Page 94 of The Snowflake Effect

The door clicks shut behind him, and tears slip down my cheek.

Lily wipes my tears away. “He didn’t like Option Three?”

I shake my head.

Raven squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry. We were gonna drag you inside to dance. They switched to a DJ and Pink was on.”

My eyes widen. “Was it ‘Stupid Girls’?”

They both nod.

That song always zooms us back to high school: stolen alcohol, a car stereo blasting, and the three of us dancing in the street. I sag forward. “Can’t say I’m in the mood for dancing.”

“What happened?” Lily asks.

I shrug, my shoulders feeling a thousand pounds. “It’s over. The Marina thing was bigger than I realized. She cheated on him during their year apart, and he’s not willing to try long distance again. But I think it’s more than that.”

Lily rubs my back. “More how?”

“I don’t think he ever got over losing Marina the way he did. Like loving again is too big of a risk for him. He probably pushed for me to move, thinking he was trying to make us work, but subconsciously knew I’d want my promotion here. Like he wanted me to turn him down. I think the guy is terrified to love me, and now…” My thinning voice cracks. “He’s gone.”

Raven tucks a curl behind my ear. “Maybe you both need some distance to figure things out. He might realize his mistake in time. This doesn’t have to be final.”

But everything about Kolton’s body language screamed final. I bite my cheek to keep from crying more.

Lily grabs each of our hands. “I think tonight qualifies as a girls’ night. I’ll ask Kevin to crash at a friend’s, and”—she tips her chin toward me—“you can stay with me for as long as you need. Slumber party?”

Grateful, I nod, my tears pushing their way back to the surface. Needing a distraction, I nudge Raven. “Did you talk to Nico tonight? He kept watching you from afar.”

“Nope. I avoided Hercules. No need to revisit that mistake.”

For some reason that makes me cry harder. God, I’m a mess.

Raven kisses my cheek and wipes my tears. “Don’t cry, babe. How about I do my impression of your impression of the Dick’s orgasm face. That’ll for sure help.”

She twists her mouth so hideously I can’t fight my laugh. My tears leak regardless as our giggles build into a familiar symphony—our teenage years, once again, revived. South Park. My first (and only) cigarette. Gossiping about Randy Armstrong’s mullet.

I’ve clocked a lot of laughter with these ladies. Amid my streaming tears, I link arms with them to head inside, thankful for our bond. If the hollow in my heart persists, moments like this will be my balm, along with regular therapeutic runs.

Surely, I’ll get over Kolton in time. Surely, this deep heartache can’t last forever.

CHAPTER 41

KOLTON

Sawyer assumes his usual position at my desk, his legs straddling a flipped chair, elbows hanging over the back. “Have you looked at my layout for the Snow Show?”

I scan my growing stack of papers, more coming in than going out, then I focus back on my computer. “Haven’t had time.”

He taps his hand against the chair, his pinky ring striking out a chime. “Nico’s coming by here soon. You in for a beer tonight?”

“Nope. I’m hitting the library with Jackson, then karate.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Rock climbing.”

“Next year, maybe? Or are you booked?”