Page 44 of Resisting the Fall
She smiled up at me. “You’re not just saying that?”
I thought about teasing her, but I couldn’t. It really had been epic. “It’s a new top memory.”
“A new one? Does that mean you have others?”
I just smiled.
She pulled back slightly. “You’re not going to tell me what they are?”
“Are we headed home or is there somewhere else you wanted to go?”
She glanced around. The late afternoon light made the lingering snow along the sides of the road look almost orange. Maven pointed. “Turn right there.”
I sent her a confused look. “That’s the road up to The Ridge.”
“Is it?” she asked innocently, nestling into me again and resting her head on my shoulder.
Who was I to question Maven? With anticipation lifting my stomach, I made the turn. Today was just getting better and better.
“Do you think we’ll be able to see the sunset from the top?” she asked, offering me another sip of milkshake.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t been since I was little.”
Her gaze flew to me. “I thought you and Katie—”
I shook my head.
“But…” Her words trailed off as she studied me, then her confusion morphed into pure amusement. She clasped a hand over her mouth, holding back her laughter. “I was so mad at you. For no reason.”
Apparently, I hadn’t imagined the tension between us following homecoming. “Not as mad as I was when I found out Levi took you up here.”
Her expression softened. “Carson told me you got twelve extra laps for knocking the wind out of him at practice.”
“You sure get me into a lot of trouble.”
She grinned. “Am I worth it?”
She clearly didn’t know how hooked I already was. “Most of the time.”
Maven nudged her shoulder into mine. “I’ll let that one slide, but only because it’s your birthday.”
The parking spots at the top were empty. It didn’t surprise me that we were the only ones crazy enough to come up here in these temperatures. I put the truck in park, threw on my emergency brake to be safe, and unbuckled before taking in the view.
“It’s beautiful,” Maven said. “Like a winter postcard.”
I nodded.
Maven unbuckled her seatbelt and shifted toward me. “Okay, I really need to know. What is a top memory of yours? Just one.”
I drew in a slow breath, the chill of the air filling my lungs. “Do you remember two summers ago, when we were sitting on top of the hay bales, eating watermelon?”
“Seeing which of us could spit the seeds farthest?”
I smiled, recalling the memory. “That made the list.”
She scooted closer. “You know what would make my list? The county fair a few years back when you reluctantly agreed to go on the Ferris wheel with me.”
Reluctantly. “Man. I was an idiot.”
