Page 69 of Fall Apart

After spendingthe day around the house with TJ and catching up on some project planning work, we meet everyone else in town. TJ and I grabbed an early dinner after he insisted he has nothing important to do when he wanted to tag along. I figured he would have less free time on his hands than he seems to. Or maybe he’s just lonely, like I’m slowly realizing I was back home.

Either way, I see why he likes towns like Bend and Jackson. Everyone seems to leave him alone. And when he wanted to tag along tonight, I was more than happy to let him join since he’s hosting us after all.

I texted Lizzy to see if everyone else wanted to get dinner. She sent back a jumbled text. All I could make out was that they already grabbed a bite to eat, so it looks like it’s a night out on the town - not that I plan on getting too wild. I’m driving Lizzy’s Bronco and just want to enjoy my time away with everyonewithouta hangover.

When I walk into Cascade East with TJ, an old locals’ après ski bar, I immediately realize that Lizzy clearly has other plans tonight. She’s up on stage with Grace, singing karaoke. Fittingly, she’s singing a song about a certain pink clad doll and her boy-toy. I smile to myself, knowing my girl doesn’t want a pretty, clean cut blond city boy. She likes it real and rough.

We walk through the dimly lit, wood-paneled bar looking for Tanner and V. The place immediately reminds me of the Silver Dollar Cowboy Bar back in Jackson, mixed with the locals crowd of Roxy’s in Park City.

I spot them close to the stage, sitting around an indoor gas fire pit made out of stones and timbers. I feel the soles of my boots stick to the floor with each step as I walk towards them.

Yep, this is definitely a locals’ dive bar.

TJ and I walk around the fire pit with me grabbing the chair next to Tanner.

V sees me first and smiles softly, tipping her drink to me. I tilt my head, gesturing for her to look behind her. She turns and I chuckle when her jaw drops as TJ pulls out a chair and sits down beside her.

“Looks like you’re going to have to win back your fiancée.” I give Tanner a brotherly punch in the shoulder, prompting him to snort a laugh. V pulls her attention away from TJ, just long enough to glare at me.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” V mockingly laughs at me. She hops out of her chair and into Tanner’s lap, grabbing his face and kissing him, much to his surprise. “Very funny.”

I laugh and tilt my head towards the stage where Grace and Lizzy are flipping through a list of song options. “So what’s up with them? It looks like they really got after it early.”

Tanner grins back at me as TJ and V both look up at the stage, hollering song suggestions to Grace and Lizzy.

“Looks like you need to push her a little harder on her workouts. She got tired early in the afternoon and went to the lodge.” He looks back up at the stage and shakes his head. “Grace joined her and it looks like they had their own littlepre-game happy hour.”

“Sounds about right,” I say, looking back up at my sister and the woman I’m falling for. She hops off the stage and heads towards the bar.

I look to everyone around the fire pit. “Anyone need a drink? I’m going to grab a beer.”

They wave me off and I make my way up to the bar beside Lizzy and order my beer.

She hears me and turns, smiling so wildly. She claps her hands to her face. “Oh my god, I’ve been waiting all day to see you.”

She practically leaps at me, pulling me into a hug and rubbing her face into my chest. I look back to the stage and fire pit area, seeing that no one is looking our way. I lean down, kissing the top of her head, inhaling the smell I’ve become completely addicted to.

“Missed you too, princess.” My voice is low and the sounds of the bar are loud, but I know she hears me by the way she hums into my chest. She holds me tight and doesn’t let go.

I pull her back just enough for her to look into my eyes.

“Looks like you and my sister are having quite the afternoon.” I look down at my watch, smirking. “And evening.”

She rolls her eyes and slaps my chest. “Don’t be a party pooper.” She smiles again, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes or have the unrestrained brightness that melts my heart.

I lower my gaze to meet hers, noticing a frown appearing.

I tilt her chin up, running my thumb over the indent between her lower lip and chin.

“Hey, everything ok?”

Her lips pull together in a line and her brows knit together.

“It’s nothing. My dad called today. Just threw me off.” She looks up at me, smiling softly now. “Can we just have fun tonight and talk about anything else?”

I nod. “Anything you want.”

She stands on her toes and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you.”

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