Page 22 of Better Than the Beach
“You might be the password child,” Craig whispers in my ear, “but I can still kick your nerdy little ass.”
He quickly loosens his hold on my arms with one hand, but before I can break free, he shoves a slobbery wet finger in my ear and wiggles it around.
I yell. A fucking wet willy. I hated when they’d do that to me as a kid. I hate it even more now. The violation gives me a full body cringe, and I’m about to shout some choice words at them when my mother’s voice stops us all in our tracks.
“Boys! What on Earth? Did I raise a bunch of mountain heathens? You two get off your brother right now.”
In a flash, the weight is off my back, four hands grip me by the armpits, and I’m hauled off the ground and onto my feet. I swing and get one good punch to Duncan’s gut before my mom shouts again.
“Stop it!” She glares at me before turning her disappointed stare on Craig. “Craig Andrew, you should know better. I expect this behavior from Duncan, but you? You’re older. You should set the example. And to be acting like this in front of our guest? Shame on the three of you.”
“Sorry, Ma,” Craig grumbles. Duncan snickers, but his laugh is cut short when my mom levels him with one ofthoseglares.
“Apologize to your brother,” Ma says to Duncan, and I turn toward him with a smug smile.
“Sorry, dweeb.”
I have to swallow a laugh and my mom sighs.
“Seriously, boys, you are adults. Act like it.”
The moment my mother is out the door, my brothers turn on me, but I’m already sprinting to the exit with my hand clasped around Cassie’s, tugging her giggling body with me.
Cassie slides onto the snowmobile behind me, locking her arms around my waist, and I take off toward the trails on the outside of town. The skies are a clear blue, the wind is near non-existent, and the temperature has risen just enough to keep our fingers from falling off. She laughs and squeezes me tighter with every dip and curve in the trail, and I’m thrilled to be spending this moment with her. To be sharing this part of myself with someone who is truly enjoying it.
It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It’s the happiest I’ve been in years.
I try to convince myself that this happiness is solely the result of finally being with my family for Christmas, and has nothing to do with the intelligent, kind, gorgeous woman currently wrapped around me.
I try. But I fail.
When we’re nearly to the cabin, I veer off the trail and take Cassie to a small clearing that overlooks a valley. It’s one of my favorite places to hike when the weather is nice, and right now, with the snow glittering on the evergreens, it’s a breathtaking view.
“Oh wow,” Cassie breathes out after sliding off her helmet. “This is beautiful.”
“It is. I thought maybe we could watch the sunset before turning back for the night.”
She grins. “That would be nice.”
I sit back on the snowmobile, then ease her back onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her waist in a way that leaves no space between us. Even through our thick jackets, I can feel her warmth. I focus on the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes, and I rest my chin on her shoulder. The sound of an approaching snowmobile causes us to look back toward the trail, but the rider passes quickly.
“Probably Duncan on his way to attempt a snowball fight,” I muse into her hair.
“Should I be worried? Duncan and Craig don’t seem like they’d play fair.”
“They definitely don’t,” I say with a laugh. “But I know how to fight dirty when I need to. I’ll protect you.”
I give her side a playful squeeze and Cassie giggles.
“Your brothers are a lot of fun. I wish I could see you all together.” She grows quiet for a moment and rests her head back on my shoulder. “I always wanted siblings. It was lonely growing up. I’d always get jealous of my friends who came from big families.”
“Hmmm.” I press a kiss to her temple while I think it over. “Growing up in the Montrose house was a lot of things, but I can honestly say I was never lonely. Maybe because I was never alone,” I joke, and she laughs, but shakes her head.
“No, it’s more than that. I can tell. You all have a really strong bond. I picked up on it immediately. Even with Mallory, I could see it. Your family is close, and I envy it.”
We fall back into comfortable silence, and I replay her words. Cassie is right. My family is close. We always have been. Even with the years I spent distanced from them, our relationships never weakened. And though Oliver is stationed in North Carolina, he’s still active in our group text threads. My brothers are my best friends. Ma and Pop raised us to be close, and it’s a bond that’s lasted. I’ve missed them so much more than I realized.
“Thank you,” Cassie says after a moment, shifting so her eyes meet mine. “For letting me be part of your family over the last week. I’m so grateful to Nan for letting me stay in her house, and I’m grateful to you for keeping me company. Foreverything.”
