Brantley looked at Reese.
Reese grinned and peered down at Tesha. He reached down as though to pet her, discreetly unclipping her leash. He gave her the signal as soon as she was free, and she took off. Brantley barked a laugh as Reese took off after her. It took about three seconds for everyone else to realize what happened, and then they were all charging for the stairs.
Brantley managed to get out in front, not at all surprised when Killian and Atticus passed him with ease. Killian ran marathons, and Atticus … well, he was small and spry. He heard the stampede behind him, which spurred him to keep going, skipping as many steps as possible. Someone tripped. Someone else laughed. Everyone kept going.
They reached the top in no time, although they sounded like a herd of buffalo. Thankfully, no one else was on the path, or that would’ve been awkward. A few people were standing on the limestone monument at the top, and the ruckus drew their attention, all eyes pinned on them as they huffed their way onto flat ground.
“Whose idea was this?” Z asked, planting his hands on his thighs as he bent over to suck in air.
“JJ’s,” Baz said, barely getting the syllables out.
“Remind me not to get on her bad side.”
“Holy shit,” Trey said, his tone dripping with awe as he stared out at the winding river and the treetops beyond.
Brantley moved closer to Reese. “Did Atticus beat you?”
“By a mile,” Reese said, breathing hard. “But Tesha kicked his ass.”
Tesha, the ultimate winner, was sitting by Reese, her tongue hanging out of her mouth and what looked like a smile on her face as she stared into the distance, likely wondering what all the idiots were looking at.
It was beautiful. Brantley could admit it.
“Why’d JJ choose this?” RT asked, his question aimed at Baz.
“There’s some sort of legend that says if a couple climbs it for the first time, they’ll fall in love. If they climb it a second time, they’ll get engaged. And a third, they’ll marry.”
Z frowned, glancing at Reese and Brantley. “Y’all been out here before?”
“Nope.”
“Then I don’t get it. You’re already in love, engaged, and about to be married. What’s the significance?”
“If you knew JJ, you wouldn’t bother to ask that,” Brantley told his soon-to-be brother-in-law.
“Sometimes there’s just no rhyme or reason, but we’ve all learned to go with it,” Baz said. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“Tell me he’s not gonna run that again,” Trey muttered.
The answer was obvious when Baz didn’t head for the steps, instead walking in the opposite direction of the overlook.
When he returned a few minutes later, he had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
Everyone looked at each other and then back to Baz, waiting patiently for him to declare the winner and give them their prize.
“Who won?” Baz asked, placing the bag on one of the short limestone walls that outlined the place.
“Atticus,” Killian announced.
“Technically, Tesha,” Atticus said, moving toward Baz when he motioned him over.
Baz pulled out a sheet of paper and held it out for Atticus.
“No one said anything about a speakin’ engagement,” Atticus grumbled as he unfolded the paper.
Everyone waited patiently as he skimmed the page, a smile slowly forming before turning into a full-fledged grin.
“I’m so fuckin’ glad I won,” Atticus said, peering out at all the faces staring back at him.
