FALLING FOR MR SNOWFLAKE

A

up to

for twenty minutes and now your calves are filing for divorce kind. Every muscle in my

d into t

the pale morning light pouring in through the chalet's massive window

cons of just hiding in this overpriced cabin for the rest

I thought

i

human-shaped disaster. The gentle sarcasm. The braid falling

this time for a ve

r for a while after the whole investor leak situation back in San Fr

aching for my phone, thumbing over th

rrow, I'll be at the lodg

d at the corn

p. Sore le

re crackled in the hearth, and the air smelled like cin

truding on something close-knit and well-loved. People waved to each other. Called each other by name. A man in

d low and my

er, tourists I was pretending to be. When it was finally my turn,

ello the

n" I said

yan... like the guy f

. "Uh. Ye

he keyboard. "My teenage self is screaming

ivate, if

ing, then tilted her head.

"There was someone I talk

y. One of the best on the mount

d. "Righ

rd and gestured toward the couches by the fir

headed to the fireplace, where I sat down bes

tches every five minutes or glance at their phones between con

qu

how badly I need

as halfway gone and I was halfway through convincing myself I should

i

nk from the cold, and her braid was falling out slightly, a little wind-tossed and perfect in

ak

lled cocoa down the f

ed. "You

trying to act casual. "And I re

. "Well, I hope you studied. Tod

. I like

gloves through her belt. "Com

skis herself. I stood there like a mannequin while she crouched, tightenin

this much hands-on work in the bro

ng to decapitate yourself yest

wound

she said, flashing me a

was d

air of goggles. "These'll help wi

that makes me look l

met "you do have an air of reckless chaos. But

reathe. "You thi

let it go to your he

was trying to keep my steps even, to walk like a man who belonged in

renovations, the best cocoa stand on the mountain, the

that made you feel like you'd known her for years, ev

it hap

s, decked out in overpriced designer gear. The

mach d

e look. I'd seen it at galas. On planes. In

idn't

to joke it off. "I thin

"For what? That spectac

, forcing a grin

mine as we reached the slope. "Well, in

in her lashes, that same open, effortless smile and my s

hing

ger

sw

e hiding out here wasn't suc

ponytail swaying in front of me, one quiet

nd the last thing I want... is for Lily to find out wh