Landon
You sure you can’t make our romantic getaway?
Ali
I’m sure. This flu hit me hard 🤒
Ali
And there’s no way I could make the drive.
Something in Landon’s blood prickles.
It’s weird for Ali to be texting excuses…
Usually, when something goes wrong…
Landon
You sure? I could come pick you up?
Landon
It’s only 4 hours.
Landon
We’d be back by midnight at the latest.
Ali
Aw, that’s really sweet, but…
Ali
I’m a disgusting, snotty mess right now.
Ali
And the last thing I want is to get you sick.
Ali
Please — it’ll kill me if you miss out on good skiing all because of me.
Landon feels his suspicions erode.
It’s so kind of Ali to be putting him first…
But a bout of disappointment settles in his chest.
Landon and Ali have been dating long distance for the past 3 years.
And he can’t wait for them to both graduate college…
So they can finally be together full time.
Landon
Ugh, who’s going to cuddle with me by the fire?
Landon
And drink hot cocoa while we watch the snow fall?
Ali
OMG, you’re being such a cheeseball right now.
Ali
You’ll be fine by yourself, trust me.
Landon
You take care of yourself, ok?
Ali
And don’t worry, my sorority sisters will look after me 😀
Landon opens the door and looks around the log cabin.
It’s bigger than he’d imagined…
Especially without Ali there to share it with him.
He takes out a small box from his pocket…
Opening it to see the ring inside.
So much for the perfect weekend to propose.
Landon turns on the sink for a glass of water.
Landon searches around the cabin…
Until he finds the sheet containing the contact information of the rental owner.
He texts the owner who says they will send someone over right away.
Landon eyes the fireplace.
Soon, he has a fire blazing, the cabin warming up quickly.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door.
Landon opens the door to find a pair a piercing blue eyes staring at him—
The rest of the person’s face covered in a hat and a giant scarf.
Malea
Hi, I’m Malea. My family owns this cabin.
Landon
Oh, hey. Nice to meet you.
Malea
Heard the pipes aren’t working?
Landon
Yeah, the water won't turn on.
Malea makes her way into the cabin…
Peeling off a few layers as she does.
Malea
So you’re Landon then, right?
Malea
Here for a ski trip?
Landon
Yeah, drove all the way from Texas.
Malea
You chose an interesting weekend, that’s for sure.
Malea
There’s a storm coming in.
Malea
Gunnison is supposed to get up to 5 feet of snow overnight…
Malea
Which means even more up here in the mountains.
Landon
Better for skiing right?
Malea laughs, her smile warming her eyes.
Malea
I’m not so sure you’ll be skiing anytime soon.
Malea
Hope you like our cabin…
Malea
Because it’s likely where you’ll be spending most of your weekend.
In a swift, self-assured movement…
Malea slides herself under the sink.
And his eyes catch on Malea’s body.
Her face and arms are shadowed beneath the sink where she works…
Looking like a powerful force of nature.
As she cranks her wrench, her shirt pulls up slightly—
Revealing a strip of bare skin just above the waistline of her jeans.
Ali’s face bursts into Landon’s thoughts—
And he quickly looks away.
Malea
It doesn’t hurt to look, you know.
Malea pokes her head out from beneath the sink.
Is it Landon’s imagination…
Or is there a smirk on her lips?
Malea
You could learn a thing or two.
Landon
Well, I’m not much for handy work.
And turns the wrench in her hand one more time.
Malea
Well, lucky for you, it was an easy fix.
Malea gets out from below the sink, wiping her hands on her overalls.
She turns on the sink, and water begins to flow.
Landon
Nice! Thanks for your help.
Landon
I’m not sure how I would’ve survived without water.
Malea
Well, just a secret between you and me…
Malea
That white stuff out there?
Malea
It’s actually water…
Malea
You just have to melt it.
He feels a blush creep into his face.
Malea
I’m going to go warm up my car—
Malea
Then I’ll come clean this stuff up. Be right back.
Landon watches from the window as Malea gets into her car.
The car sputters multiple times, but doesn’t start.
Malea makes her way back to the cabin.
Malea
Well. This is awkward.
Malea
I mean my car won’t start and the storm is about to get worse.
Malea
And I guess I’m your roomie for the night.
Landon
I have some camping food in the back of my Jeep.
Malea takes a seat next to the fire, warming her hands.
Landon can’t help but notice how beautiful she is…
The way her blond hair falls around her shoulders.
He forces himself to look away.
Malea
So, what brought you on a solo ski trip into the mountains?
Landon
Oh, I guess I just wanted to get away for a bit.
Malea
Sorry, kind of ruined that for you, didn’t I?
Slowly, Landon sits down next to Malea by the fire.
His spine is a straight rod of tension…
And he’s aware of every cell in his body.
Landon
Don’t worry about it.
Landon
I think I’ll like having the company after all.
Then inches her way closer to Landon…
Until their knees are close enough to touch.
