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“Hi,” I said.
“Hi.” She looked uncomfortable. “So are you a counselor or something?”
I laughed. “No, I’m a romance author, actually, but I’m good at listening, and Max thought you might need to talk.”
“A romance author.” Cissy gave a bitter laugh. “That’s just perfect.”
I frowned, unsure whether she’d intended to insult me. “Why?”
For a moment, I thought she might not answer, but then she sighed and hugged her knees closer. “Because the whole reason I’m here is that I fell in love with the wrong guy.”
Oof. I felt that in my heart.
“What do you mean?” I asked, careful to keep my tone soft and undemanding.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m totally in love with one of the boys in our group. I’d hoped this trip might give me a chance to get closer to him, but instead, I caught him making out with my friend.”
I rubbed my chest, able to feel her pain like a tangible thing. “When was that?”
“When I got to the bottom of one of the slopes this morning.” She rested her head on her knees. “I pretended I didn’t care because none of them know how I feel about him, but I couldn’t get it out of my head, and when we started down the next run, I slid out of control and tumbled off course. I shouted, but none of them could hear me. It wasn’t too cold then, so I figured I’d just stay there a while until I had my emotions back under control, but then the storm started, and I couldn’t see where I was going.”
Her voice caught. “I was so scared. It felt like a miracle when I found that hut.” Her lower lip wobbled. “I’m not sure if I’d be here if I hadn’t.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m so stupid. If I hadn’t thrown myself a pity party, none of this would have happened, and everyone could have all been at home instead of out looking for me in the freezing cold.” She buried her face between her knees. “Now I’ll have to apologize to everyone.”
“Hey.” I eased closer and reached out slowly, hesitant to touch her even though she seemed to need reassurance. She didn’t flinch when my hand landed on her back, so I stroked gently up and down, hoping to soothe her. “It’s okay. The search-and-rescue team doesn’t care about being in the cold. They’re just happy you’re safe. I’m sure your friends will be too.”
She raised her head, and her eyes were filled with misery. “But I’ll have to explain why I got lost.”
“You don’t have to tell them anything you don’t want to,” I said, keeping up the soft, rhythmic movement. “You can say you lost control and couldn’t get back to them. They don’t need to know what was going on in your head at the time.”
Cissy chewed on her lip, then growled and swiped at her watery eyes. “Ugh, I’m so pathetic.”
My heart squeezed with sympathy. I glanced at the door, wondering whether it was soundproof. I didn’t think the Braddocks would be in the hall anyway. They’d probably retreated to give us some privacy. Connor may have even left. Getting home to his cabin would be a challenge after the weather we’d had. I sucked in a shallow breath. I wanted to do what I could to help Cissy feel better, but baring my heart was difficult after keeping everything to myself for so long.
“You’re not pathetic,” I whispered, glancing toward the door again. “Want to know what is pathetic?”
Her eyebrows drew together. “What?”
“I’ve been in love with one of those guys out there—Nate—since I was younger than you.”
Cissy’s eyes widened. “Does he know?”
“I don’t think so.” At least I hoped not. “But we’ve been friends since we were young, and I had to watch him marry and have a baby with someone else. It was awful, so I understand some of what you’re going through.”
To my surprise, Cissy took my hand. “Does it get any easier?”
I wished I could tell her that the feelings lessened. Perhaps for her they would. But mine had never wavered.
“You either move on or learn to live with it,” I said. “Personally, I’ve learned to live with it, although he’s divorced now, which makes it easier.” If I had to see him and Maddy together—or him with anyone else—it would ruin me. Selfish, perhaps, but I couldn’t help it.
Cissy leaned closer. “So you have a chance with him.”
I barked a single laugh. “After being friends for so long? It seems unlikely.”
“Don’t give up,” she urged, squeezing my hand. “Tell me about him. Maybe it will distract me.”
I sighed, reluctant to give her what she asked for while knowing it might help both of us. “Okay.”
We chatted for an hour or so until Max returned to check on her and she started to look tired. I slipped her my number before I left in case she wanted to talk more.
