I spent a couple hours wandering in and out of shops on Main Street. But try as I might, I couldn’t distract myself from the jagged wound in my heart.
I thought Jake understood me. I thought he truly saw me for who I was, understood what was important to me. He said he admired my passion for Aspen Ridge.
It may not have been L-word worthy, but I thought we were moving in that direction. When he proposed coffee today, it felt like everything was lining up. I imagined us wandering around town, browsing in shops, slipping between buildings to steal kisses without being seen.
How had the entire thing turned on its head so quickly?
When I’d been in and out of more stores than I remembered and my head still wasn’t clear, I texted Tessa for an emergency summit.
SOS Jake and I just broke up
Oh shit
come over I’ve got two bottles of rose in the fridge
And a fresh bottle of vodka if you need it
Be there in 20
I left the shop, not remembering anything I’d seen inside, and it took me a minute to gather my bearings. Apparently, I’d meandered my way back toward my Jeep without even realizing it. I hopped in and cranked up the heat, my brain running through the entire conversation with Jake again. I wondered if there was something else I could have said to change the trajectory of that conversation. But there wasn’t. I was honest. I told him how I felt.
And I guess he did, too.
Sighing, I put the Jeep in gear and started heading for Tessa’s.
While I lived in one of the new condos on Peak 9, just outside of downtown and convenient for work or skiing, Tessa preferred to live away from town. She had a duplex about ten minutes up the mountain on the opposite side from the ski hill, the other half of which she rented out to vacationers in the winter. I wouldn’t call her style shabby chic so much as ‘lived-in mountain’. Clean, comfortable, and worn in just the right way. Her place was my home away from home, and the parking space to the right of her truck practically had my name on it.
Before I’d even put the Jeep in park and turned the key, Tessa was already standing in the doorway with a bottle of wine in one hand and vodka in the other. She clearly hadn’t done much today, since her long dark hair was wild and she was wearing plaid pajama bottoms with a long-sleeved top that said ‘Go away, I’m hibernating’ inside the silhouette of a bear. It coordinated nicely with her slippers that were topped with fluffy bear heads.
“Pick your poison, babe. I have everything we need for bloody marys, or if you want mimosas, I have some OJ.”
“Sparkly stuff, straight up,” I cracked a weak smile, and she wrapped both arms around my shoulders for a hug, the bottles clinking together.
“You got it, babe.”
I followed Tessa into her house, immediately warmed by the golden wood paneling and crackling fire in the grate. My place had a gas fireplace, which was clean and convenient, but Tessa always insisted a ‘real’ fire needed actual wood. And to be fair, she used that fireplace a lot. She even split her own wood out back, providing it for the duplex renters as well.
Tessa and I were both modern mountain women, just cut from very different cloth. My place was cool and sleek with homey mountain touches, and Tessa’s was like a modern, cozy log cabin. All the latest and best of everything, but that distinctive mountain charm that was so integral to Aspen Ridge. I really wasn’t sure which I liked better.
By the time I’d slipped off my boots and settled into the worn leather couch by the fire, Tessa was already headed my way with two large stemmed glasses of bubbling wine.
I raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, ma’am, but that is not a proper pour for sparkling wine,” I teased as I accepted the glass, filled to the brim.
“Pah,” Tessa snorted, settling into the seat next to me and pulling a thick, furry blanket over our legs. “I know this is not a five-ounce pour kind of story and I don’t want to get up every five seconds. It’s my day off. Sue me. Besides, there are no rules in my house, you know that.” She took a long sip from her glass and smacked her lips. “Ah, so good. I got the entire bottle into these two glasses. Whoever decided that sparkling wine should be served in those tiny test tubes was not a bartender.”
A half-hearted chuckled escaped my lips. “Funny, I thought it was more about how long it takes the bubbles to run out, or the wine to warm up.”
“Well then, I guess you’d better drink up, babe, so it doesn’t get warm.” Tessa clinked her glass to mine and we both took a sip, then she looked at me expectantly. “Alright, hit me with it.”
