THE FALL LINE: Chapter Four

Thank you so much for reading The Fall Line. Getting back into fiction has been such a joy—and sharing this story with all of you has felt like opening a window in winter.

Chapter 4 is now live for paid subscribers. This week, Mia arrives in Tahoe, and the van doesn’t feel as simple as it used to. Lines start to blur. The tension tightens. And Jamie finds himself trying to navigate more than just the mountain.

If you’re just joining us, Chapter 1 is still free to read. And if you’ve made it this far—thank you. We’re only just getting to the steep part.

Chapter Four: Melt

They were late getting to the mountain.

Mia’s place was ten minutes out of the way, fifteen with traffic. Which meant twenty, because Cole wanted coffee and Mia wanted to braid her hair. Jamie sat in the front seat, helmet in his lap, watching the sun climb high and bright over the trees.

By the time they reached the lot, the lift line was thick with tourists in sweatshirts and jeans, half of them skiing in sunglasses. The snow looked tired. Pocked and shallow. The kind that grabs your skis and holds on like it’s trying to pull you down.

Cole didn’t seem to care.

Jamie clipped in and followed.