Izzy can say what she wants, but I’ve also seen how George looks at her when she thinks he isn’t looking. I might tease her with it later. Even though the two of them are always arguing, I see the chemistry between them, not that either would admit it.
“Take that!” he yells. “That’s for all the times you would never even consider helpin’ decorate the station when I asked! You called tinsel ‘sissy rope’. I mean, who does that?”
“Sadie!” Zane calls, “get over here! This is war! Help!”
Zane is being obliterated with one snowball after another, and Jed is too busy laughing instead of trying to gather more snowballs at the ready.
“You didn’t come prepared, Z-dog!” Izzy yells back. “I’ve been waiting a long time to win a snowball fight, today is that day!”
Grandpa comes in to help Zane, as Frank laughs and gets his mom and Sylvia out of the firing line.
I’m too busy laughing when Zane is pelted over and over with snowballs. Izzy falls about laughing so hard she can’t even throw anymore, but George is getting into it.
Zane is giving as good as he gets, but clearly he needs some practice.
I start scooping up snow. Never having been in a snowball fight, this is exciting, and to see Zane laughing with his family and friends warms my heart.
“Is this what happens when you let your guard down, old boy?” George chuckles, copping snow right in the face. He sputters, shaking it off, then lobs three back in succession, they bounce off Zane’s head and his shoulder as he turns to defend himself. “Old?” Zane grunts. “You’re two years older than me, asswipe.”
“Language!” Sylvia calls out, filming the whole thing on her phone.
“Okay, Iz, now!” George says as Izzy loads her arms up with the rest of the artillery and runs closer. By now, Grandpa Gary and Jed have given up, getting clear out of the way.
I’m still lobbing, but more at George than Izzy because she hasn’t thrown one at me, so that would be mean, plus, it’s funny seeing Zane’s little sister take him down a peg or two.
“There’s more where that came from!” Izzy pelts him, scooping up more snow when she’s all out.
Zane sees the advantage and throws three in a row that skim off her head, but Izzy is determined. When she scoops up the next ball, it’s huge, and she throws it right in Zane’s face as he’s about to do the same to her. He loses his balance, then topples backwards and lands ass down in the snow.
His father, grandfather, and Jed all collapse laughing as Izzy stands over him triumphant. “That’s for the last twenty-four years of hell, big brother. Do you yield?”
“You win.” He holds his hands in front of his face. “My ass is broken.”
“Ha!” She does a little twirl as George jogs up beside her and they high five.
It’s as if they’ve totally forgotten about hating one another.
I hold my hand out to help Zane up. He takes it, but instead of coming to his feet, he pulls me down and into his lap. He cups my face and says, “Fat lot of good you are in a fight.” Then kisses me hard in front of everyone.
“Ew,” Izzy says.
“Holy shit,” from Jed.
“Knock it off, parents and grandparents are watching,” George reminds us, but Zane doesn’t seem to care.
“Spoken like a true Lawless,” Grandpa Gary laughs.
“I think we need to get to the resort,” I whisper when we break away. “Brag about your light display before they get wind and change their strategy.”
Every year, an independent team of locals — who are top secret — judge the display and award the winner. All donations and raffle prizes leading up to Christmas go to charity, but you’d think it was the Olympics the way they all carry on.
“That’s my girl.” Zane smiles up at me as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“I guess we’re out now, may as well go with it.” We kiss again, but both jump when Izzy yells out.
“Sadie! You dropped your winter mittens!”
We both look at each other and can’t help laugh. He may have bought me a dozen pairs, but some things never change.
