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Con waved us over, his face lighting up when he saw me. "Geri! Lily! Over here!"

As I made my way through the crowd, I felt a lightness in my chest that had been absent for too long. This was good. This was where I was supposed to be. Not pining over Matt, not trying to force something with Alex, but here, in this moment, surrounded by new friends and new experiences.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't defined by who I was dating or who had hurt me. I was just Geri—waitress, novice skier, friend. And that felt like the most authentic version of myself I had been in years.

I slid into the seat Con had saved for me, accepting the beer he pushed my way with a smile. As the conversation flowed around me—talk of the day's skiing conditions, gossip about guests at the resort, plans for the weekend—I felt a sense of belonging that had nothing to do with romantic relationships and everything to do with finding my place in this small mountain community.

Maybe that's what I had been searching for all along—not someone to complete me, but somewhere I could be completely myself.

Chapter 14

Geri

Ihad been at the resort for well over four weeks now, and Alex's texts had started to dwindle. I knew they would—distance wasn't for everyone, and I was forgetting him quicker than he was forgetting me. I had, in fact, gotten a text from Matt yesterday asking how I was and if I would like to come see him. I was yet to reply. Did I want to see him? I had been doing really well when I wasn't allowing my brain to think of him, so I had decided to just ignore it for now and assess it later.

I had been asked to cover a shift at the bar—one I hadn't yet worked in—but I liked money and had started a nice savings since I arrived here. Not paying for city living was good.

I settled into working in the bar easily, pouring drinks and talking to patrons. The atmosphere was lively, with skiers coming in after a day on the slopes, their faces flushed from cold and exertion. The tips were flowing as freely as the alcohol, and I found myself enjoying the change of pace from the restaurant.

I walked over to serve the next group of people when I realized it was Con's brother, Cam. Dammit.

His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he said, "Hey."

I said “hey” back and asked what he wanted. I had managed to avoid him at all costs the past few weeks. He was just as cruelto others as he was to me, and I'd decided he was just that type of person.

"Whiskey, neat. And two beers," he said, his gaze never leaving my face.

I grabbed his drinks, then walked them back over to him, handing them off when he said, "Can I ask you something?"

I looked at the twinkle in his eyes and knew he was up to something, but I said, "Sure, why not."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "When are you going to date my brother?"

I looked at him and said, "What?"

"You know he likes you, right?" Cam continued, taking a sip of his whiskey. "You're the first girl he has actually liked in a long time."

I laughed at that and said, "He goes on dates all the time. I'm sure that's not true."

"He only goes on dates to try to get over you," Cam replied, "because he knows you don't feel the same."

I stopped and stared at him. "What? That can't be true."

Cam leaned in again and said, "Listen here, girl. I've known him my whole life. He doesn't just like you—my brother is madly in love with you, and you're just stringing him along at every turn you get. So stop. Tell him you don't like him so I can mend his broken heart now, not later when it will hurt more."

I was struck dumb. Con loves me? What the fuck?

The revelation hit me like an avalanche, sudden and overwhelming. Con—my friend, my confidant, the person who had made this whole transition bearable—was in love with me? How had I missed it? And more importantly, how did I feel about it?

"I... I need to get back to work," I stammered, turning away from Cam's knowing smirk.

For the rest of my shift, I moved on autopilot, pouring drinks and making small talk while my mind raced. Every interaction I'd had with Con over the past weeks played back in my head, now tinged with this new knowledge. The way he always made time for me, how he'd taught me to ski again with endless patience, the hot chocolate waiting for me at the bottom of every run, the seat he always saved for me at the pub.

Had it been obvious to everyone but me? Was I really that blind?

By the time my shift ended, I was a mess of conflicting emotions. Part of me was flattered—Con was kind, attractive, stable. Everything I should want in a man. But another part of me was terrified. I'd come here to find myself, not to jump into another relationship. And what if Cam was wrong? What if this was just his way of messing with me?

I stepped out into the cold night air, pulling my jacket tighter around me. The sky was clear with stars scattered like diamonds across the darkness. I decided to take walk before heading to bed, needing the time to clear my head.