Page 102 of Rise After Fall

“You think so, huh?” I mumble.

He and Caleb both nod.

“Yep, you should buy her some pretty flowers. Girls like that a lot,” Tucker insists.

“Flowers, you say?”

“Yep, and write her a nice note, asking her to move here because you like her. I think she’ll listen because she likes you too,” Caleb says.

“You think she likes me?”

“Girls don’t just kiss any ole boy,” Tucker notes.

I lean my elbows on the bar.

“When did you two get so wise?” I ask.

“Since we turned thirteen. That’s when you become a man,” Caleb announces.

Weston chokes on his beer.

“Thanks for the advice, guys. This man-to-man talk has been very helpful.”

“You’re welcome,” Tucker says.

They finish their sodas and run off to play a game of darts.

“The rascals are right, you know,” Weston says as we watch them go.

“I can’t ask her to move here. It’s only been a couple of months,” I tell him.

“Every relationship starts somewhere. If she’s the one, you don’t want to let her slip away.”

“What if she leaves anyway?” I ask.

“She might, but you miss every single shot you don’t take, bro.”

“Thank goodness I don’t have to make any decisions now,” I mumble.

“Chicken,” he cracks.

I slide my eyes to his. “Bawk-bawk.”

Morris

When we emerge from the basement, the girls have made their way from the couch to the deck.

Christine, Isley, and Maxi are seated on the chaise loungers, wrapped in blankets, while Taeli, Anna, and Zoey are soaking in the hot tub.

Maxi is cradling a sleeping Kaela in her arms.

Langford makes his way over to his pregnant wife. “Are you getting tired, sweetheart?”

She sighs. “A little, and I’m a bit salty because I can’t soak my achy body in the hot tub,” she bemoans.

He goes to a knee and places a hand on her stomach. “Tell you what. I’ll take you home, build you a fire, and rub your feet for you. How does that sound?”

“Amazing,” she declares.