Sighing, I launched into the story. Starting with the gala, then Jake’s text, and then our falling out this morning. Tessa listened intently with wide eyes, sipping her rosé and occasionally muttering in sympathy. By the time I was finished, our glasses were more than half empty, and I was feeling somewhat warm and definitely more relaxed.
“So… that’s it?” She asked, her head tilted. “Like, you’re just done?”
I shrugged. “I guess so. What am I supposed to do, Tessa? He can’t expect me to drop all my responsibilities and become a stay at home mom. Aspen Ridge is my life—the people who work there, hell the entire town depends on me. I’m still stuck in this limbo, trying to prove to my dad that I’m ready to take over. I have obligations, and to be honest it’s not fair for Jake to act like a jealous boyfriend just because some photos surface of Zach and me at an event. I attend a lot of events, and the same people go to all of them. Zach and I have history. I can’t change that.” I took another sip.
“I mean, I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like he was more upset that he found out after the fact. Maybe he doesn’t handle surprises well.”
“That’s not my fault,” I sniffed, defensive. “My dad was supposed to go with me. I didn’t find out until the last minute that he was bailing. You know how it is. I have to roll with the punches on this stuff. And it’s not fair of him to expect me to run everything past him when we aren’t even officially dating. Weren’t, weren’t officially dating,” I amended. “I never had this issue with Zach—he didn’t take anything personally. Everything with us just worked so easily.” I sighed again. “I dunno. Maybe I just don’t know how relationships are supposed to work. With Zach, there was never drama or hurt feelings. He always treated me well, always understood when something came up.”
Tessa snorted. “I think you’re looking on the past with rosé-colored glasses, babe.”
“What? No, I’m not.”
“You and Zach didn’t fight much, but I wouldn’t say there was no drama or hurt feelings.”
I leveled a glare at my best friend. “And you know my relationship better than I do? Please, enlighten me.”
“Well, first off, if you’re going to make this comparison, you need to acknowledge that Zach never had to contend with the same situation Jake is. Meaning there was no ex showing up that you didn’t tell him about. I’d imagine Zach might have gotten jealous, too. Plus, everyone in this town—including your dear old dad—loves Zach and ships you two like crazy. You’re practically local royalty, as far as the town is concerned.”
I had to give her that one. “Fair,” I sniffed.
“Second, there were plenty of hurt feelings with Zach, just never his.”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. Zach blew you off plenty for things resort-related. You guys would have plans, and then he’d text you last minute and say something came up and you’d act like you were fine because it was work, but you weren’t fine. You just sucked it up because he used the work excuse, but I don’t remember you blowing him off nearly as much.”
My first instinct was to argue back that she was wrong, but then the memories crept in. One time I’d planned a romantic picnic on the mountain; Zach was supposed to meet me so we could watch the sunset and I’d had it all set out with candles and the whole nine yards. He texted me when he was already twenty minutes late that he got caught up with the investors and he wouldn’t make it. I’d called Tessa on the verge of tears and she came instead. More of those moments, both big and small, came back to me as I thought it over.
“You’re right,” I admitted finally. “But like you said, I always understood. Work has to come first, when all those people are depending on you. So I understand when Zach has to deal with things that come up, and at least he would understand that on my end, too.”
“Is that really true, though? If you’re going to run a business, be the boss, I think it’s where you choose to prioritize. My mom runs the restaurant and my dad runs the brewery and distribution for ARB; they both have big jobs and a lot of obligations. But they never blow each other off for work. They make a point to plan and spend time together. That’s their first priority.”
“Your parents have it all figured out,” I agreed.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of sickening when you really think about it.” She grimaced. “I couldn’t stand to be around them when I was in high school. But now I get that it’s how they made it work. Their business, their jobs, are a priority. But their relationship is the first priority. They built the brewery together. If they didn’t have each other, it would never have worked out. As sickeningly sweet as they can sometimes be, they’ve always kept each other grounded. It’s partially why I’ve never gotten serious with anyone; until I find something that compares to what my parents have, I just can’t see myself investing the time into it. So I can say from firsthand experience, a relationship can work with two busy people as long as they prioritize each other. The business doesn’t have to take first place to be successful.”
