Page 12 of Winter Break Up

Our waitress nods and turns for the kitchen.

“So, what about this Alps guy?”

“Turns out his family had this gorgeous log cabin up there, in this little mountain village town. I swear, Em, it was something out of a fairy tale. Every morning, he’d wake me with a fresh cappuccino, then we’d walk along the meadow trail while snow coated our jackets. Rupert would end the night lighting a fire for us and putting on some old record, it was so romantic. Then there was the sex … holy shit!” Gen shudders like she’s remembering it.

I can feel the blush on my cheeks as I look around. “Keep it down, would ya?”

“Psh, there is no one in here except that guy, and he definitely can’t hear me.” She points to an elderly man eating breakfast at the counter.

“That sounds incredible, though. I feel like you’ve lived a thousand lives while I’ve just been stuck in DC.”

The waitress returns with our food and drinks, and we both tuck into our meals. There is something about egg salad for breakfast that reminds me of home, and if that is a weird sentence, then you’ve never had a strange comfort food.

“Oh stop, you love DC. And you love that hospital. You probably see way more cool and gross things in there than I did in Austria.” Her eyes light up, and I know she wants information.

Tilting my head to the side, I decide to give her a little funny anecdote. “Well, there was this one night in the ER where someone came in because they swallowed a piercing that had been attached to a penis. It got lodged in the tissue of her esophagus.”

Gen snorts, almost shooting egg cream from her nose. “Hell fucking no, that did not happen! That’s hilarious, although I’m sure that shit hurt. They should have sat on it instead, men with piercings really give a whole different meaning of full.”

“Genny!” My face has to be maroon at this point.

One other thing about my childhood best friend: she’s way more open about sex than I am. Not to say I don’t enjoy being physical and intimate, but I can’t bring myself to discuss my partners in the way Gen always has.

“I miss this.” She points her fork at me before chewing the pancakes off of it. “We’ve gone too long without weekly or so catchups, and my friends at school just don’t react to sex talk the way you do. You need me to corrupt you more. That’s it, I’m calling you weekly from now on.”

The smile that has my mouth curving up is genuine. “You have no idea how I’ve missed that. I’m sorry—”

“Nope, don’t do that. No apologizing. We both got super busy, and that’s just life. But we can choose to do something about it, which we will.”

I love Genny even more for being the type of friend who doesn’t hold a grudge or make this separation a thing. She just gets on with it, and we’re back on track if we both put the effort forward.

“So, is everything right as rain at the tree farm this season? I need to come by and make fun of Charlie while he’s working.”

Gen has always had a nemesis-type relationship with my brother; the two of them act more like siblings than Charlie and I do. The pranks they’ve pulled on each other have been epic, including the time Charlie stuck sanitary pads to Gen’s locker. So she got him back by covering them in red food coloring, getting his locker code from me, and double-crossing him by filling his backpack and books with period items.

“He’ll both hate and love that, I’m sure.” I cackle because the thought of a month of their antics has me excited. “But, uh, you’ll also see another familiar face.”

“Huh?” Gen is too busy scarfing down pancakes to realize I’ve stalled on my eating and am nervously ripping up my napkin.

“Mercer decided to work with us for the season.”

That has her fork clattering to the plate. “Wait, what? The prodigal town prince has returned?”

An anxious laugh escapes me as I roll my eyes. “I’m sure everyone is rolling out the red carpet for him, not that I’d know. I’ve done my best to be polite or avoid him.”

Gen looks at me like I’ve grown a third ear. “Um, why?”

The truth wars within me, but I have to let this out and tell someone. Gen has always been trustworthy, and even if she hasn’t been privy to the last three years of inner thoughts, she knew me when I was in love with Mercer.

“Because it’s awkward. He’s … well, he’s Mercer. Drop-dead gorgeous, charming, and all-around perfect male specimen. And I’m the idiot who gave that up. The minute I saw him, it was like all these feelings of regret came rushing up at me. And we don’t have time for all that. It’s winter break, not some cuffing season rekindling. We’re both about to start our real lives, and I’m sure Mercer is not still hung up on me.”

“Oh, jeez, Em, you really still have it bad for that guy.” Gen sees right through me.

“What? No.” I shake my head vehemently.

A group of older women come in, giggling and talking loudly in ugly Christmas sweaters. It must be a set-up brunch for them, and Gen and I direct our attention to what is such a fun scene to watch.

When she turns back to me, her expression is stern. “Um, yes, you do, or you wouldn’t be thinking about all that. You know, I thought it was a mistake for you to break up back then, even if I wanted you to get screwed six ways from Sunday during college. But you guys really loved each other, and that kind of connection is hard to find. I can tell just from your face that you’re already sucked back in, and it’s been what, a week since you’ve been home? That means Mercer Russell has had a hold on your for far longer than you’ve admitted to anyone.”

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