I still had three more days here. Not that Icouldn’tleave early, but—selfish and horrible as it sounded—I wasn’t quite ready to go home yet. I was hoping for more moments with Holden.
What was wrong with me? Googling how to break up with my boyfriend…while totally crushing on his cousin.
I wondered if Google had any suggestions forthatfun little scenario.
I pulled the covers up around me, phone in hand, and began scrolling like I was cramming for a final exam. Article after article popped up, each promising the “right” way to break up with someone, though none of them addressed doing it at a luxury resort during peak Christmas vibes.
Finally I landed on an article that gave me bullet points, which is exactly what I had been looking for.
Number one: Pick the right moment.
Which sounded straightforward but was actually quite difficult when you were in the most beautiful Christmassy romantic resort. During dinner with his parents tonight was not an option. During the upcoming resort sleigh ride probably wouldn’t be the best time. That was still two days away, and I wasn’t going to wait that long. But was there ever a right moment when it was your boyfriend who had paid for you to come along on a trip with him?
Number two: Avoid public scenes.
Most of the time we would be together would be in public. I’d need to find time to talk with him somewhere alone. But I didn’t want to tell him in the hotel room since I had a feeling I’d want to be able to walk away assoon as possible, and the thought of having people close by was comforting. Although breaking up with someone by the hot chocolate bar was probably frowned upon, with all the hot beverages around.
Number three: Be honest, but kind.
I didn’t plan to be rude. I’d keep things straightforward and to the point. No need to get into an argument. Plus, I was more worried I’d struggle to stand up for myself if I didn’t make it quick.
Number four: Have an exit strategy.
Yes. This was a must. It went with the whole ‘don’t break up with him in the hotel room’ idea I had. But where was I going to go? I was fairly certain I couldn’t afford a room here, but maybe I could move into the resort’s gift shop? No one would find me behind the display of stuffed moose wearing Santa hats. Although choosing to stay at the same resort as the boyfriend you just dumped was probably just as crazy as the hiding-behind-moose idea.
Number five: Don’t let the location guilt you into staying.
Whoops. Too late.
Number six: Have support on standby.
Tapping out of the article, I pulled up the sibling group chat. This was one area I definitely had ready.
Belle
I have officially decided to break up with Alex. I might need emergency sibling support. Please stand by.
I sighed, locking my screen and letting it fall beside me on the bed. I hadn’t figured out the exacthowyet, but I knew thewhat.
Things between me and Alex were over. Really, they’d been over for a long time.
But now it was time for me to make it official.
Chapter 12
Belle
December 21st
Okay,so hear me out. Yes, I researched how to break up with Alex and had finally decided that it was time for us to end things but…
“Are you coming?” Alex asked, heading toward the ski lift. “I need to make sure I’m back down the mountain in time to get set up in the lodge for my call.”
Yep, he was still working. And yep, I was still a coward. As much as I was annoyed with him, I was even more annoyed at myself.
In my defense, I had tried to talk to him last night after dinner with his parents, but he’d kept going on and on about how tired he was and how exhausting it was to be so good at his job. I’ll admit that my attempt was halfhearted, but I figured I could break up with him in the morning whenhe wasn’t so tired.
So how come I was now skiing with him as his girlfriend instead of his ex-girlfriend? Yeah, I was confused by it myself. There just hadn’t been any time. First it was breakfast with his parents, then it was off to renting ski gear, and now we were on the mountain. And I really loved skiing and rarely got the opportunity to do it. I figured I’d let myself enjoy skiing for a couple hours and then break things off after his work call.
