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Maya unbuckled her skis and stuck them in the snow, grabbing her snow boots from the terrace and changing into them while Sam crunched through the powder to fetch two brightly colored plastic sleds from the pile at the bottom of the slope.

They picked their way up the side of the run to stand at the top, sleds under their arms. Maya surveyed the area, working out the fastest route down.

Sam had chosen his spot and was settling into his red sled. “Don’t think that you’re going to beat me.”

Maya decided on her starting point, aware that her competitive streak was taking over. “I don’t think I’m going to beat you. I know I am.”

Sam smiled. “Not a chance.”

Maya shook her head, climbing into her bright blue sled. She was going to win, no matter what it took.

“Ready?” he called.

“Yes,” she said, grinning. “But are you?”

“Stop trying to psych me out, Bashir.”

Maya laughed.

“Okay,” Sam called. “Three, two, one, go!”

Maya shoved herself off, immediately taking the most aerodynamic form possible and keeping her course on the fastest route. She glanced to the side, where she could see Sam was neck and neck with her.

In determination, she shifted slightly, increasing her speed and pulling away. Delight flooded through her, and she zoned in harder on her course.

Maya careened the last few yards, sailing over the finish line with a whoop. “Yes!” she shouted, clambering out of the sled. “In your face, Holland!”

She looked up, wondering why she couldn’t hear him cursing in his signature manner whenever she beat him at anything.

Her heart rose into her mouth as she spotted his prone form lying at the side of the track. Nausea socked her gut, sending her heart rate rocketing and galvanizing her into a sprint.

“Sam!” she shouted, closing the gap between them within seconds.

He was lying on his front, his face turned away from her. She threw herself down, grabbing his arm and shaking it. “Sam?”

She took his other arm and hauled him onto his back, leaning down to study his face and check he was breathing.

“Ha!” he shouted, opening his eyes and coming to life, causing an adrenaline spike that made her snap back and grab her chest.

He began laughing so hard that he had to hold his stomach. “Got you!”

Maya was frozen on the spot, kneeling next to him with her heart still hammering. Her jaw dropped. “You little—”

“Your face.” Sam sat up, still laughing. “I told you I’d get my revenge when you least expected it.”

Annoyed that he’d gotten one over on her, and panicked her to boot, Maya grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him.

He lifted his arms to block it. “Oh no you don’t.”

She went to stand in order to make a run for it, but he grabbed her and launched her onto her back, pinning her in place and reaching for some snow, which she could tell was going down her jumper unless she got free.

As he shifted his weight, Maya threw him off balance, knocking him away from her. She grabbed her own handful of snow and stuffed it down the front of his jacket before he could react.

“Aah!” he shouted, jumping to his feet and trying to untuck his clothes to get it out. “Oh my God, it’s so cold!”

Maya backed off a few yards to what she thought was a safe distance. She couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “Duh. It’s snow, Leonard.”

He snapped his head up to meet her gaze, his amber eyes narrowed but sparkling. “Oh, you are in for it now.”