Page 37 of My Brother's Best Friends
Makayla leans on her poles and pushes off. She screams with delight as gravity takes over, pulling her toward me much quicker than she anticipated. I spring into action, easing over to meet her as she barrels past me. Kellan and Alex join us, bringing up the rear.
We make it about halfway down the slope before Makayla loses control. I can see it happening in real time, but I can’t stop herfrom falling. She face-plants into the powder, one ski popping loose and sliding down the trail. Immediately, I swoop in to help her up while Alex and Kellan converge on us from above.
“Are you okay?” Alex asks.
“I’m fine,” Makayla insists, coming up on her hands and knees, struggling to right herself.
The position gives me a stunning view, her glimmering suit stretched tight across her backside. I almost reach out to touch it. My fingers tingle with anticipation, my mind cursing at the fabric.
“Come on, let’s get you back up and running,” I say, then stoop down and take her by the elbow, bearing her weight as she finally stands up straight.
Alex peels off to chase the missing ski, and we all rendezvous in the same place.
“This is harder than it looks,” Makayla quips.
“Here you go,” Alex says, plopping the ski back on the ground in front of her.
She shakes her head, her hat covered in snow.
“You’re ridiculously cute with snow in your hair.” I chuckle softly and brush the flakes away. Makayla gives me a sweet look.
“Help me out?” she asks. I gladly oblige.
Holding my hand, she steps back into the boot lock and we’re ready to try again.
This time, Kellan goes out front. I stay behind to make sure she doesn’t fall again. We start down again, but halfway throughMakayla wobbles and lands square on her backside. Alex and I help her up, one on either side.
She’s not discouraged. We get down to the bottom and she looks at me with the kind of joy that’s infectious. I can’t help but laugh.
“Let’s go again!” she cries.
My brothers and I exchange a look that says everything. All of us are wondering how many times we have to come down the mountain before we’re tired of this. Most importantly, we want to move on to the main event.
But Makayla is calling the shots.
“We agreed,” I remind my brothers. “Kay leads the way.”
“Let’s go again, then,” Kellan laughs.
13
MAKAYLA
I’m thrilled that Oscar and I managed to smooth things over. But now that everything’s out in the open and we’re all on the same page, I’m beginning to have second thoughts. What if I can’t handle all three at once? It’s a giant leap for a woman whose wildest escapade was getting bent over in what technically counts as a public space.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I say as they help me up from where I’ve fallen halfway down the slope.
Truth be told, I need a moment alone to pull myself together.
“When we reach the bottom, you can go to the ski shop,” Oscar offers.
“Great,” I say.
That’s less than ideal. What am I going to do for five minutes in a bathroom other than wring my hands? But I feel like I need some space to sort out my feelings, and that will have to do. I’m the one who played along and then poured fuel on the fire.
The Anderson brothers escort me to the ski shop and help me release my bindings. I walk inside, finally alone, and look around for the restroom.
At last I spot it, rush inside, then shut the door and lean against it in relief.
