After hiding another yawn behind my hand I’m beginning to think I’m stupid for agreeing to join my cousins for early morning skiing on the fresh snow. The whir of the gondola sounds loud in my ears while I try to pay attention to the run Joshua wants to go for. We’re all excellent skiers and have no problem with the more advance runs, except today I want to go at an easier pace.

The night spent with Rachel makes me smile to myself and it’s that, which Olivia catches. My sister is more observant than most, at least when she wants to be. She raises a brow and shakes her head, pushing through Dylan and Ryan. “I think you need more coffee … or sleep.”

I grin. “Both would be good,” I agree, glancing at Rachel as she talks to Sofia.

Paige isn’t here, which I have to say fills me with relief, and I think it did Rachel when she realized her twin hadn’t shown up. Something needs to happen between them two because I don’t like them falling out because of me. Paige and my other female cousins have always felt more like sisters, except with Rachel my feelings for her have always been more.

How I’d react to her and treat her, had never made sense until I’d grown up—then, what I’d felt had scared the shit out of me. Now, it makes me nervous, but nothing more. I’m only nervous because of how our family might react, and not because I’m with Rachel. I need to keep telling myself that at least my father will be on my side. He seemed more resigned than anything when we talked.

“You really do need something,” Olivia tells me, “maybe do a different run to wake you up. The black run that Ryan and Dylan are currently arguing over needs full concentration.”

“I agree.” I yawn again.

Shaking my head, I start to move away. “I’ll meet you all on the slopes. I need more coffee first.” I start backing away. “Anyone else?” I glance at everyone and smile when Rachel moves toward me.

“I’ll come with you.” She glances at Madison who has just appeared. “I think maybe you need to come with us first.”

“I’m fine. Took Tylenol and drank about two gallons of water before I dropped into bed.” She shrugs and smiles. “No headache.” She winces. “Although I keep needing to pee.”

Chuckling, I grab Rachel’s arm and gently pull her around and away from the others. Without a second thought, I wrap my arm around her neck and smile when her arm slips around my back.

“Do you really need more coffee?” she asks, her face fresh from the cold.

“I need waking up.”

She rolls her eyes. “How can you not be awake after the way I woke you up this morning … and the shower.”

Groaning, we enter the coffee shop within the village. “We have to go back to the others so let’s not start something we can’t finish until later.” I kiss her forehead quickly before placing our order. “Although, I have to say, I’d be in agreement to going back to the room—”

She smacks my arm away from her waist laughing. “It’s our last day to ski.” Intertwining our fingers together, she pulls me over to one side. “I don’t want to go back to college.” She groans.

My eyes snap to hers and that’s when I notice the tears hovering on her lashes. I cup her face and gently brush the tears away with my thumbs. “I thought you were nearly finished—done after the Italian trip.”

“I am, but I have to go back tomorrow while you go back to Lexington,” she admits.

Unable to find words, I pull her against my chest and hold her tight in my embrace. We stand together until our names are called when our coffees are ready.

* * *

Making sure my glasses are secure, I glance at two of my cousins, Ryan and Joshua, who are beside me, raring to go. The black run Ryan chose would be a challenge, but nothing we can’t handle or complete. But for it being a black run we would normally race to the finish line—so not going to happen right now.

Getting ready to push off it suddenly starts to snow. One minute it’s a trickle, and the next full blown, thick flakes. We look between us and Joshua indicates we need to make a move or we may get stuck on the mountain.

My heart pumps in my chest as I get into position and shove off down the slope. Adrenaline kicks in as I pick up the pace. Weaving in and out of trees, spotting my cousins doing the same, parallel to me. We’ll pace each other because it’s dangerous up here especially with visibility gradually decreasing.

The whoosh of my skis in the soft snow holds my concentration as the minutes tick by. Curving to the left, then back to the right before the three of us enter the main slope down to the base of the mountain and the ski resort below.

Fishtailing at the end to stop, my breathing is heavy as I turn to Joshua and Ryan, all of us grinning like idiots. The heavy snow has followed us down the mountain, and looking around I can’t see anyone I recognize—especially my beautiful woman.

Grabbing up my gear, we trudge toward the lodge and stepping inside a blast of heat hits me in the face, followed by Madison. She nearly knocks me over when she throws her arms around my neck, and starts crying. It takes me a few seconds to register something is wrong as I look between Joshua and Ryan who just shrug and frown.

I wrap my arms around Madison, and ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Rachel,” she sobs and I still at hearing her name.

“What?” I push her away from me. “Where’s Rachel, Madison?”

“Hospital.” She hiccups.

My panic rising, I look at Joshua for help, and without fail he steps in.

“Madison, breathe and calm down. We need to know what’s happened, now, not tomorrow, okay?”

Madison sharply inhales and then slowly starts to calm down. “We were skiing, minding our own business, when someone who shouldn’t have been on the mountain lost control and Rachel couldn’t get out of the way in time. She went down.” She puts a shaky hand to her forehead. “I volunteered to wait here and tell you.”

Madison holds my gaze. “She’s bruised and she has a slight concussion. She wanted you.”

“I need to go to her.”

“We need to go to her,” Joshua says, his eyes going to Ryan and Madison.

“Just help me get to her, I don’t care about anything else right now.”

Madison and Joshua talk together and then we’re on the move swiftly towards the cars. “She’s at Copley, which isn’t too far.” Joshua pauses, and leaning in, whispers, “Hold it together. I’ll have you there in ten minutes.”

Sinking into the seat beside Joshua, I try not to panic. A head injury can be serious, but surely not a slight concussion. I close my eyes and try not to think about the reaction of my family when I dash to Rachel.