“Alright,” Sergio says, then grins at Holden. “Not today, but some day this week if we want to avoid the tourists, we should take a heli trip.”
“Absolutely not,” Adrien says at the exact moment Holden grins maniacally and says, “Absolutely!”
With the knowledge that Adrien will, in fact, have fun on said trip, Sergio smiles and finishes his coffee. His smile doesn’t last long, though. He may be able to take some comfort knowing that, according to Holden, Rose doesn’t hate him. She’s merely protective of Jeremy. However, proving to her that he’s not out to hurt Jeremy in the sixteen waking hours he gets each version of this day will be no easy feat.
Hanging high above the mountain top, his legs and skis dangling from the chairlift, Sergio still can’t stop replaying this morning's conversation in his head. He turns to look at Adrien.
“I’m not convinced that Rose doesn’t hate me.”
Adrien shrugs. “She might.”
“Wow, way to reassure me.”
Adrien twists his head and shoulders to face Sergio, looking at him in exasperation. “What do you want me to do? Lie to you like everyone else does?”
“Well … no. But—”
“No, but what, Sergio?” He rolls his eyes and takes a breath. “Listen, you know I love you. But come on, man, you have a reputation for a reason.”
“I’ve changed!”
Adrien stares at him with his lips set in a hard line. “Have you?” He doesn’t let Sergio answer. “And while I don’t actually think that Rose hates you, I also don’t think she wants you flirting with her assistant coachorher skater for that matter.”
“I’m not flirting with anyone!” Sergio lies. Well, it’s technically not a lie, as he hasn’t flirted with either of them yet during this version of today.
“Day’s still young,” Adrien says dryly and turns in his seat to take his gaze back to the space above the treetops.
Sergio frowns and keeps his eyes on his brother. “Do you hate me?”
“Jesus Christ, Sergio. I told you that I love you not even two minutes ago.”
“I know, but … you could hate me, too.”
Adrien takes a deep breath, then slowly turns to face Sergio again. “Sergio, I could never hate you. You’re my brother, my family, and the most important person in this world to me.” He pauses as the chair lift deposits them at the top of the mountain, then, after taking another deep breath, says, “Which is why I think I have to quit working for you.”
Sergio, stunned that Adrien still managed to quit on him, even in this conversational context, says nothing as he watches hisbrother take off down the mountain, speeding away from him as fast as the snow will whisk him away.
“Did you guys have fun?” Holden asks them once they all meet again on the bunny hills.
As always, Sergio doesn’t get a chance to answer as Henry is already calling his name. “Uncle Sergio! Look!” He zooms down the hill and flips forward to a stop. “Did you see?”
“Yeah, Henry. I saw,” Sergio says, downtrodden as he approaches and picks him up.
“You alright?” Henry asks him.
Sergio plasters a fake smile on his face. “Of course I’m alright. I’m with you!”
“You don’t look alright.”
Sergio laughs. “Between you and me, Henry, sometimes I think you’re the only person who likes me around here.”
“Uh-uh.” Henry shakes his head. “Everybody likes Uncle Sergio.”
“You think so?”
“I know so!” Henry says with complete confidence. “They talked about you all day yesterday.”
Well, this is new and exciting information.Sergio perks up. “Did they now?”
