Holly head Slopes

Chapter Twenty-Seven

ABI'S POV

My head was pounding in agony. What happened?

I opened my puffy eyes slowly to an unfamiliar room. Panic consumed me as I looked around. The walls were tall and dark, and the furniture was basic. There was nothing giving away where I was. It could have been heaven, considering the bed I was lying in felt like clouds. The mattress was the right amount of firm and soft; it supported my bruised body perfectly. The pillows were fluffier than I had ever experienced.

This place was fancy. And only one person could be fancy enough to own a place like this.

Mason Dugray.

I rested my tired head back to the pillow, and the memories lapsed in my brain. The kiss, the drinking, the stupid midnight slopes, Mason and Myles arguing, and the grand finale of my accident.

I was beyond embarrassed. I knew I would never make it down the mountain, so why did I bother? The torment was too brutal for me to doze off to my dream world where I wasn't a walking disaster.

I carefully pulled the warm duvet off my fragile body and lifted myself off the tall bed. I winced at every movement. It really did feel like I fell down a mountain.

"You're going to need sleep if you're the new mountain rescue," I smirked as I finally made it downstairs. I cursed every step it took to make it to the ground floor.

Mason looked up from his crouching position by the fireplace. "Abi, what are you doing? You should be resting." He said with great concern.

"I couldn't sleep," I said with a sigh. He didn't hesitate to help me to the sofa as if I was made from porcelain.

He carefully sat us on his stunning black sofa that was as comfortable as the bed. He moved my legs to rest them on his lap. I liked Mason's company; I was at ease around him. But I had questions and wasn't sure I would like the answers.

"This week has been a complete shit show." He groaned with his troubled face. "I'm stuck with my draining family, and you almost died."

"Me nearly dying is a bit of an exaggeration."

He turned to me with a look I wish I could heal him from. "You had a snowboarding accident, Abi. I know how cruel the slopes can be. You could have seriously hurt yourself, and I didn't protect you."

"It's not your job to protect me, Mason. It's not like we're together or anything."

There was a moment of silence before he dragged his eyes to me. "Maybe not to you, but I've wanted you the minute you ran into me at the café."

My jaw dropped. I was too stunned to correct him about the spillage victim.

"This whole thing is my fault, and I'm not too proud to admit it. I hate the way I've treated you. I'm not myself when my family are around. They bring out the worst in me. I didn't want you getting caught in the Dugray nightmare. I pushed you away, and you didn't deserve that. Seeing you with Myles was the worst feeling I've ever experienced, and I never want that again."

I hope I remember his confession of love in the morning. It was surreal that Mason Dugray was speaking like a perfect fictional man.

"It hurt seeing you kiss that girl." I sadly said. Saying it out loud pained me.

He rubbed his eyes with his big, veiny, magic hands. "That wasn't what it looked like." He sighed. "Kia is Amy's trainer. Before that, she was just another figure skater with a crush on me. She wouldn't leave me alone, and I hated it. She was a sweet girl, but I was not interested. Until we got drunk and fooled around, it was stupid, and it only got worse. She thought we were together after that, and I was a dick and ignored her."

I wasn't shocked by his past. I'd been aware of it since the beginning. "I was cruel and broke her heart. But it wasn't long until Myles came to save the day. He swooped in when she was vulnerable. They dated for a year, but he also fooled around with girls every chance he got. He played the field during the holidays like it was a job. Kia never believed me when I told her. She claimed I was bitter that she had moved on. She walked in on Myles, getting a taste of the summer visitors. She then started travelling as a coach and put us behind her. This is the first time she's been back in years."

Myles was a class-A dick! It seemed so out of character. He was so caring and had been a good friend. Maybe encouraging me to snowboard down a mountain drunk wasn't his finest friendship moment, but he had been loyal before. But it seemed loyal wasn't the best word to describe him.

"I was trying to make amends. I should have treated her better, and maybe Myles would have left her alone. But she was drunk and thought that meant I was interested. She kissed me. I pushed her away right before she threw up all over me."

I cringed at the thought of a sick cannon.

"I drove her home and cleaned myself up before Clay announced his surprise theme. I rushed back when I heard, and the first thing I saw was you stumbling to the ski lift. It was my worst nightmare. I fucked up. I can't apologise enough, Abi."

He was wearing his heart on his sleeve. I couldn't tell him the reason I was so drunk was because I was hurt. He was already carrying enough guilt.

"You were playing the hero for everyone, huh." I smiled as I reached for his hand. His body relaxed from my touch, which I had missed dearly. "You don't need to apologise. I was the idiot who went up the mountain."

"Myles should have stopped you." He grumbled.

"It was my choice. But I am grateful for your help after my mistake. I probably would have frozen without you."

He chuckled at my light humour. "I know I've been beyond awful, but I hope we can get back on track."

"I think that can be arranged," I smirked. "Are we alone?"

"I got the Doctor to drive Jordan and Ruby to the Hughes house. I figured you'd want them to cover you instead of worrying your family."

He knew me well. I'd hate to wake them up and be constantly watched like a baby with a fever. My Mum was the most protective parent when I was ill. I don't want to imagine what she'd be like if she heard I fell down a mountain.

I sat up from my slouched position and leaned close. I could feel his hitched breath on my lonely lips.

"As much as I would love to take you upstairs and make up for lost time, you've just had an accident, and you're fragile."

I scowled at his rejection, but he wasn't wrong. Just sitting up made my ribs throb. I would break in two the second Mason got his hands on me.

"Fine. But can you at least cuddle me till I sleep?" I asked, knowing that he would never reject my request.

In just minutes, I had forgotten that gut-wrenching feeling that consumed me at the party. Mason solves my problems with warmth, even the ones he caused. I had missed this man more than I ever imagined.