Page 28 of Wish For Me

Leo is smart enough to look a little uncertain about her sudden change of expression. But then he realizes there’s another person standing in our group and he’s all out of vests.

“Oh, sorry, man,” he says, looking at Peter. “Let me go talk to Alex, I’m sure she’s got an extra spot in one of the other teams.”

Peter holds up his hands. “It’s fine. I don’t need to play.”

“Of course you have to play,” Leo says, not noticing the way that all of my cousins are shooting him warning glares. Leo hadn’t joined the family yet when my rivalry with Peter started, and I’m pretty sure he actually has no idea who the tall guy awkwardly shuffling his feet outside of our group is.

“He can have my vest,” Violet says, swaying a little. “I’m not feeling too good.”

“Seriously.” Peter holds out his hands. “I’m probably just going to head back to the hotel and—”

“You can’t do that,” Leo says, eyeing his sister-in-law, who’s looking distinctively green now. “Maybe Violet should sit this one out.”

In response to that, she turns, rushes over to a nearby bush, and loudly pukes.

“Awesome,” Ash says, rubbing his forehead. “I guess I’m out, too.”

“You’re not out,” CeCe says firmly. “She’s a big girl who drank too much. She doesn’t need a babysitter.”

I can tell Ash wants to disagree—the idea of abandoning a sick Violet goes against every one of his instincts—but Rose has already gone over to hold Vi’s hair and rub her back.

Since Jasmine and Eva both opt out of playing—apparently getting pelted with snowballs isn’t the best move for pregnant ladies—they volunteer to sit with Vi. When they pull camp chairs up to the warm fire pit and put their feet up, I get the feeling it isn’t much of a sacrifice for them.

But that means there’s an extra Team Little vest. And Leo hands it over to Peter like it’s nothing. Fantastic.

“Look, I really don’t have to do this,” Peter begins when Leo walks away, but CeCe isn’t having it.

“Shut up, Peter Pee-eater,” she says. “We’re going to win this thing and it will be easier if we’re not down a person.”

“You make a guy feel so valued, Cecelia,” he drawls, but she ignores him, pulling us into a huddle.

“For too long this family has disrespected us,” CeCe says fiercely.

Cade looks at her. “How much haveyouhad to drink?”

“I’m serious,” she argues. “They’ve been treating us like babies our whole lives.”

“To be fair,” Peter says, “you were babies for part of your lives.”

“Zip it, Pee-eater.” She eyes me, Cade, and Ash. “They want to treat us like babies? Fine. Tonight, the Littles are going to kick some ass.”

Ash leans into me and whispers, “I love it when she gets like this.”

I snort. I kind of love it, too. CeCe is both the youngest and the smallest cousin in the family, but she’s also the fiercest. And the most ruthless. If there’s anyone on this field that I would want on my team, it’s this girl.

CeCe puts her hand in the middle of the circle. “Are you with me?”

“Hell yeah,” I say, putting my hand on top of hers.

“Me too.” Cade adds his hand to the pile.

“Let’s do this,” Ash agrees, putting his hand on top of Cade’s.

When Peter says nothing, we all turn to look at him. “This is like, a kid’s game, right?” he asks, looking torn between amusement and bafflement. “We played this at field day in elementary school.”

“We’re not in elementary school anymore,” CeCe growls.

Peter looks at me. “She’s kind of terrifying.”