Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Brynn

T hankfully, Pierce didn’t try anything last night. There was no way I was going to be relaxed enough after the mouse episode, and the next time we have sex, I don’t want to be lost in my head thinking some rodent is peering over his shoulder as Pierce thrusts into me.

It’s our second-to-last competition, and Pierce and I are tied with Tre and Tessa. Andrew and Kenzie finally got on the board with the snowman competition. Carter has obviously given up, and my parents are disqualified because of tapping out on too many events. It’s harder for everyone to participate with Ryah and Nolan here, but none of us would change it for the world.

“We’re swapping,” Dad says.

“Okay, this contest thing has gone too far,” Carter says.

“What are you talking about?” Tre phrases the question better, although I think I speak for all of us Russell siblings that hearing the word swapping out of my dad’s mouth gave us all the ick.

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” Dad smacks the back of Carter’s head. “If you usually use skis, you’re riding a snowboard today and vice versa. First one down the hill wins this competition.” Dad smiles at all of us.

Pierce leans in closer to my ear and whispers, “I’ve never snowboarded before.”

“I guess that changes today.”

“Bloody hell.” He shakes his head.

Tre glances at me and gives me a smug smile because he and Tessa are both snowboarders. Everyone knows it’s easier to move to skis than to snowboards.

“We have to come first to ensure we have a chance at winning the whole thing,” I say. “The last event is the one Carter thought of, and my assumption is he’ll actually try to win that one since it’s his. And do we really want to try to melt an ice sculpture without using anything but our hands and mouth?”

Pierce shakes his head, but he looks really afraid. “I should probably tell you that I tried snowboarding once, and I really suck at it. Like, went down the hill on my arse.”

Great. This isn’t looking good for us.

“Good thing you have me to help this time around.” I infuse my voice with false confidence.

“No more talking about tactics. Get your stuff and get on those lifts. Your mom and I will be at the bottom of the hill with the kids.” Dad points at the door. “See you in a bit.”

We swap out the equipment we can from one person to the next and rent the stuff we can’t. An hour later, we’re all waiting to get on the lift while Mom and Dad wave at us, getting Ryah and Nolan to do the same.

“So, keep your weight centered over your board, bend your knees, try not to catch your edge when you do your turns, and don’t go straight down.”

Pierce shakes his head. “How upset will you be if we lose?” I stare blankly at him, and he nods. “A lot. Okay. No pressure.” He blows out a breath.

“Of course I’m not going to be upset.”

I’ll be bummed, but I’m not so competitive that I’d be mad about a loss. It’s more about the fact that I want to win, and I feel disappointed if I don’t.

“Somehow I don’t believe you,” he says.

The lift comes to an end, and we get off with Tre and Tessa right behind us, skiing like fucking pros.

“We’re going to look so good at the top of the tree,” Tre says, passing us while I ski slowly next to Pierce, who is holding his snowboard under his arm.

We all get to the top of the hill. At least Andrew looks just as freaked out as his cousin. Kenzie glances at me and cringes. It is a little scary that someone, meaning Andrew or Pierce, might end up in the emergency room if this goes badly.

“Okay, let’s get you strapped in.” I help Pierce get his feet in and lock them in place. “Remember what I said.”

He nods. I put my goggles in place and look down the row. Carter and Faith might be a contender too. She’s really athletic, and they’re on skis just like Tre and Tessa.

Clearly, the disadvantaged ones are us and Kenzie and Andrew.

We all stare at one another, start the countdown, and push off to start our descent.

Andrew falls immediately.

Pierce holds his own for a little longer but ends up on his ass, cringing in pain.

Tessa loses a ski farther down, and Faith is doing the pizza stance slow as a turtle. This is good for us.

I help Pierce back up. He’s athletic, so he gets it for a little bit, but getting down this mountain is no quick feat.

Tre helps Tessa, and they start back down the hill.

The leading team changes back and forth most of the way, but when I can see the bottom, I’m proud of Pierce for sticking to it, since I’m pretty sure I heard Andrew tell Kenzie that he was done five falls ago. I fully expect him to be walking down the mountain.

Faith got off track, and Carter had to set her straight, so we’re in front of them.

I’m sure Tre and Tessa are already done and waiting at the bottom with their winning smiles.

“Tre fell.” Pierce points to his right.

I look past him, lifting my goggles. Sure enough, both of Tre’s skis are off, and Tessa is getting out of hers to help him. This is our chance.

“I feel like I shouldn’t have told you that. You have that look in your eyes,” Pierce says.

“It’s fine, but we have a chance now. You’re going longer every time before you fall. You got this!” I put my goggles back on and slide behind him, prepared to guide him down.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Ensuring our win.” I sneak a peek at Tre and Tessa. He’s about to get into his skis.

I push Pierce with my hand on his hip and my skis on either side of his board.

“Whoa!” Pierce says when he wobbles from the speed.

“Remember, knees bent and center your gravity,” I say.

“You said not to go straight. I don’t feel like I’m in control.” Pierce glances over his shoulder at me.

“Eyes forward.” My hands are on his hips, and my attention wavers back to Tre.

He’s up on his skis, pushing off with the poles. Tessa is right behind him.

I know I can get us to that finish line before them.

“This is fast,” Pierce says, but I’m too busy making sure we reach the bottom first.

Our momentum builds, and I’m having a hard time keeping my hands on his hips. Soon, I grasp for Pierce’s jacket, but he’s inches, then an entire foot in front of me.

“Brynn!” he shouts.

I cringe, but he’s moving so fast I can’t catch him. When someone gets in his way, he manages to pivot away. Oh, I’m kind of proud.

I push off with the poles and race down to meet him, seeing that Tre and Tessa aren’t close enough behind us to win.

Pierce’s yell pulls my attention back to him—right before he barrels into the orange fencing, slipping over it.

Shit.

I ski down to him. “Oh my god! Are you okay?”

He sits on the board still attached to his feet while blood trickles down his forehead.

“Crap, you’re bleeding.”

“Way to put your boyfriend in the hospital to win,” Tre says, patting me on the back.

“You’re just a sore loser.” I look back at Pierce. “Not that I’m okay with you getting hurt.”

He nods. Maybe I need to look into this competitive fire inside me.

“Hate to see what happens if he gets the job over you,” Tre says and skis off with Tessa.

Tre’s always been a sore loser, so I don’t care.

I crouch next to Pierce. “I’m sorry.”

He smiles. “It’s okay. We won, didn’t we? A little cut isn’t too bad.”

He really is great.

“I promise to kiss your boo boo,” I whisper.

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.” He unstraps his feet from the board, and I unclip my boots from the skis.

Now we just have to make sure Tessa and Tre don’t win at the ice sculpture melting contest to make it a tie. If so, it’ll be mine and Pierce’s picture on the top of the tree next year.

But I can’t help the gnawing feeling in my gut about what Tre said. We haven’t really addressed the Mancini Advertising job. How will we navigate it if one of us gets it over the other?

Problems for another day, I suppose.