“There you are!” She points an accusatory finger between us. “I was just coming to find you. Get. In. Here.”
My face burns hot enough to melt snow. “We were just?—”
“Uh-huh.” She takes a long sip from her cup, eyes dancing with amusement. “Sure you whatever you were.”
Julien straightens. “Everyone inside?”
“Yep.” Sienna grabs my hand, steering me toward the door. “Come on, I need backup. Your sister’s been hogging the good whiskey.”
I glance back at Julien. He nods once, a small smile tugging at his mouth, before following us inside.
The lodge has transformed. Lanterns hang from ceiling beams, casting warm pools of light across the open space. Someone’s arranged the furniture against the walls, creating a makeshift dance floor in the center. Cameron stands by the far wall, fiddling with what looks like an ancient MP3 player connected to surprisingly decent speakers.
“Look what Ramirez found!” he calls, holding it up like a trophy. “Old caretaker’s stash. Thing’s got thousands of songs!”
Sienna doesn’t stop, pulling me toward a table where Amelia sits with Ramirez, both nursing drinks in mismatched cups.
“Found them.” Sienna finally releases my wrist.
“Dakota!” My sister’s cheeks are flushed pink, a half-empty glass in front of her. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Sorry, I was—” Having sex with Julien. “—taking my time getting ready.”
Sienna snorts into her drink.
I shoot her a look that promises retribution later.
She just grins wider, dropping into a chair and patting the one beside her. “Sit. Ramirez made some kind of punch. It’s actually not terrible.”
“That’s my queue.” Ramirez stands, nodding to me. “I’ll leave you to catch up.” He crosses to where Julien and Cameron are debating song choices, clapping Julien on the shoulder like they’re old friends.
Sienna pours me a generous cup of something that smells like fruit and rubbing alcohol. “Drink. Doctor’s orders.”
“You’re not a doctor.” I slide into the seat.
“I took a first aid course once. Close enough.” She lifts her cup. “To not dying today.”
“Setting the bar high.” But I clink my cup against hers and Amelia’s before taking a sip. It burns all the way down, settling like fire in my stomach. “What is this?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to,” Sienna says with a wink.
The music shifts to a slower beat, and Cameron appears at Sienna’s side, hauling her to her feet. “Dance with me.”
“You’re such a dork.” But she’s laughing, letting him spin her into the center of the room.
They move together like they’ve done this a thousand times, his hand at her waist, hers on his shoulder. It’s sweet.
Amelia watches them too, wistfulness softening her features. “They’re cute.”
“They are.”
“I wish I had that.” Her gaze drifts to where Julien stands with Ramirez near the speaker, accepting a drink. “Someone who looks at me like that.”
Heat crawls up my neck as I remember exactly how Julien and I spent the last hour. His hands on my body. His mouth. His voice. His…
I shift in my chair, thighs pressing together. “Like what?”
“Like Cameron looks at Sienna.” Amelia takes another sip. “Do you think he likes me?”