“Right, and I’m sure Zach and I could have made it work back then. I just didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted.”
“Yeah, and that’s why you broke up with him after college. Because he kept treating you like an afterthought, and you were tired of it.”
“Ouch, way harsh Tessa.” I straightened up and leaned away from her.
“Hey, I’m your friend and it’s my job to remind you when you forget shit like this. Zach is always nice, but he did some shit that really hurt your feelings. Intentional or not, how you felt was always second to what he thought was important. I don’t really see that changing. Besides, you’re kind of glossing over the most important thing, so I’ll be a good bestie and remind you: Zach wants to absorb Aspen Ridge.”
An uncomfortable feeling squirmed in my gut. “I know I was really mad at him for proposing it, but that’s just how he is… he’s always looking at the next peak over, trying to plan his next leap.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow. “Ellie, you know I like Zach, but he has always had a one-track mind. He will just keep pressuring you until you give in and give him what he wants. He’s been like that since high school. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had this planned before you two were even dating.”
A shocked laugh poured from my throat, and I nearly spilled the rest of my wine. I gulped it down quickly—we don’t abuse alcohol around these parts—and as soon as I finished it, Tessa hopped out of her seat to fetch the second bottle.
“Think about it though,” she said eagerly, her eyes bright. Tessa always loved a good conspiracy. “You guys went to different high schools. It’s not like you were in the same classes or anything.” She popped the cork and started pouring a little sloppily, the wine foaming dangerously closed to the rim.
“Tessa, we saw each other practically every weekend at all the community events our parents dragged us to. We were the only people our age there.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, filling her own glass. “And you guys were just friends for years. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he asked you out. No lead up or anything. Don’t you remember? You thought it was weird, even back then.”
I took a long sip. “I mean, yeah, but we were in high school. Guys were awkward in high school, or did you forget? The first guy I dated asked me out by shouting down the hallway that I was hot. Zach was an absolute gentleman by comparison.”
“Maybe, but I still think it’s suspicious. No, hear me out!” She insisted when I started to interrupt. “Zach’s dad had Snowshoe Ridge up and running, and now he’s looking for opportunities to expand. Your dad obviously wouldn’t go for it, and there you are, bored at these community meetings, being a dutiful daughter. Everyone already knew your dad was grooming you to take over. So he thinks ‘huh, I can’t get my fingers on Aspen Ridge now, but maybe if the kids get together, when JJ steps down, Zach could pull it off.’”
“Ridiculous,” I scoffed. “Brian knows we have a board too, and the Blackwells own just as much as we do. They’d never agree to it.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe they figured if they got you on board, you’d advocate on their behalf. Maybe they looked at your cousin Blaise, and Robert’s daughter, Stella, and thought they’d have a good chance at convincing them to go for it. That would just leave James and Reece as the potential holdouts, and while it might take some time, I bet they thought they could wear you all down. Surely your board would see the value in a proposal with the number of zeroes the Graftons would attach to it.”
“I think you’re digging way too deep on this one. Zach didn’t bring up merging the resorts until last year. I don’t buy that they’ve been planning it since high school.”
“Hey, I only tell it like I see it.” She shrugged, taking another sip. “I just know how those guys are, and I wouldn’t put it past them.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Now that she’d brought it up, my warm fuzzy feelings for Zach withered and died. Tessa was right. I was definitely looking back on our relationship with rose-tinted glasses, and just thinking about Zach wanting to add Aspen Ridge to his ‘portfolio’ was enough to put ice in my veins where he was concerned. Whatever had been between us, there was no getting past that. If he had understood me as well as I thought, he’d never have proposed it in the first place.
Unless she was right, and it was all part of a plan from the very beginning.
