Page 8 of Fall Apart

We’re all here, bright and early as Veronica always insists, about to get in the ski lift line for first chair at Aspen Valley Resort. They drove down from Jackson at god only knows what hour to get here at eight in the morning. They took Tanner’s Sprinter van with V’s brother, Collin.

Even though Tanner’s helped her a lot with her anxiety and compulsive need for planning, she still always wants to be in the lift line to snag the first chairlift of the day and ski the fresh, untracked snow. I have to admit, after skiing with them in Jackson over the holidays, I can’t blame her. I always enjoyed skiing as a kid. But for my parents, skiing was just a status symbol that they used for socializing - a way to entertain their friends and business contacts. But seeing the way my friends love it, the way they love the mountains, reawakened a joy for it in me that had been missing for years.

Tanner looks down at me in his red ski jacket and black helmet, towering over me. He makes me think of Clay last night. With his goggles resting on the brim of his helmet, I see his green eyes which are so frighteningly similar I almost have to look away.

Yep. They are definitely brothers.

How did I not immediately realize this last night?

Nope. I need to get that thought out of my head. Stop thinking about last night.

Tanner chuckles. “You know the Chapmans give big bear hugs. You weren’t complaining when it was my grandma dishing them out after dinner over the holidays.”

I roll my eyes and shove his shoulder, only knocking myself back. I forgot. The Chapman boys are built like brick walls, because of course they are. “That’s different. She was feeding me and I was hangry. You, on the other hand, are just trying to crush me to death so you can have V all to yourself.”

He snorts a laugh. “Ok. You’re not entirely wrong. But we all missed you.”

To be honest, I missed them too. Veronica has been my best friend since we met as college roommates. And to see her this happy, after she struggled with burnout at work and a miserable dating life, brings me so much joy.

Watching Tanner and her, it’s like they were made for each other. I mean I know they’ve been friends almost their whole lives, but they’re so in sync. So happy. They remind me of everything I’m slowly realizing I’ve never had in a relationship. The trust, the palpable and visible chemistry, the undeniable love. It melts my heart seeing my friend this happy.

A different, deep voice instantly gets my attention. “Well, well, well. There’s my new bestie.” I instantly look up, grinning wildly when I see a familiar face walking over from the ski rack.

“Collin!” I walk to him as fast as I can in ski boots, bringing him into a hug. I’ve only really gotten to know him over the last few months, but it feels like we’re almost as good of friends as Veronica and I are. Before our last ski trip, I was worried that he might try and make a move on me. She assured me I wasn’t her bisexual brother’s type and she was right. We instantly hit it off and bonded over tormenting Veronica and Tanner about being so nauseatingly cute together.

“Sup, trouble?” he asks.

“Oh, not too muchco-bestie. Went out last night. Slept like shit, got woken up by an ape stomping around the floor above me, and didn’t have time to stop at Finch for coffee this morning.” Since Collin is Veronica’s twin and practically my bestie, he’s been given the co-bestie title. I let out an exaggerated sigh. “So yeah, the day can only get better from here.”

Collin grins and shakes his head. “Geez. Sounds like it. Oh. Walker says hi too.” He gives me a sly wink after letting me out of his arms.

I feel my cheeks heat. Walker was the cowboy that Collin and I shared on New Year’s Eve. Isplatonic threesomethe right name for when two of you don’t actually touch each other and make a sandwich out of a hunky cowboy? I don’t know. Who cares?

“Oh,” I say playfully. “You guys stillhanging out?”

And that’s when I hear Veronica clear her throat. “You two know the rule. No details about that night. Tanner and I would be perfectly fine living the rest of our lives never hearing about that again.”

I glare back at V, cocking my head and rolling my eyes. “Fine, V. But if I hear you and Tanner fucking in the guest room at the condo, I’m spilling the tea whether you like it or not.”

And that’s when I notice someone I don’t know, walking up behind Tanner from the ski rack. The brunette, wearing all light blue ski gear and a black helmet, grabs Tanner from behind and tries totickle himwith an impossibly charming smile and giggle.

“Hey!” Tanner whips. “What the-” He instantly smiles when he turns around, flashing those Chapman dimples. “Grace! I should have known it was you.”

He puts her in a head lock under his arm. “You’re never gonna be able to sneak up on me. Never gonna happen.”

She gets out of his grip, and shoves him. “You’re just as bad as Clay. You’re supposed to let your little sister win sometimes, remember?”

From what I remember that V told me, Grace is the youngest of the Chapmans. Tanner’s our age, but Clay and Grace are both in their mid to late twenties. And having met all of them now, well not formally,damn. They grow them differently in Wyoming.

“Whatever. If you want to win, you gotta be better. We’re not just going to let you win.” Tanner teases back at his sister before looking over to me. “And, Grace, this is who you’ve been dying to meet: Lizzy.”

She immediately looks at me before running right at me. Before I can even react, I’m being pulled into another hug. “Oh my god! I have heard so much about you!”

“Um. It’s nice to meet you too.” I pat her half heartedly on the back, only prompting her to hold me tighter. I was warned that Gracewasextremelyfriendly and outgoing. “V, what the fuck? Do they really all hug like this?” I say, peaking around Grace’s frame.

Tanner comes over, wrapping his arm around his sister’s shoulder. “Come on. Lizzy hasn’t had thirty years of practice with Chapman hugs like the Perry twins have.”

She punches her brother on the shoulder before looking back at me and pointing a finger. Looking at her again, I notice the purple and pink strands of hair hanging out of her helmet. “We’re going to have a good time! I just know it.”

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