Page 82 of Fall Apart

“Some more big news happened this morning before you got here.”

I tilt my head to her. “Oh yeah?”

She nods, but doesn’t lift her head from my shoulder. “TJ offered to let V and Tanner have their wedding at his house in Jackson in December.” She lets out an adorable giggle. “They already wanted a small ceremony in the winter, but it sounds perfect for them. They can use his guesthouse to set up and everything. But I know V is losing it, getting to know her idolandgetting married at one of his houses.”

I chuckle. “That sounds perfect for them. And if I know Tanner, a winter wedding in Jackson is exactly what he wants.”

When we reach the top, I guide Lizzy along the cat track towards the top of the run, a long black diamond with some of the best tree skiing and wide open, ungroomed powder stashes on the Northwest side of mountain.

I stop and wait for her to reach me. “So, I probably should have asked this before. You’re a good skier, right?”

Even with her goggles on, I can feel her eye roll. “Don’t let the pink fool you. I can keep up with Tanner and V.” She brings a finger to her lips in thought. “Most of the time anyways. They’re kind of extreme.”

I huff a laugh. “Alright, princess. Just stay close to me, especially in the trees.”

She skis right up next to me, tapping my ass with one of her poles. “Look at you. Always the perfect gentleman.”

I grin back at her, baring my teeth. “I’ll see if I can make you reconsider that later.” I pucker my lips together, sending her an air kiss before taking off down the run.

The upper part is a long, open area, lined with thick trees on either side, still holding untracked powder even this late in the day. We cruise through the upper part before getting to an area of trees that’s more open and suited for tree skiing. It’s this area that I was looking for.

I check back behind me to make sure Lizzy is close by before going into the trees. To my pleasant surprise, she’s holding her own, right on my tail, which somehow makes me feel pride. The woman I thought was a prissy little, firecracker candefinitely ski.

I get to a small clearing in the trees. I stop and let her catch up to me. I prop my goggles up on my helmet and watch her ski up next to me. “You doing alright?”

She nods and takes a few deep breaths. “Yeah. But seriously, maybe less yoga and more quads. This powder is tough.”

I shake my head at her. “I think we can do that.” I point ahead of us through the trees towards a ridge top. “We’re heading over there. Just a view I wanted to check out.”

She gestures ahead with her ski pole. “After you.” This time she air kisses to me before I pull my goggles back down and ski ahead.

After a few turns through the powdery snow in the trees, I reach it, the spot I’ve been wanting to see. It’s a ridge littered with black, volcanic rocky outcroppings, the kind all over Mount Bachelor. But the view of the lake in the distance is breathtaking.

Lizzy skis up to me a few seconds later, stopping to enjoy the view with me. “I can see why you wanted to come here.”

I nod, not saying a word. I feel a smile creep across my face. Being here, in this spot, with her, just feels right. She looks back at me, pausing and studying me.

“What is it?” I ask.

She furrows her brow, lifting a gloved hand to her chin. “I feel like I’ve been here before, seen you here before.” She looks around us, at the trees, the rocks, and the view and then looks back to me. I see the moment something clicks in her head and her eyes go wide with excitement.

“That picture in your office. The one of you and your mom. That was here, wasn’t it?”

I nod, smiling back at her, with no need for words. She leans into my body, resting her head against my shoulder and wrapping her arms around me.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

I rub my gloved hand up and down her back. “Thank you for making me want to.” I tilt her chin up and pull her goggles off, forcing her to look at me. “You remind me everyday that I can’t control someone’s heart and that terrifies the shit out of me, Lizzy. You make me want to lose control though. You make me want to accept I can’t control everything. To just take on whatever life gives me. It threw you right into my path and I’ve loved every second of it.”

Back at thehouse after dinner, finally not hiding from everyone else, Lizzy and I pack up our room so we can get an early start on the eleven hour drive tomorrow.

“I don’t know why we have to leave so early in the morning,” Lizzy whines from her perch on the bed, already in her pajamas.

I glare back at her from the dresser. “Well, I have to budget an extra hour so we can stop forreal food,”I say, making an air quotes gesture.

She groans. “Fine. I guess that’s ok.”

“Good. Not like you really have an option anyways, passenger princess.” I wink at her, prompting her to roll her eyes and flop back into the pillows.

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