Nine
Yawning I follow Edward toward the lake I spoke to my Aunt by.
"Holy shit," I shiver, pulling my coat tighter against my body, "It's so cold."
"Perfect weather for you to lose your bet," he smirks at me.
"Not in a million years," I snort, "hurry up and tell me your proposal plan so I can go prepare to beat you."
"Fine," he leads me to the gazebo.
"Okay, here's my plan," he begins.
Listening I nod, note things down on my phone and make light suggestions. He'd do it tomorrow night. He'd steal her away from the rest of us for a quiet moment, bring her down here and propose. But I got to play a very special role. I needed to bring her here.
I also needed to spend my entire night painting.
"There are supplies in the closet of your room. Everything I thought you'd need. I went to an art shop and demanded the best stuff they had. If you need more let me know and I'll call my assistant," he says, "if you need more time, text me."
"I can do this tonight easily," I nod, "I've turned around more with less time. You just need to keep Bella away from my room."
"Done," he nods, "I'll take her to dinner tonight when we get home. Then you can lie and say you've gone to bed by the time we get home. You sure you can stay up to do this?"
"Of course," I nod, "we have coffee. I like staying up to paint. The night is the best time to unleash creativity."
"Sorry I couldn't give you more of a heads up. I just really don't want any risk of her knowing," he says, "I've been ironing out the specifics myself anyway."
"I know," I nod, "your secret is safe with me. I understand completely. She has no idea so you're going to completely take her off guard."
"Thank you," he moves closer to me, pulling me in for a tight hug.
Wrapping my arms around him, I hug him tightly, excited for him.
"Congratulations," I say, "I'm so happy she found you."
"I hope she says yes," he pulls back, the first hint of nervousness I've seen on his face.
"I don't doubt for a second she'll be thrilled," I say, "she's so in love with you it makes me sick. It's just too sweet."
"That's what I want to hear," he laughs, "I love her too."
"I'll miss her," I feel sudden sadness, "as my roomie. We've had some good times."
"I'm sorry I'll take her away. You can have a key to our place and come any time you like," he reassures me, "just don't kick me out of my own bed."
"Most men would be excited by the prospect of two women in their bed," I laugh.
"And have Emmett murder me? I'm fine, thanks," He begins to lead the way back to the house.
"He wouldn't," I scoff.
"Please he's so protective of you. I bet if you even flirted with another man in front of him he'd pop vessels," Edward looks at me.
"Yet I have to watch him with her," I shake my head.
"I wouldn't worry about it," Edward sighs, "something in my gut is telling me we're missing a key part of the story."
"I'm going to get it," I vow.
"When you do please make sure you share. I want to help my baby brother," he says, "if she's hurting him or making him do something he doesn't want to do… I'd hire every lawyer in New York."
"I wish you were my brother," I punch his shoulder softly as we walk.
"What do you mean? I am!" he looks at me seriously.
On the chair lift I sit between the brothers, legs swaying beneath me with my skis prepared to take me to gulley clothed glory.
"I hope you've googled frostbite cures, Shrivel," Emmett teases Edward.
"Stop calling me that," Edward looks at him.
"I don't know why you're bickering. You'll both be out there," I say.
"You said you've never done it," Edward rolls his eyes.
"I don't think I did," I smirk.
"You said you've never tried," Emmett adjusts his goggles atop his beanie, eyes looking me over confused.
"I've never had to," I shrug, "I was given lessons by an olympian as a kid and I have a natural talent. It's all about semantics."
"Sorry huh?" Edward looks at me in horror.
I'm unable to answer him because we've reached the top. We glide off and find a starting mark. Jasper was waiting down the bottom to prevent any scuffles or accusations of cheating.
Both the brother's parents were unamused by the terms of the bet and had agreed to spend the day away from the house. They weren't all too keen on witnessing either of their sons bare butts race around in the snow.
"Okay," Emmett rights his snowboard, pulling goggles down off his beanie, "ready?"
"Yep," I push off before they can say go.
