“Uh. Your idea ofworkis a little different from mine,” I joked. “I’m not nervous about tonight at all. I’m not experienced in anal, but I’ve done my research, and I’m as prepared as possible. It might be a little uncomfortable, but?—”
“Boo.” Crys stopped walking and stared at me, torn between worry and amusement. “You know I’m not talking about the sex, right? I’m talking about the relationship itself. You know, the thing where two whole-ass humans, each with his own needs and fears and ambitions, figure out a way to coexist as part of something larger while not losing themselves entir?—”
“Mr. Hawk, Mr. Hawk!” Grayson Fischer barreled into me, throwing his tiny arms around my waist. “I haven’t seen you in four weeks!”
“Days,” a woman with a long, black braid corrected rushing up behind him. “Fourdays, kiddo.”
“Felt like weeks, though,” I agreed, ruffling Grayson’s curly hair. “It’s good to see you, buddy.” I gave the woman a smile. “Are you his mom? Because I’ve gotta say, you’re doing a killer job. Grayson’s great. Super passionate about nature.”
“I am. Allison Ramos.” She held out her hand to shake. “And really, I should be the one thanking you. Ever since you started doing your hikes with the kids, our whole family’s developed a new hobby.”
“Oh? That’s awesome?—”
“My husband and I have been following your Instagram, too. I think most of the Nature Scout parents have. Lots of us are committing to hike Fogg Peak weekly before the place is lost to history, like you said in the caption on one of your posts.”
I remembered the picture she was talking about. The sky had been streaked with orange and yellow clouds during sunset the first night I’d spent up on the mountain. Vast swaths of trees covered the ridge, and a northern harrier could just be seen spreading its wings against the warm sky near the right edge of the frame.
“Wow. That’s so great to hear.”
“Scott and I—and Grayson—would love to help out with your protest if you need volunteers. I don’t know what the end goal for the Peak is, after we get the ‘no’ vote on the current proposal—like, should it be turned into a preserve and not developed at all? Or just developeddifferently?—but if you’re planning to present alternative proposals to Evola, Scott’s brother is a sustainability consultant in Burlington, and he could help.”
I stared at her blankly. Protecting Fogg Peak by getting the town to vote no to the current proposal had been my endgame, and I hadn’t really thought about what exactly should happen after that. Coming up with an alternate proposal seemed incredibly complex and messy. A task I wasn’t sure I was qualified to take on…
But if I didn’t, who would?
“I, um… I appreciate that. I’d love his contact information.”
“Sure thing. In the meantime, do you have any interest in opening up your page to other folks’ pictures from the Peak?” she asked.
“Gosh, yes. Absolutely.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I, uh… I feel a little bit disorganized,” I admitted. “I’m usually a helper, not a… aleader. I’m still figuring this part out.”
“Well, I think you’re doing a great job so f?—”
“Mom, look! This lady’s gotpotatoes, and potatoes are my very, very best vegetable!” Grayson said, pulling on the hem of her T-shirt and pointing to a nearby table. “Can we get some?”
“I guess we’d better.” Allison rolled her eyes but let him pull her away. “See you later this week, Hawk. Thanks again for the inspiration!”
I lifted a hand in acknowledgment but stared after her, feeling a little confused and a lot overwhelmed.
“Going around inspiring people again, Hawkins?” a familiar, teasing voice said in my ear.
I turned to see Jack with a soft smile and eyes seemingly only for me. My heart fluttered, wild as a trapped hummingbird. “Hey. Hi. Hey.”
My face ignited. “Hey,” I said again as if that would erase the previous three attempts.
His smile widened. “Hey.”
Crys looked back and forth between us and shook her head. “What is happening right now?”
Jack reached out and ran his fingers through the back of my hair, cupping my head and leaning in to press a kiss on my cheek. My heart beat so fast I thought I might slide to the ground in a dead—but hopefully graceful—faint. “Hey,” he whispered into my skin.
“Yeah,” I breathed. “Heyyyyyy.”
Crys snickered. “Tell me you’re in the honeymoon phase without telling me you’re in the honeymoon phase,” she said to no one in particular.
“Crys,” Jack said dryly, his gaze flicking to her. “Enjoying your first Pye Day Potluck?”
“I’m trying to figure out my battle strategy here,” she admitted. “Do I attack the savory foods first and then the sweets? Or kill off the sweets first since they’re likely to go faster and I refuse to live at the mercy of anyone else’s stomach?”
