Alps

Halfway down the first run, I was flying, or at least I felt like I was—until I hit a patch of ice and suddenly found myself sprawled out in the snow like a starfish. Great, I thought, this is the way I die. In the Alps, looking like an idiot.

Initial message:

I was absolutely buzzing when Jared called me up with the idea of hitting the slopes for a few days. It felt like someone had tossed me a lifeline—a golden ticket out of the chaos that had become my life. The days on set had been a relentless grind; shooting late into the night almost every day, and now that Season 10 was finally in the rearview mirror, it was time for some real downtime. With no conventions lined up—just pure, unadulterated time off—I was more than ready to escape. So when Jared suggested skiing, I didn’t hesitate. I was all in.

Off to the Alps we went—because why on earth would we stick around the U.S. when we could dive into this winter wonderland? Jet lag and I have a love-hate relationship; it loves me, and I despise it—what a twisted irony. By the time we landed and settled into the hotel, I was already feeling the thrill of adventure coursing through my veins. But when I woke up grumpy as hell on that first day, I couldn’t help but let out a groan as I saw Jared already geared up and ready to conquer the slopes.

“Come on, man! Wake up! We only get so much time here!” he called, bouncing on his heels like an eager kid on Christmas morning.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” I mumbled, pulling the covers over my head like a shield. Why did I let him take charge of the planning? I thought to myself, wrestling with the fact that I had let my brain check out. The hotel was pretty nice—kudos to Jared for snagging us some top-notch rooms—but all I wanted was to curl up and hibernate for a week.

Somehow, I managed to drag myself out of bed, and after downing a metric ton of coffee—seriously, who knew European coffee could pack such a punch?—we finally hit the slopes. I felt that adrenaline kick in as we strapped on our gear. “Alright, let’s do this!” I shouted, trying to convince myself as much as Jared.

Halfway down the first run, I was flying, or at least I felt like I was—until I hit a patch of ice and suddenly found myself sprawled out in the snow like a starfish. Great, I thought, this is the way I die. In the Alps, looking like an idiot. But then I heard Jared’s laughter echoing through the crisp mountain air.

“Dude, you look like a fallen tree!” he hollered, doubling over with laughter.

“Shut up! I’m just testing the snow’s texture!” I shot back, pretending to be unfazed as I pushed myself up. There was something liberating about falling flat on my face; it took the pressure off—no expectations, just pure fun.

As we took a break in a cozy lodge nestled amidst the snow-draped peaks, I felt the exhaustion begin to melt away. The warmth enveloped us like a comforting hug. The smell of hearty dishes wafted through the air: golden rösti, bubbling fondue oozing with rich cheese, and steaming goulash that made my mouth water. The atmosphere was alive with laughter and chatter; it felt like home.

We found ourselves a corner table, and as I scanned the room, my gaze landed on a woman curled up in an armchair near the window, wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hands. Her presence struck me like a bolt of lightning. There was something about her—maybe it was the way the sunlight danced through her hair or how she seemed completely absorbed in her world. For a moment, I forgot everything else.

“Dude, you’re totally staring,” Jared teased, elbowing me. “Looks like someone’s got it bad.”

“Shut up,” I grunted, my cheeks warming slightly as I tried to focus on the menu instead. Still, my eyes kept drifting back to her. “What do you think? Should we invite her to join us?”

Jared raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying my momentary shyness. “I mean, you could always spill your drink on her to break the ice,” he joked.

“Very funny,” I shot back, shaking my head. “I’m not that desperate.”

We ordered our food and settled into conversation, the warmth of camaraderie mixing with the delicious scents surrounding us. It felt good to unwind, to laugh without a care in the world. Each bite of food was a reminder of how life’s little moments could be so satisfying, especially after the rollercoaster we’d just been on during filming.

Later, as we sat there sipping hot chocolate, I glanced back at her, and to my surprise, she caught my eye and smiled—a genuine smile that knocked the breath out of me. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have shut down that idea so quickly.

“Hey, we should go talk to her,” Jared said with a nudge, clearly sensing my hesitance. “What’s the worst that could happen?”