They raced side-by-side. Air rushed past, stinging her cheeks. Exhilaration bubbled up, and she couldn't help the laugh that emerged. Beside her, Noah let out a loud yell. A happy yell.
The kids were cheering as they flew past. Their momentum carried them several more yards before they bumped together and were dumped into the white powder.
Unlike during the football game, Noah scrambled away from her. He brushed snow off his pants and coat, extended his cane to reach the ground. "You okay?" he asked tightly.
No. No she wasn't okay.
Before she could answer, there were shouts from the top of the hill.
She was shocked to see Iris and Callum each lugging a toboggan. The twins were halfway down the hill, rolling and running in the snow. PJ let out a loud whoop. Lindsey was already running to greet the boys.
And Noah's expression had shut down completely.
"It's my sister and Callum," she told him.
He nodded. "Guess it's time for me to get out of here after all."
He started trudging away through the snow.
"You're going the wrong way," she called out after him, even though he wasn't. He waved his empty hand in acknowledgment and kept going.
Was he really just going to walk off? Lindsey had invited him to join in the day. She was going to be upset when she realized he’d just abandoned the fun.
She threw up her hands, turning in a circle to try and vent her frustration. Even from this distance, she could see the disappointment etched on Callum's face.
And the fact that Noah was running away again made her angry. Really angry.
She didn't think the words through before she called out, "Hey Callum! Noah just challenged you to a race."
Noah froze. He didn't have to look over his shoulder for her to feel his icy glare.
But at least he’d stopped marching off.
Jilly had issued him a challenge.Not a silly one like the kids' dare.
She was challenging him to stay. To face Callum and Iris.
His instinct was to keep walking.
But then, Callum's slow drawl echoed down the embankment. "Nah. Noah and I never were much for competing against each other. We always did better on the same team."
Noah had to swallow hard to dislodge the ball of memories and regret that rose up in his throat.
Apparently, Callum wasn't done. "Maybe what he'd like to do is challenge you two women to a snowman building contest. Real friendly like."
Noah's pulse raced, ideas immediately swirling through his head. He and Callum teaming up like old times. Hope inflated like a balloon.
He heard the crunch of boots in the snow. A heavier tread than Jilly's. And then Callum was there clapping a hand on his shoulder. He jumped at the unexpected contact and Callum’s hand fell away.
"I know better than anybody about wanting to leave the past in the past," Callum said in a low voice. "If you're up for it, I'd like to start fresh with our friendship."
That balloon of hope rose up in his throat and threatened to choke him.
He nodded as if he weren’t a complete fool, and Callum urged him back toward the group, where the children were chattering like magpies. From what Noah could make out, it had turned into men versus women versus kids.
Game on.
Hours later, he was so wet and cold that he was a little afraid his toes were now blocks of ice. He was hungry and tired. And he'd laughed so hard and so much that his abs would be sore tomorrow.
