Page 113 of Raise Me Up

Dave rests his silverware on a syrup-drenched plate and pats a hand over his stomach. “What time do we need to head out, Beau?”

Beau’s eyes flick nervously around the table. “So… I may have canceled the appointment.”

Dave’s expression crumples. “Why would you do that, son?”

“I want to have surgery in Dallas. I want to move there,” Beau explains.

My heart skips, my fingers curling in the loose fabric of my pants.

Dave glances at me, followed by Liam. “That’s where you all live, right?”

I nod. “We’d be there to help him.”

After a few moments of silence, Dave’s head bobs in understanding. “It’s your decision, Beau. Can’t say I won’t miss you. I always miss you.”

Beau rises out of his chair and throws his arms around him. “You’re a good dad, you know that?”

"I can do better, son." Dave's eyes water, and he clears his throat. "You bet I’ll want all of your numbers to keep in touch. And you’ll need a spare bedroom for your old man to come visit.”

Tears spring to my eyes as I watch the two of them hold each other like it’s a normal thing. It probably was for Beau growing up.

“Well,” Dave clears his throat. “What do you all plan on doing with your free afternoon, then?”

Beau cracks a devilish grin as his gaze moves to us. “You two up for another date?”

thirty-three

Beau

Liam pauses in front of the metal warning sign at the start of Echo Canyon Trail. “You sure about this?”

“Why? You scared?” I tease, grinning.

A muscle in his jaw twitches. I expect him to fight me on my last-minute date idea, but he moves closer, pops his sunglasses onto my face, then stalks down the path without a single complaint.

Get a brain tumor and suddenly no one wants to say no to you.

“Come on, sweetheart.” I tap my knuckles on the brim of the snapback I let her have.

As she turns toward me, I step into her personal space, smirking as her breath catches. Leaning closer, I hover my lips right over hers.

"Race you," I whisper.

And then I take off. I hear her shoes crunching on the trail behind me. Seconds later, she's tearing past me. She beats me to Liam with little effort, earning a kiss from him as a reward.

I brace my hands on my knees when I catch up to them. “Am I going to have to get a gym membership with you two?”

“That depends on how much you enjoy being tortured,” Liam says.

Hot blood rushes straight to my groin, imagining all the ways both of them would boss me around in the gym. How Liam had grunted with each rep. How he’d mentioned Stasi would be a distraction.

I glance at her starting down the trail again, dressed in one of Liam’s sleeveless black band shirts over a dark green sports bra and matching green yoga pants. I’m glad it’s a quiet day on the trail because my pants are feeling a little too snug.

Pushing aside filthy thoughts, I do my best to soak in the scenic landscape. The fluffy blanket of clouds moving above the rocky earth surrounding us. The tickle of a cool breeze against my skin, so fresh when I breathe it into my lungs.

I haven’t hiked this trail since my mom was ripped from this world by a drunk driver. I can almost hear her yelling for me to pace myself because the first part of the hike is misleadingly tame.

When we reach the steep, rocky incline that makes the average human reevaluate their life choices, I sense Liam’s gaze on me. While he doesn’t say anything, he keeps close behind me as we start scaling the giant rocks in case my body decides to forget what balance is.