“Don’t promise things you have no control over.”
“You’re right. But if there’s one thing—one person—who can control Baylor, it’s you.”
I choke out a laugh. “Me?”
“You’re the only one who can stand an argument with him long enough to see it through. Everyone always gives up or gives in. Everyone but you. I think he secretly likes having you around because of that.”
“Yeah, right. He can’t stand me. He’s told me several times. And not in such delicate words,” I deadpan.
“Maybe after two weeks, you two will get sick of this stupid rivalry thing you’ve got going on.”
“Or one of us will kill the other. Can you at least tell me where the weapons are in the house? I’d like to be prepared.”
“Aspen,” Henry scolds me.
“What? When I finally drive a stake through his cold heart, you can tell the jury it was in self-defense.” I lower my voice and say, “It’ll be our little secret.”
“Do you think my family is a bunch of vampire hunters, hiding wooden stakes in vaults around the house?”
I shrug. “I’ll take a bow and arrow. Don’t they hunt elk out here?”
“You’re ridiculous.” He grins and bats the snowflakes off the pom of my hat.
I wipe away the ones that melted on my face. My bare and plain face.
I’m suddenly aware of just howplainI look. From head to toe, I am a mess and in no way ready to face Henry’s friends. Most of the ones I’ve met are pretty okay—sans Baylor—but I am always prepared when I know I am going to be around them. I am the only one in Henry’s close-knit group that doesn’t have a seven- or eight-figure inheritance. I actually don’t have much more than three figures in my bank account right now, and it feels like that number is just floating above my head in a giant neon sign for all of them to see.
There is a certainje ne sais quoithat comes with having as much money as they do. A finesse I could never capture. I know it isn’t their fault that their parents are wealthy or that they’ve never really had to work for anything. But when you’re around people with that much power, that much confidence and ignorance, you have to be able to hold your own.
I swear Baylor can smell people who don’t come from money. That’s why he sticks his nose up at me so often. I don’t fart Chanel perfume or fan myself with hundred-dollar bills, so naturally, I’m inferior.
Henry is different. We might’ve come from opposite worlds, but he always does well with blurring them together.
“You want to come say hi to the guys? Jesse and Luke are still playing pool in the basement, but I’m sure Jesse will be willing to take a break to fix you a stiff one.”
“As tempting as that is, I think I’d like to go take a shower and try to get some sleep. It’s been a long day, and I have airplane all over me.”
He tilts his head as he takes my coat. “Don’t hide, Aspen.”
“I’m not!”
“You know what they do if they think they’ve scared you off.” His eyes fill with warning. “They come hunting.”
“They? Like you aren’t one of them?” I laugh, struggling out of my winter boots.
His friends might be intimidating, but they don’t scare me.
“That hurts.” Henry holds his hand over his heart, feigning insult. “Maybe you should get some sleep. You’re crabby.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just readying myself for two weeks of drunken, rich asshats with raging testosterone and no filters. No offense.”
“You’re going to be just fine. They can use someone like you to keep their egos in check.” His smile eases my nerves.
I roll my eyes and move toward the winding staircase with a giant fifteen-foot Christmas tree in the middle of it. “Do I just pick a room?”
“Oh, here, I can show you around.”
“I’m sure I can figure it out.” I stop him.
