Page 136 of Body and Soul

He scooped up his own pile of snow, his fingers moving deftly to shape it into a perfect sphere. Xander ducked behind me, using me as a human shield as Xavier wound up and let the snowball fly.

I instinctively raised my arms to protect my face, but the snowball still managed to clip my ear, the icy sting making me gasp.

Xander cackled gleefully behind me. “Nice one, Eli! Way to take one for the team!”

“I didn't volunteer to be your meat shield!” I protested, but I couldn't keep the grin off my face. It had been so long since I'd engaged in something as simple and carefree as a snowball fight.

I bent and gathered my own ammunition, the snow squeaking as I compacted it between my palms. I caught Xavier’s eye and jerked my chin towards Xander who was still hiding behind me.

Xavier gave a small nod, a mischievous glint in his eye. On an unspoken count of three, we both whipped around and let our snowballs fly, mine aimed high while Xavier's went low.

Xander barely had time to let out a startled yelp before he was struck from both directions, my snowball exploding against his chest while Xavier's caught him in the thigh. He staggered back, windmilling his arms for balance before tumbling backwards into the snowdrift with an indignant squawk.

Xavier and I burst out laughing, the sound echoing off the metal walls of the warehouse.

Xander lay there for a moment, splayed out on his back in the snow, blinking up at the gray sky. Then a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. “Oh, you two are in for it now.”

He surged to his feet in a blur of motion, scooping up great armfuls of snow. Xavier and I had a split second to exchange a wide-eyed look of "oh shit" before Xander was upon us, dumping his icy payload over our heads with a triumphant cackle.

I gasped as the snow slid down the back of my neck, icy tendrils snaking under my collar. Beside me, Xavier spluttered and shook his head like a dog, sending droplets of melted snow flying.

The snowball fight devolved into an all-out war, the three of us ducking and dodging, scooping up snow and flinging it at each other with wild abandon. Laughter rang out across the yard, our cheeks flushed from the cold and exertion.

In the end, we called it a draw and flopped down in the snow, staring up at the gray sky. I lay there in the cold, my chest heaving with exertion and laughter, tiny icy crystals melting against my overheated skin. The sky above was a study in shades of gray, heavy clouds pregnant with the promise of more snow. Flakes drifted down lazily, alighting on my lashes, my cheeks, my parted lips. Each one was unique, a delicate frozen miracle, and I marveled at their intricacy even as they dissolved instantly against my flesh.

“You doing anything this weekend?” Xander asked suddenly.

I turned my head to look at him. “Going to The Playground with Shepherd. Why?”

“The Playground?” He wrinkled his nose. “You should come hang with us. I’ll show you all the best clubs.”

I huffed a laugh, my breath puffing out in a white cloud. “I'm not much of a dancer,” I admitted.

The thought of all those bodies pressed together, the pulsing music and flashing lights, the smell of sweat and alcohol... it made my skin crawl. Too many memories of being touched against my will, of hands grabbing and groping, taking what they wanted without my consent.

Xander rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His eyes were soft with understanding. “We could do something else then. Go to a movie, hit up the arcade…” His lips quirked up in a playful grin. “I'm sure we can find some trouble to get into that doesn't involve dancing.”

“Or drugs,” Xavier said, snorting.

“Sober Xander?” I quipped. “Is that even possible?”

Xander clasped a hand to his chest in mock affront. “I'll have you two know I contain multitudes. Dancing, drinking you under the table, and doing two lines at once are only some of my talents.”

“Do I even want to know what the others are?” I asked wryly.

Xavier rolled his eyes and threw a weak handful of snow at his brother. “Definitely not.”

Xander opened his mouth to retort, but paused, his gaze flicking over my shoulder. I turned to follow his line of sight and felt my breath catch.

Shepherd was striding across the snowy yard towards us, his tall form cutting an imposing figure against the stark white landscape. He was dressed in a black peacoat and dark slacks, the tailored lines of the coat emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders and trim cut of his waist. His dark hair was dustedwith snowflakes, the icy crystals glinting like diamonds against the inky strands. His eyes were fixed on me now as he closed the distance between us.

I scrambled to my feet, brushing snow from my clothes with suddenly clumsy hands. Xander and Xavier rose more leisurely, exchanging a knowing look that I pretended not to see.

“Eli,” Shepherd greeted as he reached us, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. “I see you've been keeping my brothers entertained.”

“Someone has to,” Xander quipped. “Otherwise, we might actually have to do some work.”

Shepherd's lips twitched, a ghost of a smile. “I'm sure that would be terrible for your manicure.”

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