"Cheater" Edward shouts after me.
Both the boys had chosen snowboards. I stuck with skis. My aunt had a fling one year with a skiing champion who had taught me a thing or two. I wasn't trained and I wasn't given repeated lessons... more semantics.
They keep up, right on my heels.
Despite my best efforts and my cocky attitude, I fall. With the loudest cuss word I've ever screamed, I lose my balance, tumbling down into the snow, feeling my knee move in a way I hate. One of my shoes clicks free from the ski.
Growling I lay back in the snow and consider staying here. Why'd I make this stupid bet, to begin with.
"You okay, Rosie?" a voice breaks me from my anger.
Emmett stands above me, arm stretched out to help me up.
"What are you doing? He'll beat you," I take his hand, letting him pull me upright.
"Shrivel dick will get his day," Emmett shrugs, "are you hurt?"
"My knee did something I didn't like," I look down my body.
"We should have it looked at," he says, "can you walk?"
With I nod I attempt a step, but I instantly begin to crumble. He catches me with an arm around my waist.
"We're going to have to take it slow," he says, "pass me your skis. You can carry your poles in that other hand."
He gathers us into a configuration so that I'm leaning into him as we slowly make our way down the hill. Thankfully I'd fallen not too far from the finish line.
"I can't believe you stopped racing," I grip him tightly, ignoring the ache in my knee.
"You really think I'd ever just leave you? I bet Edward would have stopped but I don't think he noticed," Emmett says.
We get to the end of the slope, the hill becomes less steep. Emmett spots Edward calling him over. Before Edward can claim his victory, he shifts into immediate concern.
"Take her shit," Emmett demands.
Jasper races over too, taking the poles from my hands while Edward takes the skis and Em's snowboard. Pain zips up my leg, and I scrunch my face, squeezing Emmett's back through it.
"Hold on," he doesn't give me much more warning as he lifts me up into my arms, "I'm going to take her to the medic."
"I'm sure it's just minor," I shake my head.
"You're in pain," he gives me a look, insisting I shut up.
He's no-nonsense right now. The hottest kind of Emmett there is.
"We'll find the girls, take the shit back to the car and meet you there," Jasper nods.
"No," I shake my head, "You guys stay. I don't want to spoil the fun."
"You're hurt," Edward says.
"Exactly. Just me," I adjust my hold on Emmett's neck so I feel more secure, "Emmett can take me to the medic and come right back."
He looks as if he wants to argue with that but he doesn't.
"Fine," Jasper nods, "text us to let us know you're okay?"
"Deal," I nod.
Emmett doesn't let me down until a medic at the ski lodge guides him to a stretcher for me.
"Pop her down here," he instructs, "we'll see if we need an ambulance."
"We don't," I sit back on the bed Emmett placed me on, propping my leg up carefully.
"You go," I tell him, "go back and have fun."
"It's fine," he takes a seat on the free stretcher across from me.
The room was like a basic sick bay. Like the nurse you'd be sent to in school for a nosebleed. They probably treated more sprains and twisted ankles than possible to imagine.
"You're so stubborn," I huff.
"You'd know. You're the queen of it," he crosses his arms.
He'd removed his beanie, that hair wildly falling across his forehead. His cheeks and lips were pink from the cold and his eyes appeared even more blue than usual.
The medic inspects my knee, happy to call it a sprain.
"I don't think it's broken," he shakes his head, "if the pain gets worse go to the hospital. For now, keep off it as much as you can and ice it. I'd pop a knee brace onto it too for safety. Have your husband try and keep you off your feet as much as you can."
"Oh he's…" I begin to correct.
"I can do that," Emmett interrupts with a smirk.
"Fantastic," he stands, "oh it goes without saying your off the slopes for today. Head home."
"I'll take you," Emmett fishes his phone out beginning to text someone.
"Wait Em," I hold my hand up to stop him, "your here with your family."
"Exactly. You're getting me out of it," he winks at me, "let's get you home."
Thanks for reading x