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"We can’t go past the ropes," Pete said, pausing to rest under the bough of an evergreen. "Did you see any ropes?"

"No." Danica glanced back over her shoulder, then pushed with her poles to stop beside Pete.

"I have an avalanche beacon if that's what you're afraid of," Pete stated.

"No, I'm much less afraid of an avalanche and much more afraid of getting caught," Danica said, her head twisting back and forth as if trying to see if ski patrol was about to kick them out.

"This isn’t out of bounds. You’re such a stickler for the rules, Wendell.” Pete grinned. She loved to push Danica out of her comfort zone, especially when it resulted in a quiet moment alone, watching Danica look around the dense trees in wonder.

"Did you need a break from the moguls?" Danica asked.

"No, I just needed a different kind of adventure for a moment," Pete said like it was obvious. She lifted her goggles onto her helmet, leaning against one of the trees, watching Danica.

Danica lifted her own goggles, raising an eyebrow in question. "You're going to go to ski jail just for a little adventure?"

"Only if you'd visit me in ski jail and hold your hand up against the glass while we're on the phone," Pete said with a grin.

"I'll bake you a cake with a file. That's the most I can promise for now." Danica said, reaching up to bat snow off a tree branch. It felt like they were deep in the forest, far away from Izzy and Kiera and their past…

“I’m sorry if last night was too much,” Pete said quietly.

Danica shook her head. “I panicked.”

Pete’s stomach dropped. “I’m sor?—”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I panicked. It’s just… It was fun, and I don’t know why I… do anything that I do, I guess,” Danica said. She looked so sad.

Pete leaned forward to tap the front of her helmet to Danica’s. “Hey, it’s just me. You know me.”

“That’s the problem. I know you, and I want you,” Danica admitted breathlessly. Her eyes darted down to Pete’s mouth, the air felt charged between them again, and Pete's mind felt clear – no worries, no thoughts at all, really — as she reached for Danica.

Their bodies knocked back into a tree, and the only warning of what was to come was a slight whispering hush as a clump of snow fell off a branch high above them, landing directly on their heads. Danica gasped with surprise, brushing snow from her face and helmet, and Pete laughed, wiping at her eyes.

Danica straightened, shaking her head. "Was that the universe's idea of a cold shower?" Pete laughed, leaning down to grab her poles they awkwardly untangled their skis. Danica pushed backwards, angling away toward the ski tracks pointing out of the trees. "Loser buys crepes?" She asked in a playful tone.

Before Pete could say a word, Danica pulled down her goggles and pushed forward to take off down the trail and out of the trees. Pete wasn't exactly sure what had unleashed this unexpected excitement in Danica, but she liked it. She pushed off, willing to follow Danica anywhere.

CHAPTER 15

DANICA

With a tactical plan in place,Danica and Maggie crouched on the balcony, waiting for the others to get within throwing distance. Maggie packed snowballs — no small feat with one hand still mostly out of commission — building a small pyramid of ammunition, and Danica kept watch, peering between the rungs of the raised deck’s railing and tracking Kiera’s location on her phone.

Danica had come back after lunch, where she'd eaten so many crepes that she could have burst. Of course, they’d been on her dime, since she’d lost the race to Pete who fearlessly flew down the mountain to beat her to the bottom. Danica had been right behind her, heart racing, lungs burning, head still reeling from that near-kiss under the snowy trees.

She and Maggie had spent the afternoon reading and cross stitching in Maggie's bed while drinking hot cocoa, before Danica took a long bath and a long nap. Overall, a damn good day. They were going out for dinner, saving Danica a trip to thestore, so they had come up with a plan to ambush their friends with a snowball fight.

"I think I see Pete's turquoise jacket," Danica whispered, even though the trio they were waiting for was still hundreds of yards away.

"Of course you do,” Maggie said with a teasing grin.

Danica angled her head, one brow raising in silent question.

“So, what exactly is going on there?” Maggie asked casually, packing a snowball in her good hand.

"Nothing," Danica said lightly.

Maggie made a "hmm" sound, still not looking at her.