Page 32 of One Last Run

Maggie chimed in. "Do you need help hiding his body or would you prefer an alibi?"

At least that brought a small smile to Kiera's lips. "Neither. Yet. But maybe in the future. I'm not sure if I should just not mention it and pretend it never happened, or confront him so we can work through it. Divorce seems so... exhausting. And the girls are so young. I can't traumatize them like that."

Danica’s immediate reaction was to realize If she ever found out Eddie was cheating on her, she would have left him immediately. Hell, if she found out Pete was seeing someone else, it’d be over. Wasn't that just common sense? She supposed people worked through affairs all the time, but she never thought that her best friend was that type of person. Danica spoke up, adding, "As a child of divorced parents, I can assure you it sucks but it would have been worse to see my parents fight and be miserable all the time." Her own parents had divorced when she was six, and her father drifted in and out of her life after that. She never blamed either of them for the divorce, though. Sometimes relationships just didn't work out.

Kiera shook her head. "I don’t want a divorce."

Danica's eyes widened in surprise as she glanced back at Maggie, whose own expression mirrored her astonishment at the unexpected statement.

That wasn't like Kiera. She was stubborn, sure, but she wasn't a doormat. The Kiera she knew was strong and independent. Danica nodded, carefully trying to phrase her response. "Okay. I'm here for whatever you need, and I'll support you through anything. How are you doing? Are you okay?”

“I don’t know. I think I’m okay? I’m still… figuring it all out, I guess, which is why I hadn’t told you sooner.” Kiera chewed on her bottom lip.

Danica nodded. “I can understand that. And if you want me to tap Alex with my car, I'm ready at a moment's notice."

"I'll be in the passenger seat," Maggie added.

Kiera's mouth formed a sad smile. "Please don't run over my husband."

"I only said tap." Danica held her palms up in defense.

Maggie added, "You said you didn't want a divorce, but you never said you were opposed to being a widow."

Kiera rolled her eyes.

If she was ever going to admit to being single, now was the time. With her friends' vulnerability fresh in her mind, her pulse roared in her ears. But as she opened her mouth, Maggie squealed with delight at the glittery pink color on her big toe, and Danica just… stayed silent. She felt like a fraud and a coward as she forced herself to laugh along with her friends.

Their pedicure service wrapped up, Danica choosing a subtle nude, Maggie going with cherry red, and Kiera choosing neon green. As they walked out of the spa and salon, Danica stopped them both on the street, grabbing each by an arm of their ski jackets. “I really love you both.”

"Is this a group hug moment?" Kiera said with a quirk of her lips.

"This is definitely a group hug moment," Maggie said, launching herself to wrap her one free around Kiera as she collided with Danica.

Danica laughed, despite her lingering discomfort about keeping her own secret.

"Should we grab lunch?" Maggie asked, pointing toward a faux-rustic sandwich shop next door.

"Actually, I think I'm going to go back to the house and call the girls and then take a nap," Kiera said, her tone more withdrawn than Danica was used to hearing

"Suit yourself," Maggie said flippantly, linking her non-sling arm through Danica's.

"You'll be okay getting back? Do you want to take the car and we can call a ride?" Danica asked, touching Kiera's elbow gently.

"I'll call an Uber," Kiera said. "It's no big deal."

"Share your ride location with me so I can be sure you don't get murdered," Danica instructed. Telluride to Mountain Village was a short Gondola ride, but the ride the night before had taken awhile.

Maggie grinned. "I'm glad you never stopped being our mom, Dani."

Danica smiled, patting Maggie's head and then pinching her cheek.

"Alright, ride info is shared," Kiera said, looking at her phone.

"Want to come back and join us after your nap? We can Après without the whole skiing part," Maggie said.

"Maybe," Kiera said noncommittally. She looked up from her phone toward where a car was pulling over. "That's me. See you guys later."

"Text us," Danica said. "To let us know you got back home safely.”

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