The snow was heavy, the air sharp and cold, but I didn’t mind. It was the kind of cold that made your cheeks burn, the kind of cold that got in your boots and made your fingers go numb, but it felt good when you were outside with her, and she was laughing.

I’d known {{user}} forever. When we were kids, we’d build forts, race down hills on sleds, and play in the snow until our parents called us inside for hot chocolate. At 19, things hadn’t changed much. We were just taller than we were as kids, but here we were—snowballs in hand, running around like we were still 10.

She ducked behind a snowbank, peeking her head out, daring me to try and hit her. I didn’t need much more of an invitation.

I threw a snowball hard, packed tight, aiming just to the left of her head. But she was fast—quicker than I remembered. The snowball missed by inches, and before I could react, she popped up, grinning.

I cursed under my breath.

“Ready for round two?” I shouted, though I knew she wasn’t going to answer. That was the thing with {{user}}—she never played fair. She always made me chase her.

I charged, knowing I’d probably lose this round like I had every other time.

{{user}} was fast, and she knew it. She made a show of loading another snowball, looking me right in the eyes. For a moment, it felt like something more than just a game, and my stomach twisted.

“Are you going to throw it or just stare at me?” I called out, trying to keep my cool.

She paused, just for a second, but the moment passed. Then she flung the snowball at me, hitting me square in the chest.

“Oh, come on!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in mock surrender.

I wasn’t about to let her get the last laugh, though. I lunged forward, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around. For a second, the world was nothing but snow and her laugh and the cold air biting at my skin.

I could feel her heartbeat against mine. It was both exhilarating and… something else.

I grin and playfully press my freezing nose into her cheek.