Page 115 of Raise Me Up

“Is this something you want to do more?” I ask.

She scrunches up her nose. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

I glance over at Liam. “How about you?”

He runs a big palm along his stubbled jaw. “I’ve traveled enough in one lifetime, but I wouldn’t mind taking a few vacations if that’s what you both want.”

I blink at him in awe.

“How about you, Beau?" Stasi asks in a soft tone. "Do you want to travel more?"

I picture us vacationing together. Hiking snow-capped mountains. Kayaking through crystal pools of water. Tearing up desert terrain in an off-road vehicle.

Liam would draw all sorts of attention, especially if we go somewhere hot and he’s stripped down to a t-shirt and shorts or swim trunks. Not to mention how many heads Stasi would turn.

And yet, I would be the one on the receiving end of their love. No one else.

“Little trips would be fine. I think I’m done touring. Not that anyone’s knocking down my door to sign me,” I say.

“Not yet,” Liam counters.

“If that ever happened, it would be thanks to your production skills, not my talent.”

“Bullshit. I’ve listened to you play for years, Beau. It’s not a matter ofif. It’s a matter of when you’re ready.”

Too drained from the day to fight back, I shut my eyes. Secretly, I love that he believes in me, even when I don’t believe in myself.

“You know what I’d prefer over a fancy vacation?” I say.

Stasi hums in question.

“Camping. Give me a tent under the stars any day of the week. S’mores. Noisy bugs. Coffee made over the fire. I used to pitch my tent out in a field on the ranch every summer. There was one afternoon with bad winds… my tent ended up in the trees with a giant hole in it. I cried about having to sleep in my bed that night. My mom teased me that I’d become part animal. My dad bought me a new tent the next day.”

Stasi smiles. “Of course he did. I’ve never been camping, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed it with my family.”

Reaching for her hand, I entwine our fingers. “I’m getting the sense that your parents aren’t very kind people, sweetheart.”

“No, they’re really not.” After a pause, she asks, "Is your mom…"

"Gone. Yeah."

Liam rests his hand over mine, giving it a squeeze.

“I'm sorry, Beau," Stasi says. "I’m glad we got to meet your dad."

“Yeah, me too. Hope you don’t mind him calling you now.”

For some reason, this earns a snort from Liam. “I don’t think she’ll mind.”

thirty-four

Liam

“No one comes while I’m washing dishes. Understood?”

Gathering dirty pasta bowls from the dinner table, I lean down to kiss the corner of Beau’s mouth.

“Menace,” Beau mumbles.