Page 8 of Snowed In with My Ex
“I thought you needed another year of experience.”
“I do. But working for that guy and having to deal with him—“ I made a face and shook my head. “There has to be a different firm out there hiring.”
“You would give up the time you already did with that asshat?” she asked.
“I know but… I don’t know.” I sighed. “Thankfully, I have time to think about it. I am officially on vacation and won’t go back till the start of the new year.”
When I’d first heard about the break from work, it freaked me out. I wasn’t used to not working every spare moment I hadto be able to pay for law school, but those days were behind me. I had actually been able to save and put some money away last year. More so the six months I had been with Win. The man had insisted on paying for everything.
Even at the end when he hardly looked at me.
“Good and bah-humbug to that guy,” she started to say just as she settled on a movie I hadn’t seen in a long time. “Grumpy Old Men?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Good choice.”
“So…” she started to say slowly, and I braced. I had a feeling I knew where this conversation was headed. “Have you thought about what you are going to do about that cabin you rented?”
The cabin.
The cabin that like a dummy I’d rented so I could stupidly surprise a guy I hadn’t even been dating for a year. A cabin rental that turned out to be non-refundable. What the hell had I been thinking?That he’s supposed to be your forever,the hopeless romantic in me whispered.
My heart softened at the memory of Winston talking about the land he had sold to his buddy Clay. We had just started to see each other. He had kept going on and on about how beautiful it was. How Alpha Mountain, Colorado was easily one of the most beautiful places he had ever been to. It had made me curious, and I’d looked up the small mountain town.
I’d been shocked at how beautiful it was.
Then, because I was stupidly in love, and I’d known we both had time off for the holidays, I decided to be spontaneous and romantic for the first time in my life.
“You could always go with me, you know?” I glanced at her already knowing the answer.
“I wish. But you know I can’t.” She sighed, and I knew she was right.
She was a crafter by nature and had started a side hustle during law school that turned into a very well-paying small business before we had graduated. A small business she decided to focus on before diving into practicing. Something her old-money family did not approve of.
The holiday season was her bread and butter. There was no way I could ask her to get away. Not when I knew just how many craft fairs she had signed up for and how busy the weeks leading up to Christmas would be for her.
“I know,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the old movie. We both giggled as the two old guys did shenanigan after shenanigan.
“I think I am going to go,” I announced, finally putting my plan out in the universe. Fresh mountain air would be good for me. Even my mom had suggested I go out there and see it with my own eyes.To have an adventure.
“On your own?” She sat up.
“Yeah.” I nodded. I had been toying with the idea since I received an email back letting me know that unfortunately, my booking was non-refundable. I guess it turned out that heartbreak wasn’t on their list of get-out-of-jail-free cards.
“I think it would be good for me, you know?”
“To go alone?” I could feel her eyes on me.
“Yeah.” I nodded before turning to my best friend, who was looking at me like I had grown an extra head.
“You want to fly off to a different state, one you have never been to, get a rental, and hoof your way up some alpha bananas mountain?
“Hoof and alpha bananas?” I repeated, but Piper wasn’t going to be distracted. She made a face that made my lips twitch.
“You think it’s called Alpha Mountain just because? Please! I bet some serious weirdos live up there. The kind who are allyou pretty, you mine,”she said in a deep fake caveman voice, “andpound their chest and stuff.” This had me crumpling into a fit of giggles, one that she joined me in.
“Where do you get that from? We live in the city of weirdos, Pipe!” I laughed. “I highly doubt anyone will find allthis pretty and mine,” I repeated, mimicking her tone. “It’s just me. I think some time away, new scenery, fresh air… it’ll be good for me.”
“Alone, though?” She chewed on her lip, and I bumped her shoulder with mine before resting my head on it.