68. Skyler

Reese is spot on about the injury, and that pisses me off.

I’m only twenty-six and I’m already feeling the limits of my body. Even two years ago, I could push past the discomfort. Time has eroded my endurance. Made old pains feel fresh. I feel the consequences of ignoring the aches, of overcompensating with other ligaments and muscles. Those ligaments are groaning. Complaining. But I don’t want to call it already. We just got out here.

Reese is looking up at me with a very determined glower on that pretty face and putting up a fight feels a little like throwing a tantrum. She’s right, she knows she’s right. And if I don’t obey her now, she’ll give me hell later if I come back limping. Either way, she’s giving me hell, but if I go with her now, at least my leg won’t keep me up all night.

And besides, if she and I go back, I can get her alone.

So we can talk.

Nothing more.

I’d be lying if I didn’t think she made a sexy little snow bunny. I’ve been thinking about winding my hands underneath those snow coveralls to see how cozy and warm she feels.

“Skyler?”

She snaps her fingers in front of my face.

My ears heat up. Thank God for stocking caps. “If my leg is bugging me, and that’s a big if, what’s your suggestion?”

“Call it a day. We’ve already been out here for two hours.”

That surprises me. “We have?”

“Yes.”

She says. “Go back to the loft. There’s a hot tub at the resort. You could soak it off and come out later. Or tomorrow. It’s already getting pretty late as it is.”

“I’ll go back if you come with me.”

She hesitates, peering at the slopes. Turning back, she squares her shoulders. “Deal.”

That was easier than expected. A flicker of guilt stokes in my stomach. “I’m kidding. Let the guys know where I went.”

“Mitch and I came up here two times last week. I don’t mind taking a break.”

The guilt is extinguished, replaced by jealousy. They swear nothing is going on between them. I think I believe them, but it doesn’t change the fact that Mitch gets to spend time with Reese while I’m out in Nebraska chilling with mom and dad.

I turn my skis in and we start towards the gondola. I’m thinking about Jonah’s song, wondering whose decision it was to split ways. Jonah’s or Reese’s? I’m trying to think of a polite way to ask and I’m coming up short.

She beats me to the punch with a question of her own. “Tell me about your new woman.”

My thoughts come to a screeching halt. Reese walks ahead of me, stepping into the gondola before I can reply.

We’re alone in a tiny glass box and it’s like there isn’t enough air. “I don’t have a new woman.”

“Lies.”

My eyes tighten. “I’m not lying. It was a work thing. I told you that already.”

“But you took her home to meet your folks. That’s kind of a big deal.”

“No, it’s not.”

She tilts her head. “You’ve taken other women home?”

I pull my cap off and grip it in my hand. “She’s just a co-worker.”

“You weren’t dating?”

I hesitate. “Once.”

“Aha!”

“No, not aha!”

“A-ha!”

“Real mature.”

She glowers at me. “We can’t all be as mature as you, Skyler. Some of us have lives to live.”

“What’s that even mean?”

“It means those rules you live by are more important to you than anything or anyone.”

“Are we still talking about Terry?”

“No. Yes.”

She frowns, looking away. The mountain spans below us as the gondola crawls towards the resort. After what seems like forever, she sighs. “I didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”

The admission is so sudden, so vulnerable, that I can’t quite keep up.

She’s frowning at me again. “You know it’s all bullshit, right?”

“What is?”

“This duty to your family. Nobody is asking you to throw yourself on the pyre, but you do it anyway.”

Anger and hurt fill my chest. “I’m super glad I decided to come back with you.”

The gondola comes to a stop, and we disembark. I stand on the platform, considering my options. I could get back on or face the loft. Alone. With Reese.