and made his way to the table, sitting down in one of the chairs just as Fletcher came down the stairs.

‘I already knew about what happened at the wedding between the two of you.’