Page 49 of When Ivy Met Mr. Holiday
“Not if I get you first.” I dropped the paint scraper and bent down to scoop up some snow. That was my first mistake.
In a sneak attack, Jack and Emma rushed me, and Emma dropped the snowball on my face. While I spluttered, Jack lowered Emma on top of me, knocking me over.
“I’m getting you. I’m getting you.” Emma giggled, perched on top of me.
Jack had no idea what he’d just done. He’d initiated a Wells family snowball fight.
Once someone threw—or in this case, dropped—the first snowball, all bets were off, and the war began.
“Snowball fight!” Kaden yelled, and within seconds, snowballs began whizzing across the expansive backyard, which backed up against the forest. The tall pine trees served as sentinels, outlining the property so no fence was ever needed. I always thought it was very fairytale–like.
I grabbed Emma, carefully rolled over, and tried to shield her.
Jack dove and landed by our side like he was starring in one of his action movies. His grin said he thought he was so cool. And to be honest, he was.
Several snowballs pelted us.
“Do you see what you started?”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
“What’s that?”
“Grab Emma and hide behind yourclient. By the way, the snow hairdo is impressive. You never cease to amaze me.” He leaned in and brushed my lips.
It was a good thing Emma was with us, or I might have just pulled him to me and showed my family I was still thequeen of PDA.
I grabbed Emma to save her—and my heart. We scrambled around our snowwoman. Jack, ever the hero, used his body as a shield, taking direct hits from my brothers, who were expert snowball makers and even better throwers.
And just wait until Paige got in on the action. She was stealthy and knew how to make lethal snowballs. Tiny and icy.
“Damn,” Jack muttered as another snowball nailed him.
“Let this be your lesson to never engage in a snowball fight with a Wells.”
Jack smirked at me. “Watch and learn, darlin’.”
Oh, he was insufferable, but I had come to love his cocky side.
“Looks like you drank your arrogance juice this morning.”
“Always.” He winked while preparing ammo. Like he wasn’t already losing.
No doubt he would end up as the victor. That was just his way.
“Make sure to increase the pressure with each rotation,” I schooled him in proper snowball-making technique.
“Got it.”
Together, we made quick work of amassing a stockpile.
“You go left; I’ll go right,” Jack directed. “Maybe hold Emma. That might give you some protection.”
Although I knew he was trying to be chivalrous, I laughed. “You don’t know my family. They’ll only try to steal her and then pummel me.”
Jack’s brow furrowed.
“Didn’t know what kind of crazy you were getting into, did you?”
