Page 17 of The Snowflake Effect

“I left my credit card at the restaurant,” I say, and all heads snap my way.

Nico sits taller and shifts his massive frame closer to Raven. “You should call them right away. Ask if they found it.”

I lock eyes with Lily, my best ally. “I don’t remember the name of the place, and I don’t want to wait.”

Lily glances at Sawyer and sucks on her bottom lip. Not a good sign. “Are you sure?” she asks and unleashes her doe eyes. “Have you checked your jacket?”

Unbelievable. Lily, of all people, should have my back. Always worried about upsetting Kevin, she never flirts, even harmlessly. She brushes off any advances with her I have a boyfriend, and I always get up and go if she’s uncomfortable.

Apparently, that street doesn’t flow both ways.

“Yeah, Lil, I’m sure I don’t have my credit card. Never been more sure of anything in my life. We need to go. Now.” I glance back, dreading Kolton’s imminent return.

She and Raven exchange looks, then both girls get up and offer sad smiles to the guys.

As awkward goodbyes are shared, I hurry to my jacket, shrug it on, and push back my mop of hair. The curls catch in my fingers. With a grunt, I yank them through, and my scalp burns, reminding me too much of that bathroom, Kolton’s hips, and my raspy name on his lips as he came undone.

I say something about needing air and rush out the door. Calf-deep in snow, I suck back icy breaths.

Kolton nailed it when he said our sex was unreal. I let loose, spontaneous yet reckless, proving I can do it. Now it’s time to focus on me. My career needs a jumpstart, and since Lily and Raven finished school and moved to Toronto, we haven’t hung out as much as I’d like.

It’s time to get my life together, quit my soul-sucking job, and spend time with my friends.

I’m almost at the end of the block of condos when they come jogging through the snow. Raven grabs my shoulder and spins me around. “You okay? What went down in there?”

The girls know every detail of my mundane sex life, down to that face the Dick makes when he’s coming. (We nearly died laughing when I did the impression.) But this, tonight, is too raw. I have to get my head straight before I can talk it out.

I kick at the fluffy snow. “Like I said, the guy’s an asshole, on the hill and off.”

Raven rolls her hand like, carry on.

“He’s hot,” I say, admitting the obvious, and the girls stare at me, unblinking. “And we made out, okay? I thought about taking it further, but we can’t talk for two minutes without reenacting Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I needed to leave.” And he bailed on me so fast, I’d swear his fine ass was on fire.

“He does look a little like Brad Pitt, doesn’t he?” Lily says. “Him and Sawyer both. With the sandy hair and full lips, those three could be brothers.”

“You seemed smitten talking to Sawyer,” I say, jumping on the chance to change the subject. “Like really into your conversation. And you didn’t want me to look for my ‘credit card.’”

Her eyes dart around as Raven leans into her space. “Yeah. What were you two talking about so intently?”

On a sigh, Lily says, “Nothing. It was nothing. We just talked fashion. Design stuff. He’s pretty into outerwear for an insurance guy.” She starts walking, clearly as interested in rehashing her night as I am.

“I’m totally into Nico,” Raven says as we traipse after Lily. “In case either of you sluts cares to ask. And the six of us are going out tomorrow night. I need to see that man naked.”

I stop and grab her shoulders. “Ex-squeeze-me?”

Raven pouts and holds up her hands in prayer. “Come on. I never ask for anything. And I promise not to rag on you and Lil about your ex-boyfriend and her current boyfriend for the rest of the trip. I mean, I know you and Kolton are oil and water, but maybe you just need to get to know him better. And I really, really, really want to go out with Nico. We came to Aspen to have fun, and it’s not like we’ll ever see these guys again. Even Lily hit it off with Sawyer. Platonically,” she adds when Lily makes a face. “What do you say?”

The snowboard dude on the lift was right. Tossing that bra was all kinds of karmic. How stupid of me to think I could slip out the door and avoid Kolton for the rest of this trip, especially since Raven has her sights locked on Nico. Another notch for her ever-growing belt. Plus, how can I say no to the woman who called in sick for two days to eat ice cream with me after my epic dumpage? I’ll just have to be mature and deal with Kolton like an adult.

People have casual sex all the time.

I release Raven’s shoulders. “Fine. Groveling doesn’t suit you. But I’m sitting at the opposite end of the table from the douche. Tonight made me realize I need a break from men. So don’t play matchmaker with him and me or anyone else.” I blink frost from my lashes, the steady snowfall unrelenting. “I’m catching first tracks tomorrow. You ladies in?”

Lily shakes her head. “I’ll stick to the groomed trails. I don’t think my thighs can take it.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to tucker myself out before tomorrow night,” Raven says, a sly grin rounding out her cheeks. “Is it okay to meet for lunch instead?”

“Fine by me,” I reply. “I’m not missing the good stuff.”