Page 95 of When the Smoke Clears

Will and Fitz exchange a look, but I can’t decipher it. Have they talked about me? Lola takes my hand like we’re best friends, and I give it a squeeze.

“I’m riding with Lola,” I say, making the decision.

On the way to the trail, Lola talks nonstop, and Maren glances back at me, mouthing, I’m sorry.

I return a tiny headshake and wink. This is what I do best. I could listen to her all day.

When we arrive at the parking lot near the trailhead, I pull on my hat and gloves, and Will hands me my backpack, but he doesn’t just hand it to me, he holds it for me to lace my arms through it.

“Thanks,” I murmur.

“Yep,” he says, already ten steps in front of me before I get my sternum strap clicked.

“The pregnant lady sets the pace,” Jamie says. “Got it?”

“If you get tired, Fitz can carry you out,” Maren says. “He’s used to a good packout.”

“It’s my day off, but whatever.” Fitz smirks at Jamie. She sticks her tongue out at him, and he grabs her face with his gloved hands and kisses her hard.

“Down boy, she’s already knocked up,” Will teases, taking the lead despite that Jamie said she would set the pace.

“William, you just need the right woman to make you rethink your life,” Jamie says.

“If I do a good job rethinking my life, I might conclude that I don’t need a woman.”

“What about your parents’ neighbor? Didn’t you say she has a daughter who’s in her early thirties? Single? An attorney in Bozeman?” Maren asks as I stay behind the pack with Lola, who likes to stop every few feet to inspect a rock or the pattern of leaves matted to the ground along with residual snow.

“He already tapped that. Called her the wrong name the following morning when she and her mom were on the deck having coffee.” Fitz laughs.

“Young ears, Calvin,” Maren scolds him.

Fitz’s shoulders lift to his ears as Jamie punches his arm. “Sorry,” he says.

“Are you guys talking about sex?” Lola asks. “I know all about it. Watching it is my grandpa’s favorite pastime.” She snorts and covers her mouth while shooting Ozzy a look.

“Lola! Jeez . . .” Ozzy presses his palm to his forehead. “It wasn’t funny then, and it’s not funny now.”

I look around as everyone laughs. It is funny, but I feel like there’s a story.

Maren lowers her voice and leans close to my ear, our shoulders bumping as we navigate the uneven terrain. “Lola caught her grandpa watching porn, and Ozzy did a terrible job of explaining it.”

I grin, but my smile doesn’t last long because I don’t enjoy thinking about Will having sex with other women. Jamie tugs on Will’s arm, pulling him back so she can take the lead. Fitz follows her, the protective husband. As we continue along the trail, Will slows just enough to let everyone pass him, except me. It’s subtle. No one looks back with any sort of suspicion.

“I’m not too smart for you,” I say, keeping my voice just above a whisper, shooting him a sideways glance.

He smirks, chin tucked. “You’re too everything for me. Be honest, did you already hike this morning?”

“Five miles.”

“Just five?”

“Well, I think I saw a bear fifty yards into a clearing, and it reminded me I need a hiking partner. Most bear attacks happen to lone hikers. And it should be hibernating, which means it was probably looking for one last snack. On my headstone, my parents will engrave: Everleigh Reichart—beloved daughter, solitary hiker.”

Will’s body bounces with silent chuckles.

“Do you think I need a gun? I see you and Fitz carry one.”

“Do you know how to use one?”