Page 10 of Fall Apart

Teal Tigers is the band that Veronica has been obsessed with since high school. Even in our apartment in college she had their poster up. I’m pretty sure even with Tanner in her life, she still has a crush on the lead singer, Tommy Jacob. On our Jackson trip, we got to use his hot tub because Tanner manages and takes care of his ski propertythere. I swear she hasn’t stopped talking about how cool his house and kitchen were since then.

She shrugs. “It’s not my fault your sister and I have excellent taste in music. I just wish they still made new music. It’s been years since they released an album.”

After a minute of quietly enjoying the view from the gondola, I feel Grace’s eyes drifting back and forth between Collin and me.

“Ok. I feel like I’m missing something here. What do you guys know that I don’t?” She grabs her helmet and goggles and wipes them clean before looking back at us. “And what was with the sexcapades joke? And they’re getting engaged? Holy shit! This is amazing! I always wanted a sister after growing up with those two ogres.”

I look at Collin. “You want to tell her or-?” I tilt my palms up in a questioning gesture.

“Oh no no no.” He shakes his head at me. “That’s all you, girl.”

“Fine.” I look over at Grace. “The last time those two were alone on a ski trip in a gondola…” I pause, pressing a finger to my lips and humming. “Let’s just say Tanner got on his knees for adifferentreason.”

She closes her eyes and shudders, prompting a chuckle from Collin.

“Ok. That’s sort of romantic in my brother’s own fucked up way. But, Lizzy, for the sake of our new and hopefully very long friendship, please don’t say anything else.” She looks up, with a contented and stunned look on her face. “I still can’t believe he finally did it. He’s been such a mopey bitch for years. We always wondered when he’d grow a pair.”

I grin at her sitting across from me in the gondola. “I like you. You’re spunky.”

Collin groans and leans his head back against the gondola window. “Oh my god. I should have realized you two were gonna hit it off.”

I pat Collin on the knee. “Don’t worry, co-bestie. You’re not getting replaced already.”

I hear the whirring of the gondola car passing the upper tower.

I gather my gloves and pull my goggles back down over my face. “Ready? Time to celebrate with the newly engaged couple.”

CHAPTER 4

CLAY

PRISSY LITTLE BLONDE

“Seriously man, congratulations.”I raise my beer and reach across the hot tub to tap it against my older brother’s. “It’s about time.” I’m wearing an ear to ear grin that doesn’t feel forced for a change. Tanner deserves to be happy and I’m glad it’s with the girl, the woman, he’s been in love with almost his whole life.

“Thanks,” he says, smiling back at me.

When my brother called me and confirmed he was coming to town with his girlfriend, he invited me to hang out because he had something we’d need to celebrate. My brother isn’t one for sharing feelings, so if he asked I knew it was important. But I was not expecting it to behis engagement.

“So are you ever going to find a nice girl and let her tie you down?”

I nearly spit out my beer laughing. “Ok, bro. Very funny. You know I’m notthe get all emotional and attached type.But I’d let one tie me up,” I add with a wink.

Sure. It would be amazing to have someone in my life. But that sounds like opening myself up to a level of hurt, of vulnerability that scares the living shit out of me. “For real though, I can’t believe you finally did it. You’ve only been in love with her since…” I put my fingers to my lips, pausing for emphasis. “Oh, I don’t know. Since before I could even walk?”

He snorts and punches me in the shoulder. I look over at Collin, sitting across the hot tub from me and next to Tanner. He’s just palming his face and shaking his head. I haven’t seen him in ages either. He’s always been like an older brother to me because of the time Tanner and him spent together. With all the holiday breaks andsummers that the Perry twins would spend at their grandparents’ condo in Wyoming when we were growing up, it felt like they were always around.

“And you.” I point at him. “How on earth did you not see this fordecades?”

Collin shrugs his shoulders, humming anI don’t knowunder his breath. “I guess I was just oblivious. Chap’s never really been one to pour his feelings out.”

I take a sip of my beer and let out a huff of laughter. “Speaking of yourfiancéethough, where are the girls?”

Collin reaches out of the tub, grabbing a couple more beers from the mound of snow he was using as a makeshift cooler. “Oh, they’re upstairs getting some snacks and probably cracking a second bottle of Champagne. They’ve been non-stop giddy today since Chap popped the question.”

“Yeah, I bet. So it’s Grace, V, and her friend whose condo you’re all staying at?” I ask, noting that there are only three open spots left in the hot tub.

“Yep. Should be a chill night.” Tanner turns to face Collin, grabbing his fresh beer.

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