Royally Screwed

Chapter 17

SYLVIE

I'm on the veranda, reading a book. The group quickly fizzled out shortly after Edmund left. With the storm cooling down, the roads were opened again. Xander excused himself saying his family's company needed help and disappeared, taking Isabella on the plane with him. Vicky said she'll go for a walk, and as I asked her whether I should come with her, she answered she'll be alright. Five minutes ago she sent me a text she took a train to Zurich and is spending two days there with an aunt or something.

No matter how many times I tried to replay the last few hours in my mind, I still fail to realise what went wrong. But then again, every time I replay the last few hours in my mind, all I see is Louis.

Louis, who now appears on the veranda with a blanket and two mugs of hot chocolate.

"For my lady", he lets out, brushing a kiss on my temple. He hands me the mug, places his on the small coffee table, then works his way around me to make sure the blanket shields me from the cold.

"Thank you", I whisper to him, taking ahold of his wrist and pulling him close to me to give him a kiss. He smells like masculine cologne and peppermint.

As we let go what must be minutes after, he takes a sit on the chair and looks at me. I can't help but fidget nervously with my fingers. "I still don't know what went wrong", I let out. "I mean, everything seemed alright hours ago."

"Oh please", Louis shakes his hand in the air. "This trip was meant for doom from the beginning."

"Why would you say that?", I find his eyes.

"Well, first of all, inviting Xander here. Secondly, the fact Isabella was here too. Xander didn't know Isabella would be here until the moment he saw her. You see, the two of them slept together a few times. Until she found out he was sleeping with another too."

"Oh", it's all I manage to say. All of a sudden, I feel really bad for Isabella.

"Exactly. She asked me to help her come here so she can put Xander to word, but I highly doubt any fighting was involved. I think they just slipped back into old habits."

I need a few seconds to find something to say. I go for a topic change. "And what about Edmund?"

"Trust me, I'm as curious. He wouldn't tell me anything this morning. He just left."

"So did Vicky", I point out.

Silence falls between us for a few seconds, until Louis looks up and our eyes meet again. "Truth to be told, that's not why I came find you on the veranda."

"It's not?", I ask him surprised. I do my best attempt at lightening the mood then. "I thought you just wanted to start a club for the only ones standing with me."

"All Hunger Games Style?", he chuckles.

"Yeah, you could see it like that. The cabin is the arena and we're the only two victors", I roll with it.

He chuckles, taking my hand and giving it a kiss. "As tempting as that idea could be", he begins. His voice gets more intimate after that, and my heart beats like in a racing car as I wait to see what he will tell me next. "I was actually going to ask you if you'd like to spend the rest of the trip here with me. Edmund said something about the cabin not being refundable, meaning it is booked for the days he made the reservation. And since everybody left, we'd have it all to ourselves."

"Won't he suspect anything?", I ask, the idea being a bit too much to my liking.

"Not if we don't tell him exactly what we would be doing", Louis answers, his eyes glowing with mischief.