Page 97 of Fall Apart

LIZZY

FULL LIZZY

After dinner,I find Grace and Kayleigh at a high top over by the bar, sipping flutes of champagne while I’m on my second double of whiskey. I’m not sure why I’m surprised Clay has great taste in whiskey, like everything else.

Grace is in a dark forest green, silk slip dress that matches the color of her eyes. It hangs effortlessly off of her tall, thin and fit frame. She looks every bit of a Chapman, complete with dark brown hair pulled into a perfect pair of Dutch braids that I now look at very differently.

Kayleigh looks the part of the professional athlete. She’s in a sleeveless, high neck ice blue dress that makes her black hair pop in contrast. Although it’s floor length, it has an elegant slit that ends just above her knee, accentuating her long, very toned legs.

“You ladies look stunning tonight.” I stand between them at the table, suddenly very aware that even heels don’t make up for being 5’3” around them.

Grace scoffs. “Um, girl? I watched my brother’s jaw practically hit the floor when he saw you. That dress kills it.” She smirks at Kayleigh before looking back at me. “And don’t even get me started on the princess thing. I’m never going to let him live that down.”

I feel a flush creep across my neck up to my cheeks, knowing just how much I love it when he calls me that.

“I still can't believe someone finally brought his soft side back out,” Kayleigh says, looking at her champagne flute.

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Back out?”

They laugh in unison before Kayleigh goes first. “He was the biggest teddy bear when we met in high school. Much less scowling.”

Grace shakes her head with a grin, looking up like she’s lost in a memory. “Yes! Way less scowling. See if you can get him to tell you about how excited he was when his first ski team sponsor was a cell phone company whose colors were pink and white.”

Kayleigh snorts a laugh, covering her mouth. “Oh! I forgot about that. That boy in a pink racing spandex ski suit was a sight.”

“I thought he skied moguls? You mean he didn’t always wear twenty shades of black?” I ask.

Kayleigh nods. “He still did some racing when they first moved here, but he settled into moguls as he got older and competition got more serious.”

My mind races with so many thoughts.

First, Clay in all pink spandex hugging that muscular frame.

Yes. Please.

But more importantly, I hope I get to see more of that soft side.

“Wait.” Grace’s almost squeal brings me back to the conversation. “I think I have pictures.”

She pulls out her phone and starts scrolling before stopping and grinning wickedly.

A second later, my phone buzzes in my purse. I pull it out and look down to see I’ve been added to two new group chats,Clay and the Girls, and another calledBrunch Babes.

I see that she’s already sent an old picture of Clay and his mom on the slopes, with him in his very pink spandex.

Grace: Look what I found. Told you that pink works for you.

Grace looks up at Kayleigh and me. “The one is for us to tease him. The other is for us to plan brunches and happy hours, especially now that you’ll be around here in Park City more.”

“I like the sound of that.” I'm already feeling more and more at home here with these two. Veronica will always be my bestie, butGrace and Kayleigh make me feel so welcome and I know we can be just as close.

“Me too,” Kayleigh says, raising her glass over the table. Grace and I clink our glasses to hers.

I scan the room, spotting Clay at another high top talking to a couple with Kayleigh’s dad. I watch him reach into his pocket and pull out his phone. He flicks a thumb across the screen and even from across the room, I can see him toss his head back and groan.

All three of our phones buzz and we look to see a message in the new group chat.

Grumpy Roommate: Please. No.

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