Thankfully, we stopped at my car before coming up here so I was able to grab everything I had packed previously. Extra lucky, was that Brad still had a bunch of his camping gear in the back of the truck from last time. It’s almost like we were always supposed to return here. Together.
Right away, Dakota jumps up from sitting with everyone and runs over to greet us.
“Oh, I’m so happy you’re here. Joey and Luca have gone on and on about how much they’ve missed you. They want to show you the jumping rock in a bit—oh!” Her eyebrows shoot up, locking in on Brad getting out of the truck. “I see we’ve broughtStep-daddy.”
“Uh, yeah.” My cheeks heat as I look over at him. “Actually, it’s justDaddynow. No more step.” I crinkle my nose at how lame my joke was and shake my head.
Her mouth drops, looking at me as excited as ever. “Seriously!? Oh my gosh!” She jumps, throwing her arms around him.
“Oh! We’re hugging now.” Brad smiles awkwardly at me over her shoulder, making me chuckle. I’ve never really seen him hug someone else before. It’s kind of funny.
Dakota steps back and takes a deep breath. “Okay, I feel like I need to apologize. You should know, I only kissed Noah’s neck to make you jealous.”
His eyebrows raise and I feel even more red-faced.
“Oh, is that so?” He looks at me, a slight amusement playing on his lips.
“Thought it’d be a good idea to get you all riled up. Looks like it worked—” she cheerfully smiles, but before she keeps royally embarrassing me, I tug her arm away in the direction of all the others waving us over.
I have to admit, being around all these smiling faces for a whole weekend is a little daunting.
Before we get too far, I stop and make sure Brad’s right behind me.
Immediately I feel calm and protected, feeling him right there. His chest is close to my back, as though to show me he’s never too far. Like he’s never left.
And I trust he never will.
***
“This is one hell of a way to distract me,” Brad laughs, a genuine smile on his face. “You first,” he says, giving my shoulder a little nudge forward.
I shake my head, looking back and pressing against him. “No way. If I’m going, you’re going.”
“You need me to jump off with you, Noah?” He smiles, tugging my arm close to him.
I can’t describe the way he makes me feel when he looks at me like that. It’s like an out-of-body experience. It shocks all my nerves at once and I never want him to stop.
I bite my lip and eagerly nod my head. “Yeah, I do.”
“Hey lovebirds!” We hear Dakota’s voice call up to us. Peering over the cliff, we see the group of them treading in the water, waving up at us. “Get your asses down here!” She continues. They all laugh and cheer, egging us on.
Taking a big breath, I glance to my left and raise my eyebrows.
“You in this?” I ask, reaching out my hand.
Brad’s eyes drop to my outstretched fingers. Without hesitation, he laces his hand in mine.
“All in,” he says.
I grin, cocky and sure. “You better be.”
Then it hits me—so am I.
I’ve always been so scared of people leaving me, that I didn’t see the people that never have.
Brad hasneverleft me. Not the year before on this very cliff, not after finding out about Paislee.
Aftereverythingwe’ve faced…he’s still here.
