Chapter 32

DARCY

* * *

"No, really, I have shifts at The Wreck this weekend." Even if it's the slow season and I purposely signed up, no one needs to know that.

"You're getting your ass on that plane and coming to Vail. We'll ski, drink, get pampered, and enjoy the hell out of each other's company. You hear me?" Ashleigh is practically yelling at me through the phone.

"But," I start.

"No buts. Sammie is looking forward to it, and you don't want to deny her this all-expenses-paid weekend getaway, do you? You know she won't come if you don't. We've had this book club trip planned for months. Now head to the airport, or I'll send Chance down there to drag your ass on that plane."

"Fine, but guilting me with Sammie is a low blow. And I told you I don't know how to ski. I'm a Southern girl. We don't get snow." I mumble the last part. It's true. I'm not in the mood to get out of bed most days, let alone fly across the country. I don't have the energy to act like I'm okay for three days. Truth is, I don't want to ruin everyone's good time. I'm heartbroken.

Matt left, and I haven't heard a word from him since the party. I didn't even warrant a breakup text. He must hate me for causing him to lose his best friend. The thought brings another wave of overwhelming sadness. It's been five weeks, and I've just become functional. Barely.

"Duh, we're all Southern girls. I already have lessons lined up for us with an adorable ski instructor named Katie. I've got you, Darcy. Come on, work with me here." Ashleigh's begging is raising my guilt meter.

"Fine. We'll be out of here in the next twenty minutes. I promise."

I hear a cheer in the background and a champagne cork popping.

"Great! See you soon."

I look at the bags Sammie packed. They mean well. I put on my best fake smile and call out. "Looks like we're going skiing this weekend. You ready?"

Sammie pops her head in my room, trying to hide her grin. "Yep. Come on. This'll be fun. And I've never flown first class before. Let's go see how the other half lives." She grabs my bag and tosses me my coat. I guess I'm going on a girl's weekend. Yay.

* * *

Even though this is technically our book club getaway, no one intends to read or discuss a book this weekend. Ashleigh has our days filled with ski lessons, wine tastings, massages, and drinking in the hot tub surrounded by snow. Emma, Ashleigh's best friend, who lives in Savannah, joins us to round out our foursome. I'm sure the Instagram pictures look like four girls living their best lives on a girls' getaway. Just another example of the lies that are sold on social media.

If I weren't so sad, I'd enjoy this. Unfortunately, my sadness is rooted deep in my bones. The harbinger of ruined relationships reporting for duty.

Everyone tiptoes around me. I thought they'd want to hash it out. Ask me how I am. Talk about Matt. Strangely, his name never comes up. Neither does Cole's. It's like the male gender is non-existent. So color me surprised when we return to the house after dinner to find Julian and Chance in the living room.

"I thought this was a girl's weekend," I comment.

"Darcy, you wound me," Julian says dramatically. He clutches his heart and falls over on the couch.

"I'm playing the Mountaineers tomorrow." Chance mimics a hockey shot that looks more like a golf swing. "Thought you guys might want to come to my game?"

"Absolutely," Sammie quickly responds. She bounces with excitement.

"Like we would miss it," Emma says enthusiastically.

Chance's million-dollar smile lights up the room. "It's a girls" weekend, so I assume you have glitter and stuff. Are you going to make signs?" Chance says to Emma.

"They'll be so great, we're guaranteed to make the Jumbotron," Emma says. "Hey, I'm playing bartender. Who wants what?"

Everyone shouts out drink orders, and Emma heads into the kitchen.

"I'm going to lie down for a little bit," I say quietly and try to leave the room unnoticed.

I pass by Chance. He reaches out for my arm and stops me. "You okay?"

I give him a half-shrug. "Just tired. All this fresh air, you know?"

He gets up, and before I know it, he wraps his arms around me, enveloping me in an all-consuming hug. I don't mean to, but I sob. I've been holding it together. Why am I losing it now? And why with Chance? My tears drench his shirt.

