Page 9 of Fall Apart

“Ok guys. This is fun and all, but can we get in line? If we don’t-”. Veronica starts to talk before her brother cuts her off.

“We know, we know. If we don’t get in line now, we won’t get first chair.” Collin pats his sister on the back and leads us towards the chairlift line.

While skiingin Jackson with the group over New Year was fun, being back at Aspen Valley in Utah feels right. It’s like I’m on home turf. Veronica was right, that mountain was fun but insanely challenging. I get it, they’re all thrill seekers. I’m pretty sure they might even have death wishes. But Aspen Valley has always felt like an escape from my family life, even if they were here with me. I was always allowed to explore the mountain on my own while my mother was at the spa or back at the condo reading and Dad was on a business call, or taking investors out on the mountain. When I was first learning, Dad would take me out for lessons. But as I got older it felt like as far as they were concerned, sending me out into ski school was as good as daycare. But, as I got older, I explored more on my own.But I still craved the rare times that Dad and I got to ski together when he wasn’t distracted.

This is the first time I’ve been here this season and being out in the cool, crisp winter air is exactly what I needed. Unlike Jackson, with its steep, rocky terrain, Aspen Valley has long flowing groomed runs orgroomers. They’re perfect to just free my mind, focus on the scenery around me, and ski at a relaxing, leisurely pace.

Sure, there is some more difficult terrain and we’ll hit that eventually. But it’s the first day out and Veronica and Collin have only skied here once before when they were visiting the Chapman family. So this time, it’s my turn to be their tour guide on the mountain. And we’re lucky to have nearly perfect, late February weather. Cool, crisp mountain air, blue skies, and hardly any wind. A perfect bluebird day.

Well, almost perfect until Tanner spots something I dread.

“Is that the mogul course?” he asks from beside me on the chairlift, pointing at the slope below us.

I look down at the steep, pitch, noticing the large mounds of snow covering every inch of the black diamond ski run. I’m a good, competent skier, but even I don’t enjoy skiing over or through the large bumps that put your body through hell.

“Yes, it is. It was actually the Olympic course when they were here in Utah.” I still remember watching the event on TV with my dad, stunned that skiers could go that fast and that precise through the large bumps and still keep their balance.

He looks back down with eager excitement. “Can we ski it?”

“We?” I let out a laugh. “I’m not taking any part in that, but you can.”

After a few morningruns and avoiding the mogul course, we make our way towards the Jordanelle Express Gondola. I normally never come over here, avoiding this area because one, I hate gondolas and two, this side of the mountain doesn’t have my favorite terrain to ski.

When we reach the line and wait for our turn to load onto the gondola cars, Veronica leads the way when Tanner steps in front of me, putting himself between Grace, Collin, and me.

“What gives, Chap?” I lower my eyes and glare at him. Not that he could see it through my ski goggles, but still. I want to make the point.

He leans down towards me while V talks with the liftie behind him. “Can you pretend you still don’t know how to get on a gondola?”

I’d cross my arms and huff at him, but I’m holding my skis and poles so all I can do is continue to glare. “Pretend? I literally still hate getting on gondolas. I don’t even know why you wanted to come this way.”

He looks at me, but he raises his eyebrows and tilts his head back towards his girlfriend. “I want to ride upalonewith her.”

“Oh no. I’m not aiding in your cheeky sexcapades this time.” I say quietly, remembering the outcome of their solo gondola ride back in Jackson that set their entire relationship in motion.

He raises his eyebrows again with an urgent, pleading look in his eyes. “No, it’s notthat.” Tanner reaches into his pocket and pulls out a velvet box just far enough for us to see it.

I gasp and cover my mouth. “Oh. My. God. Say no more. I’m on it.”

I look up just in time to see Collin grab Tanner’s shoulder and bring him in for a hug. Meanwhile, Grace looks like she’s about to squeal and is doing everything in her power to hold it in.

When Tanner and Veronica get into the gondola, I drop my skis on the ground right in front of the liftie before he can grab them to load them into the rack. That buys us just enough time to miss the gondola car, forcing us to take the next one.

Mission accomplished.

I watch as Veronica stares back, shaking her head as their gondola car goes up the mountain. I grin, raising my goggles to my forehead, waving and winking at her.

“Smooth.” I hear Collin behind me, patting me on the back.

I shrug my shoulders and laugh. “What? I’m terrible at this. I seriously don’t have to pretend.”

After the three of us step onto the next gondola car, Collin sits next to me and Grace sits on the bench across from us. Thankfully it’s just the three of us and we can chat without random strangers in the car with us. She takes her helmet off, pulling her earbuds out. I look at her and yet another, no surprise, set of stunning Chapman family eyes.

“What are you listening to?” Collin asks, pulling a protein bar from his pocket and taking a bite.

“I’ll give you one guess.” She smirks at Collin.

“Oh my god. You’re as bad as my sister. You’re like eight years younger than us. How did you even start listening to Teal Tigers?” Collin shakes his head before taking another bite of his bar.

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