Curtis gives me a long look—part sad, part exhausted. Part curious. It’s freezing here in the corridor. I wrap my arms around my chest. He steps back from the door and gestures to the bed.

It’s not what I expected, but my feet make the decision for me. I limp across the floorboards and ease myself into the narrow bunk. The duvet flops against my cheek, soft and smooth; the mattress is still warm from his body heat.

Curtis clicks the light on in the bathroom, turns the bedroom light off, and climbs in with me.

CHAPTER 44

TEN YEARS AGO

Glow Bar is packed. Lights flash, music thumps, laughter rings out. The Brits have invaded. I push my way through the rainbow of snowboard jackets to the bar. I didn’t want to come out, but it would have looked defeatist if I didn’t. Oh crap. There’s Curtis at the bar and he’s spotted me.

Reluctantly I join him. “How’s your shoulder?”

“Not too bad.”

Has he forgiven me for earlier? I can’t tell because he’s looking at something over my head. I turn and of course it’s his sister.

In a glittery silver corset top, she sits in a booth with Odette. Julien’s trying to drag them onto the dance floor. Odette looks like she wants to slap him, but Saskia is laughing—teasing and flirting with him at the same time. She’s been stringing him along like this all winter. It makes me nervous to watch because one day he’s going to snap, surely. And perhaps Curtis thinks the same, because he’s poised to race over.

“What do you make of Julien anyway?” I say.

“No comment,” Curtis says, and I laugh.

Heather finishes serving someone. I wave but she doesn’t notice and begins serving someone else.

Across the room, Saskia has convinced Julien to sit down. How effortlessly she plays him.

“You know, there’s a lot I admire about your sister,” I say grudgingly.

Curtis looks wary. “Like what?”

“She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her.”

“And that’s a good thing?”

“Women are too paranoid about what people think. I know I am, and I hate it, but I can’t help it. Your sister doesn’t give a shit.”

“I wouldn’t say that’s a good thing.”

“It’s a male thing.”

His brow wrinkles. “Is it?”

“Yeah. Guys don’t care that much. You focus on what you want, you know? But when a girl’s like that, people call her out on it. It’s sexist, but that’s how it is.”

Curtis stiffens, hand braced on the bar. Over people’s heads, I see Julien on his feet again, looking agitated, but Saskia smiles sweetly and he seems to calm down.

Curtis turns back to me. “You know she’s never had a serious relationship.”

“No?”