“Back to the story. How does Penny’s being happily married in your old hometown lead to your being stood up here?”
“You’ve got a one-track mind,” Slade pointed out.
“I’m just nosy. I love a good story.”
“It’s true.” Drew nodded. “She loves all the details about everything. Doesn’t matter if it’s a story about a trip to the grocery store. She’s gotta know.”
Erika rolled her eyes. “I’m not that bad.”
Drew arched a brow, and she laughed. “Okay, maybe I am.”
A few seconds of silence hung in the air between them, which was just long enough to make Erika wonder why she was so comfortable around Slade. He seemed personable, but so did a lot of men who frequented Erika’s bar.
Slade glanced at the server as she brought over a pitcher of ale that Drew had ordered.
“Penny’s happily-ever-after life didn’t seem to go as planned. I’ve had a rough decade and a half, and this last year, even worse, so . . .” Slade smiled and closed his eyes. “I can’t believe I’m admitting this. So, when she reached out on social media, we rekindled things.”
Erika’s eyes widened. “Was she still married?”
“According to her, she divorced her husband.”
“Does she have kids?” Erika asked.
Slade grimaced. “A boy and a girl.”
“And you’re sure she actually stood you up?” Erika confirmed. “She didn’t get in an accident, or it couldn’t have been a mistake? Like wrong day or resort or . . . ?”
Slade grinned. “I’m positive. I checked her page, and she was having a good old laugh about it all.”
Drew grimaced. “Man, that’s cold.”
“I probably deserve it.” Slade laughed. “I mean, she had me marked. I was supposed to be her ticket to a life filled with love, and I didn’t even break it off in person.”
Erika nodded. “True. You could have handled that better, even if you were only eighteen.”
“But I think it’s kind of weird that this woman held on to that resentment for so long and then laid in wait,” Drew explained. “Seems pretty immature.”
Erika nodded. “It does, but some people hold grudges.”
Erika wasn’t one of them. She’d learned early on that life didn’t always go according to plan, and she didn’t have the time or energy to be bitter. She’d always wished things had been different with Scott’s dad, but they weren’t. So, she didn’t waste much time thinking about him. Instead, she wanted to make Scott’s life the best she could despite the circumstances she’d never planned.
“Maybe I’m not ready to settle down,” Drew said out of the blue.
Erika chuckled and smiled at Drew. That was the North brother she knew. Always a reason to avoid relationships.
“I should have seen the red flags,” Slade admitted. “In hindsight, they were all over.”
“How so?” Erika asked.
“It was all too convenient. All too easy and comfortable.” Slade’s eyes filled with sadness before she caught him blinking it away as quickly as it came. “It’s been a rough year, and I think she knew that. I was probably just being lazy.”
Erika nodded. “Lazy. That’s an odd thing to think.”
“It was the easy way out. She was the easy way out. I’m lonely, so I reconnect with someone I already know. Don’t have to put much effort into it . . .”
“But she reached out to you,” Erika pointed out.
“True.” Slade cocked his head slightly. “All I know is that I’m ready for some fun this weekend.”
His eyes connected with hers, and he smiled. She didn’t know what kind of fun he was referring to, but she smiled back.
“The lifts open at seven in the morning, right?” Slade asked, and Drew nodded.
“I’d definitely take advantage. We’ve got some snow machines up there, but it’s getting pretty slick. Saturday will probably be the last day up top is open.” Drew glanced in Erika’s direction, and she caught him eyeing her suspiciously. “Why don’t you go with him, Erika?”
The comment took her off-guard, and she shook her head. “Scott’s spending the night at a buddy’s tonight, but we’ve got plans for the morning.”
“Yeah. I’m fine. I can handle the mountain.” Slade grinned.
“I’d go with you, but I have an appointment down in town at ten,” Drew explained.
“Nah, I’m fine. Some alone time will do me good.” Slade laughed. “I obviously need to reevaluate my life.”
Drew let out a low whistle. “Don’t we all.”
Erika giggled. “Not me. Mine’s perfect.”
“Is that so?” Slade asked.
“So, indeed.” Erika wiggled her brows and lifted her glass to Drew and Slade. “Here’s to Penny and the friendships she created with her shenanigans.”
Slade