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"Eight," Danica croaked, then finished her beer in one large gulp. "Eight months."

Maggie's mouth formed into something resembling a "yeesh" grimace.

"Sex isn’t everything, you know?” Danica was really fighting for her life in this damn sandwich shop.

Maggie nodded, not saying a word as she picked up her turkey Reuben.

"I thought we were talking about Kiera's issues, not mine," Danica grumbled, lifting her veggie burger with both hands.

"Kiera isn't here to defend herself. You are," Maggie stated as if it was obvious. “So, what happened? Are you okay?”

Danica nodded, staring down at the burger in her hands. "Okay, fine. I felt relieved. When he finally broke up with me, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. And when it was over, the first thing I thought was..." She paused, not sure if she wanted to continue. "I don't know."

"Your first thought was Pete," Maggie said around a mouthful of sandwich.

Danica glanced away with a huff of exasperation. "No." She set down her burger, suddenly losing her appetite. She wiped her hands on her napkin and fidgeted with her silverware. "It wasn't."

Maggie's soft expression was non-judgmental as she watched Danica.

"Don't look at me like that," Danica said, looking up at the elk instead. Its glassy eyes and nose were shiny in a discomforting and uncanny way.

Maggie wiped at her mouth with her napkin, then took a deep breath. "Look. I was there in the beginning. I remember how you and Pete were together."

“We were young.”

“And I see the way Pete looks at you now,” Maggie continued. “And the way you look at her.”

Danica flushed. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Maggie smiled back at her. “Just think about it.”

With a sharp shake of her head and a flat tone, Danica declared she would do no such thing. "Let's hold off on telling Kiera about this for now, okay? With all of this affair and Alex stuff, I don’t want that to be on her mind.”

Maggie gave her a small, sad smile. “Your friends should help you through the hard times.”

“Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black,” Danica said, but her words didn’t carry any sting.

Maggie waved a hand dismissively, but her eyes twinkled with a teasing gleam. “Yeah, yeah. ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ Oh, look who else can deflect with an adage?”

CHAPTER 12

PETE

Pete wasgrateful for a quiet night staying in after their karaoke night full of drinking and poor sleep. The group sat around the dining table sipping drinks as Danica fussed over a white chicken chili across the kitchen island. Outside, giant snowflakes floated down from the sky, blanketing the world in a fresh layer of snow. Tomorrow would be a truly epic powder day if this kept up.

"My knees were shaking, I was so scared," Izzy said with wide eyes, recounting the tale of how they'd tried a few expert runs that day. “We were doing fine until Pete’s spectacular yard sale.”

“A what? Yard sale?” Maggie repeated.

“When you fall so hard your gear flies all around you, making the area look like a yard sale,” Pete explained. Her ass hurt and she'd probably need to stick to easier runs the following day, but what was the point of being at one of the most gorgeous ski resorts in the country if you didn't try something new? They still had two days of vacation left, three if she was counting theday they all had to head back home, and she had to get out her restless energy somehow.

Because constantly daydreaming about pinning Danica up against a wall and actually getting to kiss her. Letting her mind wander to what else might happen. Waking up beside Danica, albeit in an awkward position and apparently to an audience, had reminded her what it felt like to be close to Danica, to be pressed against her.

Danica probably needed time after her relationship before getting involved in something new, and Pete could give her that, but she wanted to be on Danica’s mind. Pete wanted to follow Danica’s lead and be ready whenever she was.

She stole a glance toward the kitchen where Danica was tasting directly the stirring spoon. They locked eyes and Danica gave her a wry smile as heat spread through Pete's entire body. With a playful wink and a secretive finger to her lips, Danica dipped the spoon back into the pot.

Pete grinned, sipping her wine and admiring the way Danica was in her own little world, dancing to the Shrikes album playing in the background while cooking.