Page 39 of The Wedding Wrecker

I doubted that part, but he was at least right about the trees. A hard fall into the snow was maybe the worst of the dangers on a run like that.

“She has been feeling a little off today,” I said. “I’m just worried she might be pushing herself too hard.”

“Ah,” Theo said as he joined the conversation. “No worries, James. We’ll take good care of her.”

Theo actually put one of his arms around her, and for a moment, I saw red.

I stepped forward, taking her by the waist and pulling her to me, which thankfully got his arm off her. “I really think she should sit this one out. I wouldn’t want her to get hurt.”

“Oh, come on,” Mr. Wellington said. “Emma is a big girl. If she wants to give it a shot, you wouldn’t stop her, would you?”

“It’s okay, James,” Emma said. She bit her lip, then leaned in and gave me a cold-lipped peck on the cheek. “Thank you, but I’ll be careful. I had a good teacher, right?”

My stomach felt like it was turning over. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“I’ll be fine. Trust me,” she added with a wink.

I let out a sigh, feeling like the only sane one in the group. But it seemed like there was no stopping her, so I followed as we all headed to the top of Thunder Ridge with her.

“Ladies first?” Mr. Wellington said.

“I’ll go with her,” I said, moving to Emma’s side.

“Oh, come on,” Mr. Wellington said. “Do you hold her hand when she pees, too? Where’s your sense of adventure?”

I grated my teeth together as I stared at the man, who was watching with something in his expression I didn’t like.

“If she asked me to, I’d do anything for her.”

Theo chuckled. “Go easy on them, Uncle Richard.”

Mr. Wellington regarded Theo, then shrugged. “Suit yourselves.”

“Alright,” I said. “Hold on to my wrist. We’ll get through this together. All you have to do isnotlet go.”

I took one of her ski poles and set it aside so she could grip my wrist instead.

“Look how cute they are together,” Alex—the red haired one of the three brothers—noted with laughter in his voice. “Where the hell did you get those snow suits? Maybe we should all get some matching ones,” he suggested to no one in particular.

Ignoring them, we inched closer to the drop. “Ready?” I asked.

“Probably not,” Emma admitted.

We jumped into the run and gained speed almost immediately. I did my best to control our speed, but Emma was flailing, screaming, and jabbing me in the ribs as we tore downhill.

I tried to steer us away from a jump midway down the run, but somehow, Emma dragged us straight toward it.

“Stop steering us! Just relax!” I shouted against the wind roaring in our ears.

“I’m going to die!” she shrieked.

And then she ripped her arm out of mine and went into full meltdown mode at maximum speed.

I watched helplessly as she veered away from me, heading straight for the ramp.

“Emma!” I shouted.

But it was already too late. She flew up a dozen feet into the air, slowly rotated like an unathletic, noisy ragdoll, and then landed in a spectacular explosion of snow and pink fabric.

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