“Two, FWEE!”
It’s when I see the direction they’re facing that panic seizes my chest, my own warning coming too late.
“Whitney, no!”
I drop my thermos as they take off like a shot, going down the adults-only lane.
“Oh, my God!” Erin exclaims a second behind my shout as Whitney and Peyton fire off with the speed of a bobsled from the jump before ping-ponging down the side of the bank and heading straight into an inch’s thick patch of ice that sends them into a series of three-sixty turns. Sliding sideways, they manage to stay in the pan before careening out of control down the steep hill. Screams from all sides of me sound as Thatch and Serena race out of the garage, and I charge in front of them, the pounding in my chest coming a close second to my frantic footfalls.
The next few seconds play out in slow motion as I haul ass down the driveway doing my best not to wipe out as they rocket toward unchartered territory, a tidal wave of snow flying up from all sides of them. Heart seizing, I manage to make it halfway down the hill before they go airborne off the bank and manage an Olympic hangtime before crash landing into the mulch and rock-covered side street near a cluster of trees.
Heart seizing, I catch up with Brenden as we skid down the remainder of the bank and clear a good amount, only to stop when we see Peyton’s flailing legs. I arrive first, skidding to a halt as hysterical laughter pours from the baby while he sits suspended in the air by Whitney’s iron hold, her arms braced above her head as if she’s presenting him to us while the rest of her is buried in snow. Peyton roars with laughter as Thatch reaches us and snatches Peyton from Whitney’s hold while I frantically start to dig her out. Managing to uncover her, I only relax when I see her doe eyes are wide open, her face ashen. She blinks once, twice.
“Peyton?” She whispers in a panic.
Thatch looks Peyton over as Peyton giggles. “Gain, gain, Da da!”
Brenden hovers near us, completely still as Whitney’s chest rises and falls, her eyes searching as her ears register Peyton’s voice. She moves to sit, and I stop her.
“Don’t!” I bark as I push the rest of the snow covering her away to see a little blood trickling from her temple. “Tell me what hurts.”
“Peyton!” She cries frantically as if snapping out of a stupor.
“He’s okay, Whit,” Thatch assures her checking him over with wide eyes, “h-he’s fine.”
Whitney’s eyes water. “He’s okay?”
“Look at me,” I demand as maternal fear threatens to consume her.
“And don’t move, damnit!” I bark. She stills, her brown eyes flying to mine as I begin to examine her from head to foot while she lays perfectly still, following my movement.
Brenden finally speaks up, his face purpling with the urge to laugh. “Sis, you okay? I really need you to be because once I start laughing, I’m afraid I’ll never stop, ever a-fucking-gain.”
“Tell me where it hurts,” I say hoarsely, hearing the fear in my voice as I eye the blood at her temple.
“You got a pen?” Whitney croaks, her joke bursting Brenden’s dam as laughter erupts from inside of him like an explosion. I glare over at him as he covers his mouth to try and stifle it, which does absolutely nothing to help.
Intent I search every inch of her and am slightly satisfied when I find minimal damage to the touch. “I don’t think anything’s broken, but you’re a little bloody.”
“That’s all? Shit, I earned way more than that,” she jests, but it’s clear she’s in pain.
“It’s not funny,” I scold, the panic disbursing only enough for me to speak without a shake in my voice. “Okay, I’m going to lift you to sit. Easy.”
I manage to get her sitting and give her a second to adjust.
“Good?”
“Yeah. I can stand. Nothing’s broken but my spirit.”
“Nah,” I manage a grin for her. “Impossible.”
I lift her to stand and begin brushing snow from her as she falters a little and winces.
“And my ass. I’m positive that’s broken.”
“Happy to check that as well,” I give her a wink as we start a slow trek up the hill. Brenden howling at our backs uncontrollably. Whitney growls over her shoulder at her brother.
“Shut up, asshat. Jesus, you are a terrible human being.”
Happy to hear her sass but too concerned I might have missed something vital—I pull her against me. “Ignore him. Let’s get you to the house.”