Rude. It was artisan. Besides, you have to have trail mix to hike.
Chase:
Not whatever that stuff was. It didn’t even have chocolate in it.
I laughed quietly, the sound easing something tight in my chest.
I set the phone face down and looked back at the map, at the lines that didn’t quite work and the ones that might.
For the first time in a while, I felt like there might be another way.
Even if I wasn’t ready to admit exactly what that meant yet.
Preston
Conversation flowed easily from topic to topic as we ate the delicious meal. As much as I resisted the craziness of the family meals, it was nice to catch up on everyone’s lives and stay connected. It took a while, but the conversation eventually circled around to me.
“So.” Ethan tipped his beer toward me. “How’s the whole civic engagement thing going? You guys making any decisions?”
“Not yet,” I said. “But it’s going well.” My thoughts flashed back to the hike where I pulled Jess into my arms to save her from the mud. It was an image that had replayed in my mind more times than I should admit. “We went for a hike.”
“A hike?” Brody looked surprised.
I shrugged and took a scoop of stew. “It seemed like thebest way to look at everything firsthand and see the real impact.”
“Good idea.” My brother nodded. “I bet that was really?—”
“Was Mason Harding there?” Quinn sat up in her chair, suddenly very interested in talk of the committee.
“Yeah.” I paused. “His mom’s on the committee. Why?”
She shrugged and tried—but failed—to look like she didn’t care.
“And he’s one of my Teens on the Trails kids,” I continued. “He’s actually been a lot of help.”
Her eyes flashed, and I saw my opening.
“You know, that invitation to join my group is always open.”
Across from me, her dad almost choked on his salad, and he shot me a look, but I only shrugged. Quinn was a thirteen-year-old girl with a crush. It’s not like she was getting married. Besides, I could think of worse ways for her to spend her time.
“So,” Reid asked, changing the subject. “You’re out hiking in the trails in a group, huh? Are you playing nice with everyone?”
“Why does it sound like you don’t believe I am?”
My brother pressed his lips together, stifling a chuckle. I knew exactly what he was thinking. What they wereallthinking. “Oh, no reason.”
His wife elbowed him. “Preston is one of the nicest guys I know,” she said. “Of course he’s getting along with everyone.”
“Even Jess Anderson?” Brody pushed.
“Of course. I’m not a?—”
“I mean, youdoact like she’s the enemy, Pres,” Delaney said. “I’ve gotten to know her, and she’s really nice.”
I swallowed a grunt.
“It’s true,” Quinn added without looking up from her plate.
