Page 68 of Fall Apart

I chime in first, thinking about my sore legs. “That sounds perfect to me. Nice and mellow.”

She pulls her goggles down and grins. “Last one down buys the first shotski.”

I laugh as Tanner and Grace follow closely behind her. I’m not even going to try to keep up with them. I already know they’re going to beat me down to the lodge.

I enjoy the run, thinking about the beauty of the Eastern Cascade Mountains. I’ve never been here before and Grace was right, this place is stunning. To the East are high plaines deserts. In all the other directions are little dormant volcanic peaks, dotting the horizon, just like Mount Bachelor that we’re skiing on. All of them are still capped in snow, even in early May. On a bluebird day like this, it’s breathtaking.

I admire the view on my way down, eventually getting to the lodge. They’re already there waiting on me, skis off and resting in the racks outside. Grace looks at the patio and then back at me. I spot the bar immediately. With it being spring, it looks inviting and we can take in the views from here. “Outdoor dining today? Looks like you can buy us that round out here,” she says with a wry grin.

I look at V who shrugs back with her palms up. I turn to Grace, nodding. “Sounds good to me.”

After lunch,I head to the bathroom before heading to join the others back on the patio. Just when I reach the door heading out to the patio, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I'm instantly annoyed at the thought of having to take off my gloves and unzip at least one of the layers I just put back on to get my phone out.

It might be spring skiing, but it’s still chilly out for me, and I bundled up.

Groaning, I take off my gloves, pull down my neck warmer, and unzip my jacket to get to the inner pocket where my phone is. I’m about ready to rip whoever’s calling from my office on my Friday off a new one when I look down at my phone.

It’s my dad.

I’m so caught off guard that I realize I’ve been staring at my phone long enough that it’ll go to voicemail any second. I swipe my finger across the phone.

“Hello,” I say. My voice is shaky. Why is he calling me right now? He almost never calls.

“Hi, Lizzy. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

I walk towards the edge of the patio and sit back against the railing.

“No. I can talk.”

“Oh good. Are you at the condo?”

I realize I never told him I’m going to be out of town this weekend.

“No. I’m up in Oregon with V and my friends.”

I hear a muffled huff come from his side of the call.

“Got it. So I assume the condo is not ready yet. Do you know if it will be ready by next week? I need to come out and visit with some business partners for the company we just bought.”

My eyes start to water, but I hold back the tears. There it is. It’s never about me with him.

“Yeah. Clay said it should be finished by Tuesday.”

“Perfect. Anyways, didn’t mean to keep you from your friends. Love you. Talk later.”

I start to saybye Dad, but he hangs up before I can get the words out.

What did I do wrong for him to always be like this? Sure, he saidlove you.

But he never asks aboutme. He never has the time to talk. It’s just this transactional relationship, not a father-daughter relationship.

I just don’t know what I did wrong. It hasn’t always been like this. We were close once. He used to show interest in my life. Was it something I did?

CHAPTER 31

CLAY

KARAOKE

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