Beyond Reason by Karice Bolton Page A

She raised her brow and twisted her lips as she looked at her brothers. “Since we set poor Lily up for this trip, I think it’s only fair she gets one of the rooms with a bathroom. Aaron and I’ll take one without. But I think it’s rock, paper, scissor time for the two of you.”
    “I’m fine with it,” Ayden said. “Bunks for me.”
    “What about Sammie?” I asked, turning to him. “Are you claiming top or bottom bunk with her?”
    Brandy and Gabby laughed, but Mason’s expression was one of complete bewilderment as he looked at his brother. Ayden smiled and dropped his hand from my shoulder as I turned to go get my bags from the entry, but he didn’t say anything.
    “So, Lily’s got a date at seven tonight,” Gabby called out, as everyone followed my lead. Like they didn’t know.
    “But it might be a really short one. As far as I know, it’s drinks only,” I said, in an attempt to brush off some of the anxiety that was building at a rapid pace. The moment the plane had touched down in Utah, it felt like I’d drank two Red Bulls and six cups of coffee. Even my hands shook if I held them out for more than a second.
    “How about we go out for drinks and then I’ll cook a dinner for us tonight?” Ayden offered, reaching for his bag. “That way you won’t feel pressure, one way or another, with Austin. I’ll make sure to make plenty in case you come back late and hungry.”
    I dropped my bag and smacked him in the arm. “Not funny.”
    “But it could be accurate…” Brandy laughed.
    “I can’t have the Rhodes siblings ganging up on me in my condition,” I said, picking my bag up and walking down the hallway.
    “Condition?” Brandy asked, following right behind me.
    “Yeah. Condition. Look at this.” I held out my free hand, which had a slight tremor to it.
    “Shit. You weren’t kidding about freaking out,” Brandy muttered.
    “Yeah. I’ve been playing it cool, but now my body’s betraying me. By the time I see him tonight, I’m going to have to sit on my hands.”
    I peeked into the first bedroom and laughed. “Found your bunks,” I called to Ayden.
    The room was bright blue with a ski mural painted on the far wall. There was a teddy bear placed on each of the bottom two bunks. It looked like a bedroom Mason and Ayden would’ve shared when they were ten. “If this doesn’t call out for sexy time with your girlfriend, I don’t know what will.”
    Brandy peeked her head in and started laughing. “Yeah, if you have Sammie by the end of the trip, I’ll be impressed.”
    I glanced at the bathroom and then another bedroom, which looked far more traditional. I could see the entrance to the ensuite as well. “I think this is my stop,” I said, admiring the room. There was a fireplace at the end of the bed and an entrance out to the shared patio, which was covered in snow, but there was a trail leading to a Jacuzzi and fire pit that could also be accessed from the great room.
    I dropped my bag in the bedroom and followed everyone as we all checked out one another’s bedrooms. They were amazing and I actually felt bad for Ayden. He definitely got stuck with the kids’ bedroom. But not bad enough to switch with him.
    I trundled back out to the great room and noticed a ladder in the far corner, leading to a loft. I climbed the steps quickly and saw an old pinball machine tucked in the back and an old Miss Pacman arcade standing next to it. There were large beanbags spread out in front of another large television with a PS4 hooked up. Very cute.
    As I was climbing back down, two large hands gripped my waist and lifted me off the last three steps.
    “What did you find up there?” Ayden asked, not putting me down immediately.
    “A place I’ll probably be hiding out in for most of the trip,” I said. “Now put me down or I’ll kick you where it counts.”
    “Whoa,” Brandy laughed as she stuck her head around her brother. “You better do what she says.”
    He placed me gently