We grin at each other briefly.
“I want to check on Peyton.”
“Peyton is fine. You’re the one who’s bleeding.”
“I could have hurt him.”
“You didn’t.” I wipe the rest of the blood away to reveal a small cut. It’s then my pulse finally begins to even out, and breath comes easier. “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.”
Out of nowhere, a nervous laugh bursts from her.
“How was my form?”
“Terrible.”
“And my landing?”
“You looked like a penguin sliding backward after you lost the pan, but that baby save was fucking epic.”
Chest bouncing, she begins to full-blown belly laugh as nerves, the adrenaline crash, and embarrassment take over, and it’s the fucking sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I can’t help my grin as she explodes into another lengthy fit helping the rest of the stinging panic fall away.
“Jesus,” I shake my head from memory. “You were just as insane in college. Always leaping before looking.”
“I’m taking snow sports off my list,” she says with a grin.
“Wouldn’t be a bad idea,” I say, returning it. “But honestly, you don’t have to feel bad anymore for all the birthday bucket extreme sporting you missed out on. I’m pretty sure you just covered it all in one go.
I see goosebumps cover her chest as her laughter slows. It’s then I realize I’m cupping her face, sliding my thumb along her jaw. Instead of withdrawing my hand, I share breath with her as her eyes slide up and down my face before finally connecting with mine. Breaths mingling, we simply stare at the other as I continue to caress her with my thumb, getting lost in a place we created years ago and knowing she’s there, with me. I feel the break just before her eyes drop.
“Who says I was feeling bad about it?”
“I do.”
“Well, maybe I’m just a lot more cautious now. Thank you,” she says, pushing at the wrist holding the washcloth away from her. “I think I’m good.”
Feeling like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck, I sit in the recliner as my family takes turns waiting on me while Eli keeps me from dozing by attempting to lure me into conversation.
“Sing the UNC fight song,” he orders the second my eyes close.
“I will do no such thing,” I retort, not an ounce of fight in me as all my limbs scream in protest. Thatch enters the living room eyeing the iPad screen in Peyton’s grip just as Simba is presented to the kingdom. Thatch chuckles holding out a mug full of hot tea. “Pose look familiar, Whit?”
“Har har,” I say as Eli’s deep chuckle rumbles next to me. To be fair, it’s the first time he’s laughed.
“Thatch,” I say, eyeing Peyton, who’s sitting stock-still, completely captivated by his favorite movie. “I’m so—”
Thatch shakes his head adamantly, cutting me off. “Not even a week after Gracie was born, we named you guardian if anything were to happen to us.” I take the offered tea in his hand, lips wobbling. “Two days after Peyton was born, we adjusted the will for the same reason. You would never, ever intentionally hurt my son or put him in harm’s way. Don’t even think of apologizing to me. Serena isn’t even upset.”
“She’s not?”
“Nope. I’m the only one she’s pissed at today,” he sighs, bends, and kisses my forehead, and my eyes water.
“Cut it out,” he orders with a grin. “Besides, if that kid had to go flying off a mountain cliff, I can’t think of a soul better for him to do it with, and you proved that today.”
I eye Gracie, who’s flipping through the channels next to Peyton.
“I’m sorry I ruined everyone’s fun.”
“You did no such thing,” Serena says, appearing behind Thatch. “They’d been at it for hours, anyway.”
“It’s okay, Auntie Whit,” Gracie speaks up.
“Thanks, baby girl.”
Serena bends down in a whisper for me. “We’re going to go wrap if that’s okay?”
Eli bristles next to me as if agitated when I nod.
“We’ll just be down the hall in Mom and Dad’s room.”
“I’ve got it,” I tell her.
I turn to Eli as Thatch and Serena exit the living room. There’s no mistaking it or the hard set of his jaw. I can still read him.
“What?”
“You think you’re really up for watching them right now?”