Chapter Four

Hallie's POV

Early the next morning, I rolled my suitcase into the resort restaurant.

My coworkers had already filled up two long tables.

I leaned my suitcase against the end of one and told everyone I'd booked a shuttle back to the city and was leaving early.

Cole was putting bacon on Addison's plate. His fork stopped in midair.

Addison spoke up first, her voice soft and sweet.

"Hal, does your knee still hurt? Did I say something yesterday that made you mad?"

Hal was what Cole had called me since we were kids.

She'd picked it up from him, and she said it like she'd been saying it for years.

I wrapped my scarf around my neck and smiled at her.

"It's not about my knee. I just suddenly don't feel like skiing."

"And don't call me Hal. We're not that close."

Addison's smile froze. Her eyes went red right on cue.

Cole set his fork down hard.

"What's with the attitude? She was just being nice. Why are you snapping at her?"

He paused, then leaned back in his chair and looked me over.

"This is about those jokes in the channel last night, isn't it? If you're jealous, just say so. Don't take it out on Addison."

When he said the word jealous, he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from turning up, like he'd finally caught me caring about him.

Even now, his first instinct was to protect her.

Whether I was hurt or not was just something for him to feel smug about.

I met his eyes calmly.

"Those jokes didn't bother me. And I don't care whether you like her or not."

"I just think coworkers should know where the line is. That goes for everyone."

I pulled up the handle of my suitcase. "My shuttle's almost here. Have fun, you guys."

Cole grabbed my wrist.

"Sit down. It's just a couple of jokes. I'll message everyone right now and tell them to knock it off. Happy?"

I pulled my hand away. "That goes for you too. Keep your hands to yourself."

The whole table went quiet.

I turned and headed for the door.

Behind me, his voice was tight, like he was barely holding it together.

"Hallie, if you walk out that door today, you're gonna regret it."

The second I pushed the door open, cold air hit me in the face, and for a moment my chest felt hollow.

But that empty feeling didn't last long. Pretty soon it was replaced by a kind of relief I couldn't explain.

Regret what?

I'd already waited as long as I possibly could this past year. If I kept waiting, that would be the real regret.

I got home in the afternoon. My mom was baking a pie in the kitchen.

When she saw me come in with my suitcase, she forgot she was still holding the rolling pin.

"What are you doing back already? Aren't you supposed to be on the mountain tonight?"

I had no idea what she was talking about.

She smacked her forehead.

"Cole's mom told me! He rented out the whole summit for New Year's Eve. Fireworks and everything, so he could tell you how he feels. I figured you two would finally make it official tonight."

I stood in the entryway and didn't move for a long time.

So that was what he meant when he said I'd regret it.

A little before midnight, I was curled up on the couch when my phone screen lit up.

Addison had just posted on Instagram.

The sky over the summit was bright red with fireworks, and below it were two figures standing close together.

Her caption said, "Thanks, Cole, for the New Year's fireworks. I'm so happy."

I looked at that photo and couldn't help laughing.

All that time he'd spent planning to confess, and he could just swap someone else in. Didn't slow him down one bit.

Good thing I left.

"Mom." I put my phone face down on the couch. "I'm not in love with Cole anymore."

My mom leaned out of the kitchen and froze.

"I took an offer from a company in San Diego. I'm putting in my notice after the holidays. Don't tell the Whitmores yet."

"Wait. Did you two have a fight?"

I shook my head and didn't explain. "There's no future for me and him."

Whenever we'd fought before, I was always the one who made the first move.

I'd go knock on the little gate in the backyard fence, holding a box of the cinnamon rolls he loved, ready to make up.

This time, I didn't go.

Right after the New Year's holiday, I sent HR my two weeks' notice.

That same week, Cole flew to Europe for a business trip. He'd be gone two months.

HR just followed the usual process. Nobody went out of their way to bother him while he was overseas.

Once I'd handed everything off on my last day, I packed up and went to stay with my aunt out of state until the move.

For those two months, I didn't send him a single text, and he never reached out to me either.

At one point, Cole's mom asked my mom if I wanted to come over for dinner once Cole got back.

My mom just said I was out of town.

On moving day, I flew to San Diego alone.

The flight was a little over two hours, and I slept against the window the whole way.

When the plane landed, I turned off airplane mode.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Missed calls and texts kept stacking up until they filled the whole screen.

Every single one was from Cole.