He let off the throttle as he approached, then cut the engine. Anger propelled him off the vehicle and across the ice.
“Hi!” Remi’s chipper greeting echoed in his ears when he spotted the blood on her face and coat.
“Cavalry’s here,” his idiot brother said from his still prone position.
“What in the fuck—” He slid on his knees, reaching for her to find the injury, but Remi batted his hands away.
“Hold still,” he snapped. “You’re bleeding.”
“Oh, that’s not mine,” she said breezily.
Spencer held up his hand. “It’s mine.”
Brick looked down and found the source of the blood. Remi had her scarf wrapped around his brother’s head, her gloved hand pressed tight to his forehead.
“Head wounds, am I right?” Spencer snickered.
“He hit his head pretty good,” Remi said.
“I totally would have beat your time if the ice hadn’t opened up like that,” Spencer complained.
Brick closed his eyes and took a breath. “Where’s my snowmobile?”
“He’s not gonna like it,” Spencer predicted.
Brick opened his eyes and looked at Remi. She pointed to a snowmobile-sized hole in the ice a few yards away. His hands closed into fists on his thighs.
“How mad is he?” Spencer asked in a stage whisper.
“He’s bundled up. I can’t see the veins in his neck,” Remi replied.
“What were you doing riding out here, and how aren’t you dead?” Brick demanded when he’d regained the power of speech.
“Spence and I were just messing around with time trials. The bridge is a little bumpy in a couple of spots, so smarty-pants here thought he’d do his last run on fresh ice,” Remi explained.
“So you weren’t on board?” Brick clarified.
“I was at the finish line with the timer,” she said cheerfully.
“Are you mad, B?” Spencer asked. “You look mad.”
“Mad?” Brick was several steps past furious. “Why should I be mad that you two are out here pissing around being irresponsible? Why would I be mad that you destroyed my only mode of transportation—”
“You still have Cleetus,” Spencer said helpfully.
Remi punched his brother in the shoulder.
“Ow!”
“Why would I be mad that I’m the one who has to ride to the rescue and play clean up?”
“Sorry, Brick,” they said together.
Damn it. Hehatedwhen they said things in unison. Hated being reminded that he was somehow separate from the two of them. Hated that he was on the outside of their inside jokes.
“Un-fucking-believable,” he muttered.
18