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“Time to go.” He quietly stood up. “Sorry, darling,” he whispered.
I placed the tube down on the table, a little disappointed, as he lifted the wall of the tent the best he could. Sliding out of the chair, I ducked under, waddling out into the busy town square. Weston grunted, struggling a bit to fit through the small gap just before his parents could see us in the corner.
As he brought his other foot out from under the tent, the toe of his boot caught a small rope strung across the ground and he crashed forward into the snow. I slapped a hand over my mouth, stopping my laugh as he shoved himself upright—his face coated in a thin layer of snow
Muttering a few curses under his breath, I reached out a hand to help him up.
“You know,” I wheezed as he brushed off the frozen moisture and stood up. “If you just told them about us, we wouldn’t be running away!” I finished through a cough as he grabbed my hand and quickly ducked around the back of the neighboring tent.
“Then we most certainly would never have a date alone,” he replied. “And don’t you say a word about that.” He tossed a thumb back at the perfect imprint of his body in the ground.
“Since you’ve so kindly kept my faceplant a secret, we’re even now,” I teased as we cautiously rounded the corner.
And ran smack into none other than Keaton and Butch. A string of curses left Weston’s mouth as he groaned.
Caught again.
I couldn’t help but giggle loudly as the frustration settled over Weston’s frame.
“O for three,” he muttered.
Chapter 8
**WESTON**
“Uncle Weston! We were looking for you! Uncle Cassidy is on Annie and Millie’s team, so we were wondering—” Keaton began, but Butch slapped a hand over his mouth.
“Sorry to bug you, we’ll just be going,” Butch quickly said, his eyes flickering between Tenley and me, and then winced, snapping his hand back. “Ouch! Why’d you bite me?” He rubbed his palm.
“Because if we want to win at all, we’re going to need Uncle Weston. Dad and Uncle Remington are on Annie’s team too,” Keaton continued, and then smiled at the beautiful girl beside me. “Hi, Doc Tenley.”
“Hi, Keaton,” she quietly replied.
“Please?” He redirected his attention to me once more, clasping his hands together. Both Keaton and Butch’s coats were already wet from being pummeled by snow, and I sighed. They were asking me to join them in their snowball fight. Part of me really wanted to say yes. The thought of nailing Cassidy, Cash, and Remington with some wicked throws was inviting to say the least. And it did seem a little rigged that Remington’s daughter, Annie, who was also fifteen, managed to sneak herself onto a team with my two brothers and best friend. Millie of course just followed her cousin over to that team.
But Tenley…
“Have you guys already lost a round?” Tenley asked beside me. I glanced at her, raising my brows.
“Yes,” Keaton sheepishly replied, looking down at the ground. “Three, actually.”
“Well, I may not have ever been in a snowball fight before, but I’ve tossed a baseball with my brother Luke and my dad more times than I can count,” she prompted, and I blinked, a little shocked. Was she agreeing to this?
“You’ll come too?” Keaton suddenly danced in a circle, throwing fist pumps into the air.
Even if Tenley hadn’t offered, we would've somehow been roped into it anyway. Keaton wasn’t one to take no for an answer.
“One round,” I finally said, and even Butch looked excited. They turned around, walking toward the center of the town square to cross over to the snow field. Tenley suddenly latched onto my arm as we began to follow.
“I’ve been wanting to have a snowball fight,” she giddily said. Okay, so maybe we weren’t alone, but at least this was something she wanted to do.
I chuckled, shoving my hands in my pockets as she let go, and we walked around the tree in the center. “Just don’t get in front of Cassidy’s throws. He’s got a mean arm; it’s given me bruises before.”
“That’s perfect.” She grinned wickedly, her eyes darkening mischievously. Which startled me a bit. And got me a little excited. The thought of disappearing together, to taste that sweet nutmeg and ginger coated mouth of hers, danced through my mind. Shoving her back up against a wall as my heart raced and my stomach roared with a fire enticed me.
Wait, what? I wasn’t turned on by… no, there was no way that her devilish excitement for competition had me wanting to start what we’d been unable to finish earlier.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts as she scurried ahead of me and began eagerly asking Butch and Keaton what to expect. They explained the best way to make a snowball, and that they’d already constructed a nice wall to hide behind. She laughed maliciously and said there would be no need for that wall.
