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The teams had all assembled quickly, each one had a child and three adults. I noticed that both of my brothers were on opposing teams. They were eyeing each other and me. Mainly me.
They’d always been extremely competitive. It didn’t matter if it was racing up the front porch steps or shot-gunning a beer, if there could be a winner, they both went for the gold.
I’d never considered myself in competition with either of them since I was six and ten years older respectively. I stayed out of their constant one-upping. But I could see in their eyes that this was the moment they’d been waiting for. They were ready to go head to head with me. They were like bulls in a shoot snorting and pawing their feet, ready to be let loose.
“You ready old man?” Jimmy yelled at me even though he was standing a few feet away from me.
“He’s not an old man!” Luna defended me and her crown slipped. She righted it and tugged her sash up on her shoulder.
Isabella swatted Jimmy’s arm.
“Sorry, Princess.” Jimmy dipped his head in a bow toward Luna. “You’re right. He’s not.”
Luna appeared satisfied with his contrition and returned her attention to Cheyenne.
“Looks like someone’s got a bodyguard.” Ashley glanced back at me with a twinkle in her eye.
I smiled. I’d never thought of myself as needing anyone to defend me, but if I was going to pick someone, Luna would be my first choice.
Ashley turned her head back to the front as Cheyenne went over the rules. I hadn’t got to say more than two words to Skylar’s sister, but she’d been watching me all day. I could tell that she was protective of Skylar and Luna, which made me instantly like her.
“Okay, competitors! On your marks, get set, go!” Cheyenne blew the whistle and the next few minutes were a blur of people yelling, tripping, running, and eggs falling.
In the end, it came down to Jimmy, Cash and I rushing back with eggs on our spoons. Billy’s team was disqualified after Nadia, who was a Firefly Island native and had gone to school with Reagan, tried to jump over Mark Lyons who’d been a star quarterback in high school and had dropped to the ground claiming a strained hammy in the first heat. Nadia’s leap ended with her egg flying in the air and landing on poor Sherlock’s head.
I tried not to let the fact that it was a dead heat get in my head and make me do something stupid. If I tried to rush it, I knew the egg would end up slipping off the spoon.
It wasn’t two seconds after I thought that that Cash’s egg dropped to the ground and Jimmy tripped over his own feet. By the time I made it back to my team they were already jumping up and down, celebrating our victory.
Luna jumped into my arms before Ashley grabbed her and spun her around. Next thing I knew Skylar had taken Luna’s place, hugging me around the neck.
I put my arms around her, lifted her off the ground, and spun her around just like Luna. She clutched me tighter as she giggled, and it sounded like the sweetest sound in the world.
“Momma! We won!” Luna cheered and I reluctantly set Skylar down. If it was up to me, I would’ve held her in my arms forever and never let her go.