Landon moves just an inch away.
Why didn’t he tell her he’d planned to come up here with his girlfriend?
Malea
Check out the radar, this storm is massive.
Landon looks at Malea’s phone screen…
And watches the giant weather cloud move across Colorado.
Just then, Malea receives a text.
It’s a picture of people playing drinking games with a message that says…
Something about the photo looks familiar to Landon.
But Malea just smiles cheerfully.
Malea
Oops! Sorry about that.
Malea
My old friends from school are doing this ridiculous tradition this weekend.
Malea
They’ve been sending me stuff like every 5 minutes.
Landon
What kind of tradition?
Malea
Well, technically I shouldn’t tell you…
Malea
Sorority code, you know?
Malea
BUT seeing as I’m no longer in the sorority…
Malea
I guess I could bend the rules a little.
Malea flutters her lashes prettily, casting doe eyes up at Landon.
And again…she closes the small gap between the two of them.
Landon smells a bit of lavender on her skin and takes a deep breath.
Malea
See, every year, the girls in the sorority who are in committed relationships…
Malea
Try out something called “Cheat Night.”
Malea
Yup. I know it sounds crazy, but…
Malea
On Cheat Night, each girl finds a guy who isn’t their boyfriend and…
Malea
You know, tests the waters a bit before becoming too committed.
Landon
Wait, what? That can’t be real.
Landon
That’s just…wrong.
Malea
Don’t they deserve to explore a bit before making a bigger commitment?
Landon
I mean, I don’t know.
Landon
I’d be pissed as the boyfriend if I ever found out.
Malea
But that’s the beauty in it…
Malea
The boyfriend never finds out.
Malea begins to move closer to Landon…
Her hand reaches out, snaking over his knee.
And that’s when Landon realizes what seemed so familiar about the picture.
Landon
Malea, what school did you go to again?
Landon grabs Malea’s phone, opening the picture that she just received.
In the background, there’s a painting on the wall…
One he’s seen many times…
During FaceTime dates with Ali.
Malea
Landon, what’s wrong?
Landon thinks back on the past 3 years of long-distance dating.
Each year there had been something—
Every time, Ali had to cancel one of their weekend trips.
And every trip happened at exactly this time of year.
Landon
It’s nothing. Just give me a second.
Landon opens his phone and begins to text Ali.
Landon
Hey babe, you feeling any better?
Ali
A little bit. How’s the cabin?
Landon
Hey, you want to FaceTime soon?
Ali
I don’t want you seeing me like this.
Landon
I just want to talk to you for a bit.
His fingers hovering over his phone’s keyboard.
Landon
You know I love you, right?
Ali
Okay, but just for a minute.
Landon’s phone lights up with a FaceTime invite from Ali.
Ali’s face is half hidden in shadow.
He can’t quite make out where she is.
Landon
Missing you though.
Landon
How are you feeling?
Landon
Is that why you’re calling me from a closet?
But something about it is off.
Ali
I was just napping, didn’t wanna bother getting up to turn on the lights.
Landon
Right. Well, I just wanted to see your face.
Landon hesitates when Ali doesn’t respond.
A strip of light bursts onto the screen.
Landon’s throat closes at the sound of a man’s voice in the background.
Landon
Are you with someone?
Ali’s face disappears from view—
And the light, coming from what is now obviously the open door to her room, disappears.
Ali picks back up her phone, panting slightly.
Ali
Oh, just some guy looking for Rebecca.
Ali
You remember Rebecca, right?
Landon
He said your name.
Landon
Are you with a guy right now?
Ali
Landon, stop being crazy.
Ali
I’ve been napping, because I’m SICK.
Landon
I’m not being crazy—
Landon
There’s a guy outside your room—
Landon
Asking for you to let him back in—
Ali
Landon, I don’t need this right now.
Ali
I’m not gonna talk to you when you’re being like this.
Landon opens his mouth to respond—
Landon slams his phone onto the coffee table and takes a deep breath.
Malea walks over to Landon, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Landon turns and looks into Malea’s eyes.
She’s so close that he can feel the warmth of her body.
Malea
For the record, I know you’re Ali’s boyfriend.
Malea
We sisters keep a close eye on each other.
Landon takes a deep breath.
Malea
And if she’s having fun this weekend, I think you should too.
Malea closes the gap between their bodies…
Wrapping her arms around Landon’s neck…
About how each year she has lied to him.
Landon’s surprised to see Ali texting him.
Landon
Hey, how was the rest of your night?
A pained smile reaches Landon’s lips.
Ali’s clearly going to pretend like nothing happened.
Ali
Did you stay warm last night without me?
Landon looks to his left…
At the empty space in the bed next to him.
He thinks back to last night…
How even though cheating would have been so easy…
Landon stopped the kiss between him and Malea.
And how afterward…she slept on the couch.
Landon hopes she’s gone by now.
Landon
I did my best. But Ali?
Landon
I think it’s time to end it.
