13. Open Your Eyes

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Mimi XOXO

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Get up, get out, get away from these liars
'Cause they don't get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we'll walk from this dark room for the last time

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes

-Open your eyes, Snow Patrol

“Everything in this room is gorgeous” Tyler states not breaking eye contact with me. We stare at each other for what seems like a longer then appropriate. Was he talking about me too??

The moment was broken when Darryl yells from the front doorway. “Can someone start a fire? It’s freezing in here.”

“Sure” “Yup” We say at the same time. The huge smile that’s on his face is infectious.

“You grab the wood, I’ll start the fire?” I ask hoping we can do this together.

“Be right back” He answers as he trots off in search of some wood.

I can’t take my eyes off him as I watch him leave. His shoulders look unbelievably wide in his down jacket and all I can think about is how it would feel to be pressed up against what I assume would be an incredibly hard body. Why am I thinking like this?

“Michelle, get up here you have to see this” I’m pulled out of my day dream as Jenn calls from somewhere in the depths of the house. I make my way over in the direction I heard her voice come from. I find her sprawled out in the middle of a bed surrounded by fluffy pillows in one of the rooms. It looks like heaven. I run over and jump beside her.

“You geek”

She laughs out and we settle on the bed side by side facing each other.

“ALL of the rooms are like this. And, each one has an idock that you can play in the room, throughout the whole house or in just selected rooms. Isn’t that awesome?” She looks like a kid on Christmas morning.

“This place is unbelievable.” I say with a sigh.

“What’s unbelievable is that you’re with Joffrey and not with Tyler. Now THAT’S what’s un-believable”

“Jenn, you have no idea what you’re talking about.” I turn away from the window to give her my not impressed look.

“Maybe not, but I know what I see.” She pauses. “I came back to get you earlier but I stopped myself when I saw you and Tyler having a moment by the fire place. It may have been innocent, but trust me, if you were single, the two of you would be all over each other.”

I stare at her for a minute contemplating my life.

“What am I supposed to do Jenn?” She shrugs her shoulders at my question.

“I know things have to end with Joffrey that much is obvious. I can’t be with someone when I’m thinking about someone else most of the time. But how can I possibly pursue anything with Tyler? They P-L-A-Y together Jenn. That shit bonds these guys for life.”

I think I may have gotten to her when she lies on her back and exhales deeply.

“I never thought of it that way.” She confesses. “I guess it’s not as easy as I though. I just think there’s something about you and Tyler. Plus have you seen his ass….Je-sus” Typical Jenn.

I ignore her last comment for the time being.“ Maybe I just need to give Joffrey one more shot. This weekend will be the deciding factor on whether or not we go forward.” She lets out a huff as I roll off the bed. I duck quickly as a pillow flies by my head while I walk over to the floor to ceiling windows.

I pull back the curtain to reveal the most beautiful view of the snow covered hills. This side of the mountain is a little bit darker, more secluded but there’s a haze of light peaks over the mountain from the village, making the tree tops glow a stunning shade of deep green. “And Jenn? I don’t need any encouragement when it comes to thinking about Tyler.

I felt like such an idiot, but I couldn’t stop the words earlier when they fell out of my mouth, and every word I spoke was true. Everything in that room was beautiful, but it was Michele I was talking about. It took all I had in me to not close the distance between us and kiss her. The setting was perfect but the moment wasn’t mine.

When I came back from the garage where I found the logs to start the fire, I was disappointed to discover she was gone.

I began making a tee-pee with three logs, then balled up some paper and wedged them into the open spaces to help get it going. With a strike of a match the paper went up in flames and thankfully the firewood was dry enough that the fire took immediately. She would have been impressed at how good I am at that.

The guys were standing around the island in the kitchen having a beer and talking about grabbing dinner at some seafood restaurant we had seen on the way in. I walked to the front hallway to pick up my bag and grabbed the already open beer Luca offered me. I took a good long swig before making my way through the living area and up the stairs.

I guess everyone decided to follow my lead because before long the second floor was packed with bodies looking room to room trying to declare which was theirs.

The chalet had eight rooms, so one would go unused, or so I thought. The look on Michelle’s face was heartbreaking when Joff dropped her bag off and declared it her room.

“Sweetie, since you haven’t been feeling well lately you need to get some rest and I can’t take a chance sleeping in the same bed as you all weekend and risk getting sick. It’s too late in the season” She looked up at him as he pats her cheek and I could see the glassiness in her eyes.

“Besides, we always sleep in a king sized bed. It’ll be too cramped sleeping in a queen…. Why don’t you go get ready for dinner since we’ll be leaving shortly?”

