I raised my ski pole, thinking she'd spotted me when I heard the sound. The breath froze in my lungs. A whoosh filled the air as a section of snow let loose, sliding straight toward her.
It happened so fast. Sage reacted, first trying to run, then she veered toward the edge of the trail, lunging to avoid the rushing snow. She didn't make it far enough, and the avalanche clipped her legs, knocking her to the ground. She wasn’t moving as the snow settled.
I sucked in a breath, only remembering to breathe when my lungs seized. My mouth was dry, nerves shot as I leaned forward, letting my skis slice through the loose snow.
It was difficult to balance, and only years on the slopes and experience as an instructor kept me upright. I reached Sage in under a minute and clicked out of my skis, boots sinking in the deep snow.
She still hadn't moved, and I scrambled on my knees to her side.
“Sage?”Panic laced my voice. I bent over her, brushing snow from her face. My throat ached, and I didn't recognize the hoarse sound breaking the silence. “Bennett, wake up.”
She winced, blinking open her eyes with a soft moan.
“Leo? Is that you?”
Relief exploded in my chest, nearly making me dizzy. I rested my hands on her shoulders, preventing her from sitting up.
“Yeah, it’s me. Don't move yet. Just breathe for a second. Do you hurt anywhere?” I asked, gently running my hands over her limbs to check for broken bones.
“I don't think so. Wait, yes, my head hurts. I think I used it to break my fall.” A weak smile warmed her lips.
I ran my fingers behind her head, carefully searching for bruises. Then I checked her pupils. Normal, as far as I could tell.
“Who told you to do that?” I rasped, finally helping her sit up.
“I couldn't land on my butt. It was too bruised from my previous falls. Gotta spread the wealth.” She gazed past me at the trail. “Did I start an avalanche?”
“Sort of. It was only a size one. They call it a sluff. Enough snow to knock you off your feet, but not enough to bury you.”
“You’re such a ski nerd,” she grumbled, her eyes narrowing as she focused back on me. “Are you minimizing my avalanche? Because that's a slippery slope.”
I let out a rusty laugh and cupped the side of her face with my glove. “No. I support all avalanche sizes. I'm very pro-snow.”
She snorted. “Don'tmake me laugh. It hurts.”
My thumb brushed over her cheek. The ache in my throat was back, and I tried to clear it away. “I know, Bennett. I'm going to get you fixed up.”
I pulled out my radio and requested ski patrol. Then gave out our location.
Her nose wrinkled. “You're going to make me go down the hill in one of those sleds, aren't you? That's so embarrassing. Do I have to?”
“You have a possible head injury. You get the sled. Don't fight me on this. I own the place.”
She nodded with a slight pout, then visibly swallowed. “Thanks for coming, Grayson.”
“Anytime, Bennett.” The words came out softer than I’d intended, laced with a feeling I was struggling to keep buried.
I shifted positions, allowing her to lie back down, her head resting in my lap as we waited for the ski patrol.
The snow had eased, falling gently in huge flakes in an almost dreamlike quality. A quiet hush fell over the trail as the wind stilled, and it seemed the worst of the storm had passed. But as Sage snuggled deeper in my lap, a different storm battered relentlessly inside my chest, and it was only getting started.
Chapter 12
Sage
The light was dimwhen I opened my eyes. My muscles ached, and my head had a dull throb, but I was warm, and wrapped in a thick blanket. I wrinkled my brow, noticing the distinct lack of popstar posters on the ceiling. I was not in my bedroom, and this was definitely not a twin bed.
That’s right. I started an avalanche.Leo had called it a sluff—but for anyone who asked, I would call it, ‘the big one.’
