Page 103 of Rise After Fall

He reaches under her and plucks her from the lounger. He walks toward the sliding glass door that leads back inside, stopping to call back to Graham, “Tuck’s spending the night with you guys tonight.”

Graham gives him a salute.

I walk over to the edge of the hot tub, and Zoey turns and props her arms on the side.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, mister,” she says.

I raise an eyebrow.

“You didn’t tell me there was a hot tub on the deck when we stayed here the other night.”

I lean in close to her ear.

“Didn’t you have enough fun in the jetted bathtub?” I whisper.

“Mmhmm,” she moans.

I look over my shoulder to where her parents and Patrick are seated, chatting with Corbin and Maxi.

“Your mom looks like she’s ready to call it a night,” I observe.

She glances past me. “Yeah, we should probably get them back to the hotel.”

I can hear the reluctance in her voice.

“Give me a second,” I say.

Waving to Corbin, I pull him and Weston away from the others. Then, I return to Zoey.

“Do you want to stay the night here?” I ask her.

I can see the indecision on her face.

“Corbin and Maxi offered to give your family a ride back to Misty Mountain.”

“Would I be a terrible daughter and sister if I said yes?”

“Not at all. We’ll get up early and take them for breakfast at The Hot Little Biscuit,” I assure her as I twirl a lock of her wet hair around my finger.

Taeli stands and wraps a towel around her hips.

“Are you leaving?” Anna asks.

“Soon. I figure I’d better get dried off and round up the boys.”

Anna’s eyes come to me. “What about you? You’re not leaving, are you?”

Zoey looks at me.

“Up to you,” I say.

“Mom,” she calls.

“Yes, baby?”

“I think Morris and I are going to stay and enjoy the hot tub a while longer with Weston and Anna. Is it okay if Corbin and Maxi give you a ride back to the hotel?”

“That would be fine,” Christine replies.