He kisses the top of my head and pulls me in tighter. "I got you, beautiful. I got you." Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone except. Well, I can't think about him.

When I finally catch my breath, I step away and notice my outburst cleared the room.

He pulls me toward the couch he and Julian recently occupied and sits me on his lap, his arms still around me. It's intimate, but not romantic. Comforting.

"Want to tell me what I can do to help?"

"I don't think there's anything anyone can do. It'll just take time to heal my broken heart." I look at Chance, and his eyes are sorrowful. His hand gently rubs circles on my back.

"I know it hurts. It's painful when you experience loss. But Darcy, I'm worried about you. It's okay to be sad, but this? This is something else. You've lost your spark. And I'm not gonna lie, I'm concerned." Chance looks me in the eye, searching for some kind of reassurance.

"I'm not going to do anything drastic. I promise." Wow. My attempt at acting like I'm okay was for naught.

He gives me a slight nod. "What do you need?" Throughout the house project, that's what he always asked me. What do you need?

I shrug. If I knew, I'd do it. "It's the not knowing. Where is he? Is he okay? It was so abrupt. There wasn't any closure, you know. Too many questions."

"Well, I can answer some of those questions if you really want to know."

"You can?" I sniffle, and a box of tissues comes flying across the room. Apparently, clearing the room doesn't mean vacating the premises or the conversation. Chance grabs the box and hands it to me. I grab a tissue and blow. If that doesn't send Chance running, nothing will.

I would think Chance Fuller would be the last person Matt would reach out to, so the fact he's in the know has my curiosity piqued. Do I want to know? What if I find out he's fine? Moved on. At least I'll know.

"Yeah." He looks over his shoulder. "Come on, get in here."

A few seconds later, Julian, the tissue box thrower, comes into the room and sits next to us on the couch. "How can I help?"

Julian can help me? We sit silently while I pause, thinking about what I want to know. "I just want to know that he's okay."

Julian looks at Chance, and they have some unspoken conversation. "He's about as good as you are, I'd say."

"Have you talked to him?" Is he talking to Julian? I'm relieved he has someone to lean on since I took Cole away from him.

Another look passes between Julian and Chance. "Yeah, we've been amigos and roommates for the past few weeks. He doesn't talk much, but I've been keeping an eye on him. He's functional and headed to Florida with the Reapers soon."

Amigos? He's at Tripp's in Mexico. Not sure how that happened, but I'm glad Julian, Tripp, and Chance are there for him. Florida? He was invited to spring training? That's huge. I'm excited for him. The mixture of emotions washes over me, and I hiccup another sob. Chance pulls me in tighter.

"I'm glad he has you guys," I mumble. I take a deep breath and try to fill my lungs for the first time in weeks. He's not hurt. He's okay. He has friends. Now I can breathe a little easier, knowing he's not alone.

Part of my guilt and sadness stems from the fact that my best friend is still by my side. Hell, I'm on a girls' weekend, surrounded by people who care about me. I've worried he had no one. A tiny spark flickers in my soul. He's going to be okay. That's all I want for him. I need him to be okay, then eventually better than okay. I want him to live his dream and have it all. Everything.

"Is that a hint of a smile?" Chance teases.

"Knowing he's okay and has you guys, well, it makes me feel better." I'm still heartbroken, but I feel a little better. I still have questions. "And he's going to be playing with the Reapers in Florida. That's great news." I know my voice is flat, but really, I'm excited for him. That's a big deal for his career.

Sam, Ashleigh, and Emma join us in the room. They approach us apprehensively.

"You better?" Sammie asks.

I nod. "A little."

"Good. Decker girl's night book club meeting is in session," Emma declares. She hands us our drink orders. Since I didn't ask for anything, she brings me a bottle of vodka and a shot glass. Everyone lifts their glasses, even me.

"Here's to believing in happily ever afters, even in the darkest chapters," Julian says.

Do I believe in HEAs? Or do they only occur in romance novels? I'm not sure, but I'm willing to keep moving through the story to find out.