Page 64 of Crossroads

“So I suppose you’re always going to take that route when it comes to your baby sister.”

“Technically, she’s older than me. But somehow, she’s still the baby sister in my eyes.”

“She can practically fit in your pocket,” she said dryly.

“That’s true. And now she’s out there, being a mom, taking over the world right along with you.”

“I’m just going to be good seeing them again, though. And holding your niece. She’s remarkable.”

“Yes. She is.” This time, a smile played on my face. It might have taken me a while to get used to the idea that there were more children in my life, but with each new addition, it was getting a little easier.

“We should head out to the trail before it gets too hot. There’s enough shade over there, and there’s practically zero humidity right now. It’s still going to be warm.”

“I need to stretch a bit.”

We both didn’t talk about the important parts. The fact that we had professed our love to each other and weren’t doing anything about it. That would bring reality far too close to the surface.

I scowled at her words, though, and reached out, sliding my fingers along her jaw right below the bandage.

“Are you sure you’re okay to do this hike?” I asked, my voice soft.

She’d been moving around, acting as if all was well, and yet I still couldn’t help but remember the sound of her scream in my head.

“I’m getting the stitches out soon on my arm. And my face will be just fine. I have bruises, but technically, I didn’t bruise my ribs. That asshole will take much longer to heal than I will.”

I scowled. “Good. About him taking a while to heal. Honestly, I hope he walks with the knife hanging in his side for the rest of his life.”

“That’s what I like about you, Bodhi Ashford. You make sure that you really get in the lifetime of hurt.”

“He deserves it for hurting you.”

“Well, he can’t hurt me again.” She smiled brightly at that, and everything felt right in that moment. “He can’t hurt me again, and he means nothing. So you and I are going to go on this little nature walk-hike thing.”

“It’s really a walk. It’s mostly paved.”

“Which is exactly up to my level at this point.” She sighed. “And then we’ll figure out what I’m going to do. Because I have to go back to the real world.”

“I know you do. I would never ask you to give that up.”

“And I would never ask you to give up your sense of peace here.”

We met each other’s gazes, and neither one of us could say a damn thing.

“So we’ll figure it out. You and me. Somehow.”

“I know we will. We don’t have another option.”

I hadn’t meant to be that way, but perhaps honesty would be the thing that finally got us through. She kissed the top of my head, leaving a smile on both of our lips, and we headed out to the truck. “I really think you need a dog,” she said after a moment as we made our way to the bed and breakfast trail.

I blinked. “Seriously? Where did that come from?”

“Just being honest. I think you need a dog.”

“I thought about it, but I like being alone up there.”

“Oh.”

I cursed under my breath. “I mean, I used to like it. I don’t know. Things have changed, and I’m not used to it yet. Can you give me a bit of time?”