Page 51 of The Aster Valley Collection, Vol. 2

As for who Parker was attracted to, I had no clue.

He wasn’t really into girls, and he wasn’t really into guys.

The person he seemed happiest spending time with was me…

well, except when he was getting ski lessons from my dad or Mr. Rokas, Erin’s dad, who coached the high school ski team. Maybe he was ski-sexual.

That thought was enough to make my boner quit. I walked back into the room laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Parker asked. I couldn’t see his face anymore since I’d turned off the bathroom light.

“I decided you’re ski-sexual.”

“What the fuck?” he asked. I could hear the grin on his face.

“Ski-sexual. I think you’re in love with skiing and want to marry it.”

I climbed back into bed but didn’t reach for him. My boner was gone but not forgotten. It wouldn’t take much for it to flare back to life.

Parker lay back and sighed. “If I could, I would. I love being out there. It’s peaceful and quiet but also exciting, you know?”

“Yeah.”

“What made you think about sex, though?” he asked. “Were you in there jacking off or something?”

I squeezed my eyes closed and wondered if this was the time to tell him I was gay. Parker wouldn’t care about that, but I didn’t know for sure if it would make him less likely to want to share a bed with me. Still… I couldn’t keep such a big secret from him anymore.

“No, but… I kinda wanted to.”

He turned over on his side and propped his head on his hand. “Why didn’t you? You can, you know. I don’t care.”

I leaned over and turned the side lamp on its dimmest setting. I needed to see his face when I told him.

“I’m gay,” I said.

He blinked and waited for me to say something else. When I didn’t, he tilted his head. “I… know? I mean… I guess I didn’t know if you liked girls and guys, but I know you like guys. I’m your best friend, Jules.”

I blew out a breath. “And… you’re okay with it?”

His face turned angry. “First of all, yes, of course I’m okay with it. But also? No one gets to not be okay with it. You don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to feel the way you do and like the things or guys you do. And if anyone gives you hell about it, I’ll punch them in the fucking face.”

I couldn’t hold back a big relieved grin. “You’re the best.”

He leaned over and hugged me. “ You’re the best. No matter who you like.

Just so long as you don’t ever like anyone more than me.

You can have a boyfriend, but you can’t have another best friend.

That job is mine. Forever. You just made a binding agreement.

” He nodded at the notebook paper on my nightstand.

I could tell he was teasing, but I still liked being claimed in that way.

“What about you?” I asked, trying to be brave enough to find out if there’d ever be a chance I could date my best friend.

“What do you mean? Like, who do I like?” He moved back over onto his own pillow.

“Yeah.”

He screwed up his lips while he thought about it.

“I think you’re right. I’m ski-sexual. When Erin and Hazel mentioned their group of friends getting tickets to that concert thing, all I could think about was whether or not your dad would take us to the slopes instead.

Do you think he will? Mr. Rokas said I’m almost ready to try the moguls. ”

The laugh that bubbled up was full of relief. I didn’t need him to like me like that, as long as he didn’t like anyone else that way either.

And he didn’t. For two more years, he continued to prefer my dad’s hand-me-down skis and soft, fresh powder to any kind of date with anyone of any gender, though most of the girls in our year and at least one guy had made a play for him.

But when we learned the homecoming committee had booked a popular local DJ sophomore year, I decided to finally ask Parker out. For real. As my date to the dance. I would tell him how I felt and ask him to give me a chance as more than best friends.

I kind of wanted to do the cheesy prom-posal idea but with something related to skiing.

He’d gotten a coveted spot on the Evergreen High School team, and Coach Rokas said he had more potential than anyone he’d seen in a decade.

Parker was already well on his way to making a name for himself in the state competitions.

As cheesy as it was, my poster would at least make him laugh. I’d spent all afternoon adding little drawings beside each ski word.

I would be snow board if I went to HoCo solo. I snow full well taking you would lift me up, so I’m asking icely if you’ll be my date. If you say no, Alp be piste.

“What the heck is that?” Hazel asked, barging into my room uninvited.

I scrambled to hide the giant poster with a hoodie that had been on the floor by my feet. “Nothing. Get out. Jesus.”

“Who are you asking… oh .” She winced. “You were going to ask Parker, weren’t you?”

I moved the poster behind me on the bed. “I am going to ask Parker. Yes. Not that it’s any of your business.”

Hazel took my hand, which wasn’t something she did very often anymore. “Jules… Erin already asked Parker to the dance, and he said yes.”

I stared at my sister in disbelief. “That’s not possible. He would have told me.”

“She only asked him today after you’d already left.”

Parker didn’t like Erin like that. I knew he didn’t. At least… he’d never said anything about it to me if he did.

I was crushed.

“Maybe… maybe they’re just going as friends,” I said lamely.

Hazel squeezed my hand again. “I don’t think so, Jules. She really likes him.”

I looked at my sister while trying to stop myself from feeling so pathetic and disappointed. “I really like him, too,” I admitted softly.

Hazel pulled me into a tight hug. “I know you do. And maybe one day you’ll get your chance to tell him. But for now, let’s think of some other cute guy you can ask. What about Toby Finley? Oooh! Or Sean Rollins. He’s superhot and totally into guys.”

In the end, I didn’t end up taking anyone. And Parker and Erin became a thing, breaking up and getting back together so many times it made all of us shake our heads.

Over the years, I took comfort knowing I was still his person—still the first one he told when he got a killer scholarship and wasn’t sure whether to take it, and the first person he called when he needed encouragement after a crushing loss on the slopes.

I never doubted for a second that he was my person, too—the guy who rushed to my side when I was injured and sent me a joke every morning without fail during my most trying days in law school.

He was mine, and I was his.

You and me. Always.

Or so I thought.

But when Erin came back around for the billionth time with a much bigger proposal on her mind, everything changed.

Because Parker said yes to her again. Only this time, he agreed to marry her—to love her and put her first forever.

And I knew nothing would ever be the same again.