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“That’s so high, Callan.What if you hurt yourself?”Now, her eyes go wider.“Oh god, you’re not going to do it alone, are you?Is that even possible?”
Fuck, her worry is endearing.“I’d never highline alone, Ace.I’ll find someone to do it with.And there’s no need to worry.You know I believe in safety all the way.”
I’ve been slacklining for five years and moved onto highlining two years ago.Walking ropes up high is the greatest challenge I’ve ever found in life.It pushes me physically and mentally and helps me shed fears as I progress to greater heights.I credit the sport for my success in business.The mental levels it pushes me through helps me do the same in my work.I know Olivia worries about it but I train hard and take all the safety precautions I can.
“I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier when I know you’re walking across a thin piece of rope over a canyon with a 400-foot drop.I much preferred it when you slacklined in a park and I brought you ice-cream to celebrate no broken bones.If you survive the Alps, it’ll be on you to bringmeice-cream to celebrate the fact I don’t have to order you a coffin.”
I chuckle.“I promise you I won’t require a coffin.”
She gets a bossy look about her.“You better not, Callan Black, or you will incur my wrath for eternity when I get to heaven and hunt you down.”
“Are you threatening him again?”Bradford asks, joining us with a smile on his face.
“Yes, because he needs a good threatening,” Olivia says.
“Before you get too engrossed in that, are we all still planning on heading to the Catskills next month?”
“Yes,” Olivia says before rattling off the date.“Tell me that weekend still works for you and Kristen.”
“I think so.I’ll check with her and let you know.”
“I’m praying it does.Wrangling you and your brothers is hard work, and settling on that date took over a month of back and forth with everyone,” she says.
“We like to keep you on your toes.”He grins.“I’ll make it work, Liv.”
“Are my sons giving you grief?”Mom asks when she joins our group.
“Always,” