There are a few other families here, but the place is big enough that I’m not worried that we’ll be running over each other on the way down.
Patrick and Brennan pull in a few minutes later and we hop out. They’re both all bundled up and I wonder how Brennan can even move with all those layers.
“Ready to go?” Patrick asks and I can see that he’s just as excited about this as Brennan is.
Eli helps him grab the sleds out of the back of his SUV and I help Brennan make his way over to the base of the hill. The guys join us as we start to trek up the hill. Eli tucks the sled under his arm and grabs my mittened hand with his.
“Are you nervous?” he asks, watching as Brennan and Patrick race to the top of the hill.
“A little. You’re going to ride with me though, right? You’re not just sending me down by myself.”
“Yeah, we only have the two sleds, so we’ll have to go together or take turns.”
“Go together then.”
He squeezes my hand, giving me a reassuring smile as we finally reach the top. Patrick and Brennan are already climbing into their sled and I watch as Brennan grips the side of the plastic with his tiny hands. He looks so happy, not scared at all, and I try to tell myself that if he’s not scared, then I don’t need to be either.
Eli sets our sled down close to theirs and climbs in, spreading his long legs out in front of them. They don’t fit and he looks almost comical. Like an adult trying to ride in one of those little kid cars.
“Come on,” Eli says, holding his hand out to me with a boyish grin.
He’s excited to do this too. I take his hand, climbing shakily between his legs onto the sled. I feel a lot better when Eli wraps his arms around my waist, grabbing the nylon string attached to the front of the sled.
“Ready?” Patrick calls and Eli nods while I shake my head.
The guys laugh and I tighten my hold on Eli’s legs.
“It’s going to be fine, sweets. I’ve got you.”
We push off and my breath catches in my throat. It’s like we’re flying.
We race down the hill, bouncing slightly off dips or smaller bumps in the snow. Eli has his arms and legs wrapped around me tight and I feel safe like that. Smothered in him.
We reach the base of the hill and Eli turns us to the side, stopping the sled. We’re facing Patrick and Brennan and I’m not sure what look is on my face, but it has both of them cracking up.
“Are you alright, sweets?” Eli asks, turning me in his arms.
“Yeah, that was so much fun!” I yell, throwing my arms around him and tackling him back into the snow.
“Let’s go again!” Brennan yells and I look over to see Patrick dragging him back up the hill.
“Do I get that treatment too?” I ask Eli and I turn back to see him giving me a weird look. “Eli? Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says as I climb off of him and back into the sled. “You can have whatever you want, sweets.”
Eli drags me up the hill and we go again and then again. We try to race Patrick and Brennan down the hill and then we have a race to see who can pull who fastest up the hill. By the time that we’re cold and out of breath, the sun is starting to set. We do one last race before we catch our breath and pack up.
“Want to go back to the bakery and check out some of the baked goods I’ve been testing for downstairs?” I ask as we start to pack everything back into the cars.
“Yes!” Brennan shouts, bolting for the back door and buckling in.
Patrick laughs and goes over to make sure he’s got it, and Eli and I finish putting the sleds in the back of their car. He wraps his arm around my waist, steadying me when I almost slip on a patch of ice right between our two cars.
“That reminds me. I need to order some salt for the sidewalk,” I say as I grip on to Eli’s sleeve.
“I have an extra bag that I can bring over until yours gets here,” he offers and I smile up at him gratefully.
“Thank you. Did your mom and dad make their flight this morning alright?” I ask as he helps me up into the passenger seat of his truck.