With Quinn’s hands wrapped tightly around my waist, we fly through the forest, leading the group back to the lodge from our snowmobiling trip.

It’s been such a fun day, lots of laughs and good times. I somehow was able to find a place to book us last minute, and I’m glad I did because it’s been the most fun we’ve had.

With the lodge in sight, I pull the throttle all the way back, knowing whoever makes it there first wins. But behind us, I hear some ruckus. Releasing my grip, I glance back and spot Ari flying through the air.

Oh, fuck!

Immediately, I hit the brakes, and we skid to a stop. He’s lying on his back, heaving for air. I can hear it from fifty feet away, and I panic, not knowing what to do. None of us have cell phones, then Quinn, thinking quickly, says, “I’ll run to the lodge.” As fast as I can, I go to my friend’s side as he lies on the snow, gasping, his face strained…he can’t breathe.

“Shit, man, are you all right?”

He’s wincing; his eyes tightly closed as he rolls back and forth in pain. Willow runs over to us, followed by the rest of the group and she’s freaking out. “Oh my God! Are you okay?”

He doesn’t respond to either of us, and I feel fucking terrible that my dumb idea did this to him. “Just hang on. Quinn went to get help.”

His breathing sounds horrific, his face keeps getting redder and redder, and I shake my head wanting to help him, but not knowing how to. “Calm down, Ari,” Willow says to him, and he snaps at her. “It fucking hurts!”

Dammit, I’m so fucking pissed that I came up with this stupid ass idea.

Quinn comes back over to us with a few guys from the rental shop, and as they kneel around him, we all back away. “Thank you,” I tell her.

“Of course, is he okay?”

“I’m not sure.”

She wraps her hand around mine, squeezing my fingers tightly. Her warmth comforting me in this fucked up moment. As I stand holding her back…we just watch.

An ambulance pulls up at the lodge, and a few paramedics rush over to us. One of them is carrying a body board.

I hate seeing my best friend in pain. It makes me sick. This is my fault. The tall trees spin and snow whips through the air as I stand completely frozen.

Ari and I might fight like brothers, but that is because we are brothers. Maybe not through blood, but he is my best friend. My gut tightens in fear watching him get strapped up to the board and then get carried away.

Willow is close behind, and we all follow them. Finally, I ask before the ambulance doors close, “Is he going to be okay?”

“He will be. It looks like he has a collapsed lung from the impact of the crash. We need to get him to the hospital quickly.”

Willow looks at me from the back of the ambulance, and I could punch something, so pissed this happened. Then they are gone. “Come on.” Quinn tugs my hand, pulling me towards the car and in a daze, I get inside.

“He’s going to be okay,” she tells me.

I nod, listening to her words, trying to believe them as Ted drives us away.

* * *

After what seems like hours of waiting for an update, Willow finally walks out. Quinn’s hand is still wrapped around mine, and I don’t dare let it go. The comfort of holding on to her has made me not lose my mind while we’ve been waiting.

“How is he?”

“He has a couple cracked ribs, one that punctured his lung and was making it hard for him to breathe, but he’s going to be okay.”

Thank God.

“Can we see him?” I ask.

“He’s resting, they have him on a ton of drugs. He said for us all to go home and get drunk, for him.”

“That sounds like him,” Ted says, and Quinn kisses my cheek as I let out a breath of air that I feel like I’ve been holding on to all day.

“Merritt?” Willow says, as we all stand and prepare to leave.

“He said to tell you he’ll pay for the snowmobile.”

“No, fuck that. I don’t care about the money. I shouldn’t have booked the trip to begin with.”

She smiles and says, “Don’t think like that. We had fun.”

“Yeah, but look at Ari.”

“He’ll be fine, and you didn’t make him crash, he did. He’s reckless, and we both know it. It’s how he lives.”

“Thanks for saying that,” I tell her.

“It’s the truth.” She gives Ted a hug and kiss.

“Do you want me to stay?” I ask her, “I don’t mind at all.”

“No, you go back to the house and relax.”

“No, you go. Let me stay.”

“Are you sure?” she asks me.

“Yeah, of course.”

“Okay, he’d probably rather you be here anyway. He should be released in the morning, so I’ll be back early. Thank you, Merritt.”

“Absolutely.”

Still holding on to Quinn’s hand, I look down at our fingers and bring them to my lips as her blue eyes look deep into me. “Go get some rest, sexy.” She blinks a few times before offering, “I can stay with you.”

I smirk. “Look at you; Miss This-Can-Only-Last-A-Week doesn’t want to be away from me.” She pulls her hand away, and I kiss her cheek, then whisper into her ear, “If you stayed, I’d have to fuck you, and I don’t think Ari would appreciate that. He’d want to join in, and I’m not about to share you.”

She nods with a smile, and I breathe her scent in one final time and then realize that everyone is watching us. “Bye.”

“Goodbye,” she says back, licking her bottom lip knowing just what that does to me.

“He’s in room 110,” Willow gives me a hug and then they are all gone. My eyes are on Quinn for as long as I can see her, and then I shake my head. Just a week, I remind myself…that’s it.

Walking to find Ari, I follow the signs to the rooms from 100-119. As I stand in his doorway, he is asleep, and as quietly as I can, I step inside.

He looks up at me right away, his eyes glossy and tired. “What’s up, man?”

“Not much. How you feeling, Spiderman?”

He chuckles. “Sore as fuck, but the medicine is hella good, and my nurse is fuckin’ smoking.”

“You gonna hit that shit?” I tease him

“I wish. I can barely breathe. Where’s Quinn, she let you off your leash?”

I give him the middle finger. “You know me; no woman’s gonna tie me down.”

“I don’t know; you seem to like that one.”

“She’s cool, sex with her is off the charts, but we already agreed to things being just this week.”

“That’s good, man, you gotta focus on work. It’s not long until you own that company.”

“I can’t wait, Ari. You have no fucking idea.”

His eyes get heavy as I contemplate how those words could never be more true. I can’t wait for the day my dad turns the company over to me. I deserve it, and it can’t come soon enough. I’ve put up with more of his shit than anyone really should, and I’ve sacrificed more than I’d like to admit. But in the end, I’ll have it all.