I would sleep with her in on a loveseat, crumpled in a ball and not be uncomfortable. Man I hope she opens her eyes soon. It’s obvious he’s just into sex and nothing else. I could see her cover up her hurt, smile at him and turn toward her room.

He walked by Boyce and patted him on the shoulder. “I should have left her at home. Did you see the talent around here? Unbelievable! I’ll put her to bed early so we can go and check out what the mountain has to offer.”

I went directly to my room which was conveniently located between Michelle’s and Joffrey’s to unpack my stuff. I could hear the water running through my bathroom wall letting me know she was taking a shower. I decided to hop in myself and get ready.

I finished showering and was drying off but noticed, well heard, her water still running. She must like to take really long showers. But that’s when I heard the worst sound I could her coming from her room, well I guess the second worst, her crying softly. I wanted to go in there and tell her that he’s a dick and that she’s beautiful and there are way better guys out there for her. At this moment I could only think of one.

But I don’t do anything. I chicken out and finish getting ready. What am I supposed to do? My hands are tied here. I won’t rock the boat with my team and I’m not close enough to Joff to tell him off. So for now I’ll have to wait.

I head down to the living room and put another log on the fire. Joffrey is already there, laughing and telling a story to both Tim and Phil, both of which are in relationships and never cheat on their girls.

Phil looks at me like he can sense my anger. He knows me well and I’ve told him how I feel. He’s the only one I’d ever trust to tell this to because I know he won’t judge me. I sit next to him in one of the unoccupied seats and join the conversation. Soon all the guys are sitting around shooting the breeze.

10 mins later Jenn comes sauntering down the stairs. Jenn’s a spunky little thing with dark brown hair and matching eyes. I catch both Boyce and Luca giving her the once over. She tells us that Michelle is ready but her mom called and she was just finishing up.

“I’ll go grab her” Joffrey says as he begins to rise from his seat.

“Don’t bother. She’ll be down in a second.” Jenn snaps at him and Joff sits immediately. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him listen to anyone like that, besides Wilson that is.

Almost like clockwork Michelle comes walking down the stairs looking soft and cuddly in a white sweater that stretches across her full breasts and dark skinny jeans that hug her curves in all the right places. The closer she gets, the more breathtaking she is.

Her makeup is subtle just how I like makeup to be. Her hair is down and looks so soft I want to run my fingers through it.

“Are we ready to go or what? Sorry I took so long, Moms you know?” She says so cheerily I am surprised at how strong she is considering that not even an hour ago she was crying.

Michelle struts straight by us and straight to the front door. I watch her pull on these brown leather boots that go to her knee. I want to be close to her, to protect her from him and I find myself standing up and making my way over to her, grabbing my coat on the way and slipping on my shoes when I reach her.

“How far is this place?” Jenn pipes up from behind me as the rest of the group starts getting ready to leave.

“Not too far” Phil answers.

We walk to the restaurant which is only 10 minutes or so away. Joffrey leads the way and I notice Michelle has pulled back and is near the back of the group talking to Phil. I’m a little nervous about them talking, I know I can trust Phil but still I feel anxious.

Jenn sneaks up beside me and gives me a little elbow. “So that was a dick move.” She states. I look at her expectantly even though I think I know exactly what she’s talking about.

“Don’t play dumb Tyler. I know you think he’s a jerk and I heard what he said in the hallway. I also know that you’ve got it bad for her. Don’t be a pussy, let her know you’re interested this weekend. You never know unless you try”

She doesn’t even give me a chance to deny it before she starts asking about Luca. “So what’s the deal with your roomie?”

“It’s complicated” I say quietly watching my feet go one in front of the other.

“Your roomie is complicated?”

“No. Not that, he’s a good guy. Michelle I mean. That’s complicated. I can’t say or do anything. She’s with my teammate and that’s that.” I say very matter of factly.

“Good to know” Jenn states smiling.

What is she talking about? Why is she smiling? God she’s confusing. “Good to know what?”

“That your roommate is a good guy. As for the rest of the shit you’re shoveling to me save it….. Answer one question for me. Do you like her Tyler?”

Silence.

“Does he sleep around?”

I stare ahead because I don’t dare look at her.

“Would you do what he does?”

I shake my head no.

I guess my silence answers everything.

“That’s what I thought. Look, I’m not saying for you to announce your undying love for her. But just be there, get to know her, make the effort.”

We walk in silence as I mull over what Jenn has said to me.

I can’t make a move on her while she’s with him, I just can’t do it. Things would be so different if they weren’t together.