Page 57 of Fall Apart

Me: Both. Get out here. I’ll buy both, but we’re going home. NOW.

I watch as three dots appear.

Princess:

Ok, I definitely see myself wanting more of Lizzy Frank in my life - whatever that looks like, but I’m assuming it will be very pink.

Enjoying a book by the fire,I look around the house. It’s quiet except for the crackling fire. It’s been a few days since Lizzy’s improvement plan has started and I haven’t lost my mind yet. Our last lesson involved calling Tanner on speaker phone and asking “how are you doing”and if he had anything he wanted to do together in Bend. She sat there, watching me, egging me on to keep talking.

And it felt good, even if a little forced.

Sitting here now, while she’s at happy hour with Grace, I sort of miss the chaos of her being around. But Kayleigh texted earlier and said she needed to vent, something I’m happy to let her do. She’s been there so many times for me over the years. It’s just what we do. So it works out that Lizzy is out with Grace.

An hour goes by and I finish a couple more chapters in my book. I see Ani’s ears perk up and he runs to the door, wagging his tail. I head to the door and open it, letting him out when I see Kayleigh getting out of her SUV.

He runs up to her and I laugh when I notice her cock her head and give him a curious look when she rubs his sweater. She walks up the stairs to the porch, shaking her head laughing. “Let me guess, Lizzy’s handiwork?”

My lips quirk up and I nod. “Nailed it. Have to say though, he seems pretty happy about it.”

“He’s not the only one that seems happy.” She winks at me before closing the distance and giving me a hug.

I look down at Kayleigh. Her eyes are red, like she’s been crying. I swallow, never wanting to see anyone I care about hurting. “So it’s not going well with Charlie?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know how much longer we can keep up the long distance thing. It just feels like we’ve drifted apart.” I watch as a tear streaks down her cheek.

I pull her in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re going to be fine, one way or another.” I hold her close, hoping my best friend knows I’m always here for her, like she’s always been for me.

The sound of Ani’s collar jingling and his paws kicking up snow catch my attention. I lift my eyes just in time to see him sprinting down the driveway. I look to where he’s heading and see Lizzy’s Bronco stopped.

Even this far away, I can see the look in her eyes. I know that look. It’s the one filled with panic and self doubt, the one she had right before she ran out of Roxy’s that night. I watch as she looks behind her and starts backing down the driveway.

“Fuck.” I let go of Kayleigh and she turns to see the Bronco drifting out of sight.

“Oh shit. I’m sorry.” I meet Kayleigh’s eyes.

“Don’t be. You did nothing wrong.” I rub her shoulders, trying to reassure her. “But I have to go. Will you be ok?”

She nods. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Go find her.”

I run to my truck, thinking to myself about that night at the bar. I kicked myself over and over for not following Lizzy to find out why she left. I’m not going to let that happen again.

I quietly openthe door to the Frank’s unit at the Aspen Grove Club. I look across the kitchen to the living area and see Lizzy, standing by the French doors to their balcony. It’s almost the same layout as the penthouse upstairs, so the view outside is nearly identical.

I slowly walk over, watching as her head tilts towards me, but not enough to see her eyes.

“How’d you know I was here?” I reach her, standing by her side. I look at her and the expression on her face is cold and icy. She keeps staring ahead, not looking back at me.

“As soon as we started working on repairs, I put temporary sensors in. If the doors open or there’s a temperature change, water hits the floor - you name it, I get a notification.” I look at her, but her gaze doesn’t waver as she looks out at the ski run in the distance. The sun is setting and the lights are just now coming on, bathing it a blueish hue. “I didn’t want to take any chances on more mistakes.”

She nods and finally looks at me. “Can you please tell me what your deal is with Kayleigh?”

I knew this was coming but I still hate that she could think this about me. But I also get her past. “I told you, Lizzy. We’re old friends, best friends. We’ve been through a lot together. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” I feel my molars grind with how tight my jaw is. “And I told you that night in the penthouse after dinner that I don’t like being thought of as a cheating piece of shit.” My tone is harsher and voice louder than I wanted, but I can’t hide my agitation.

Her head snaps to me. “I want to trust you. But you need to give me more.”

“I know your ex was horrible, but that’s not me. It never has been, never will be. Please can you just drop this? You’re overreacting. It’s just in your head.” I regret it the second I say it, watching as her blue eyes turn to fire. Fire that I just doused in gasoline by telling her that her feelings aren’t valid.

“I’m not overreacting, Clay. Don’t fucking tell me that, ever.” She starts to step away, but I put an arm out blocking her. “You don’t know how it feels to be constantly told that someone else knows what’s in your own head better than you do. Please, just let me go.”

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