Page 132 of The Chalet Girl

‘Why didn’t youtellme then?’

‘And compromise your job?’

‘Oh fuck off!’ Emme shouted. She’d had enough. ‘You’re toxic. Is there anyone in Kristalldorf you haven’t slept with? Oh yeah, Cat, but you had to fuck up everything for her too… Jesus Christ what iswrongwith you Tristan?’

As she said it, she looked at him and felt such a raging passion she wanted to be back in Vitreum, the two of them,naked on the bearskin. She felt like such a fool who couldn’t control her own body and mind.

‘I swear Emme.’ He put his palm to his heart. ‘I have not been able to think about anyone but you since I’ve been home. My mom said I look like a different person– she’s dying to meet–’

Emme cut him off and raised her chin.

‘I genuinely cannot believe anything you say, and now I’ve lost my job, and I’m holed up here, and–’

Tristan approached her and put out his hand.

‘Don’t!’ she scolded, and he stopped.

‘I was a fool to think you looked at me any differently.’ Emme said.

‘I do, honestly.’

‘Get out of here, leave me alone.’

Chapter Eighty

When Emme came down to breakfast the next morning wearing the ski thermals Cat had squirreled for her, Tiago was nearing the end of his shift. He looked exhausted and overwhelmed, and she didn’t want to add any more stress on his shoulders.

‘Hey T, I’ll be out of your hair later, I’m going to check out…’ she said, as she squeezed him on the arm and walked to the breakfast buffet. Emme had decided. She didn’t have to fly to London for a stolen forty-eight hours with her family. She was going home for good. She was going to tell Lexy and Bill she was leaving, although she assumed she had already been fired; she was going to show Bill the BUZZ footage of Lexy with Tristan. Then she was going to pack her clothes, hug Harry and Bella tightly, and take the last train down to Bloch this evening. She planned to spend the night in an airport hotel, and fly from Zurich to Gatwick the next morning. She’d booked the flight and not told her parents. It was going to be an early Christmas surprise for them.

His weary-warm smile wore a look of concern.

‘Hey, you can stay as long as the room is available– although I might need to switch you around to a twin, I think I need that double back…’

‘No really, I can’t stay here forever. I need to go home.’

‘Home home?’ Tiago looked forlorn.

Emme nodded, as she put some muesli and yogurt in a bowl.

Camilla approached, looking harangued. The restaurant was half full with guests in their skiwear, eating plates of fruit, cheeses, meats and cereals. Staff were hurriedly waltzing in and out of the kitchen with refills.

‘Dammit, Cecily has called in sick and Dieter’s in a plaster cast… what can we do Tiago?’

He sighed at the ceiling.

‘Damn Camilla, I gotta sleep some time!’ He looked at Emme. ‘Want a job?’

She laughed, then realised he was serious.

‘Really?’

‘We’ve been understaffed all season and people are letting me down left right and centre. Pietro is going to go apeshit.’

‘I’m meeting Cat, we’re going skiing,’ Emme apologised. ‘And then I need to sort out my shit.’

‘Not now!’ Tiago laughed, nudging Emme on the arm. ‘But any time you do…’

Emme wasn’t sure she could ever stay in Kristalldorf without her heart hurting too much, but it was nice of Tiago to offer.