“Ugh, Tessa, I think I’m having a mid-life crisis. Did you just ruin my first love? I’m starting to doubt that you’re actually my friend at all.”
Tessa reached out an arm and pulled me into her body, allowing my head to rest on her shoulder. “No babe, I didn’t. I’m your first love. And besides, you never loved Zach.”
“What? Yes, I did.” I tried to sit up, but she pressed her hand to my head and kept me in place.
“Well, maybe it was like puppy love. With you two, it was always a business transaction between friends. I know you cared about him, but from my perspective your feelings for the guy were lukewarm, at best. There was a rush of excitement at the beginning and then you both kind of settled into being a middle-aged couple with all your fancy resort obligations. Besides, he never loved you like I do.” She patted my head sloppily, her dark hair spilling over my face as she rested her cheek on my head.
“I think I could have loved Jake,” I admitted in a whisper, my voice catching in my throat.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I know you didn’t see it, but you were different with him than you ever were with Zach.”
“Different how?”
“You were more… you with Jake. Like you are with me. It’s hard to explain, but around Zach it was like you were a different version of yourself. I really thought you were on to something with Jake.”
“Me too,” my eyes prickled with tears. “But if we can’t meet on the same page now, it’s never going to work out long term. I guess it’s good to end it before it ever got serious.”
“Are you trying to say you don’t have serious feelings for him?”
“It was barely the beginning of something, Tessa. I mean, yes I felt something, but we didn’t even have a chance to get it off the ground before he stomped it out and walked the other way.”
“Well, I’m not walking away, babe. I’m always here for you.”
“What would I do without you? Too bad we can’t get married,” I joked.
“I mean, technically we could, but I’m not interested, babe, no offense. I’m still holding out hope that a Finnish lumberjack will move in next door and sweep me off my feet. Speaking of,” she sat up suddenly. “Let’s see what the market is doing.”
“Ugh, Tessa, no. No Tinder.”
“Oh, come on, it’s fun. It’s not like we’re going to actually meet any of them. I just like to see how many dirt bags are out here acting single, trying to score some vacation booty.”
“I really don’t know why you bother. They’re all dirt bags, whether or not they have girlfriends at home. If they’re on vacation, they’re not looking for anything long term.”
“That’s why the service I provide is unique. I string them along and keep promising to meet up so they don’t have time to hook-line-and-sinker a young, innocent girl that’s not hip to the game.”
“You’re diabolical.”
“It’s too easy,” she snorted. “Ooh, got a live one. Michael here is in town for one week only, and he’s definitely cropped a girl out of this photo. You can see the blonde hair and an arm around his waist. I’m swiping.”
“Tessa! What if that’s like his sister or something? Maybe he’s just a genuinely nice guy looking for love.” Alcohol always softened up my cynical side, but had the opposite effect on Tessa.
“Fuck no, he’s not. He listed the dates he’s in town and even mentioned which condos he’s staying in, specifically the hot tub. He’s a dirtbag, guaranteed.”
“Fine, happy hunting.” I leaned back in my seat and focused on the long-stemmed glass in my hand.
“Ooh, we matched. Yep, he’s desperate! And he’s here with a group of friends. Okay, you’re involved now. I’m telling him about you.”
“Tessa! Don’t you dare.”
“Oh hush, I’m calling you Jackie. Don’t get your panties in a twist. He thinks my name is Savannah, anyway.”
“Fine, just don’t send him any pictures.”
“Babe, my photos on Tinder aren’t even me. I stole some random girl’s photos years ago. She’s got an entire crew of friends. You’re the blonde.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Meh, who cares? It’s harmless fun.”
“Not to the girl whose identity you stole.”
“She was up here for a ski trip like ten years ago. She’s probably in Ohio, married, with two kids by now. Besides, it’s not like I stole her credit card numbers. I’m just using her photos to con dirt bags on Tinder. It’s a public service. I’m sure she’d approve.”
I didn’t have the energy to dissuade Tessa on a mission, so I just took another sip and stared at the fire while she laid her trap for the unfortunate Michael.
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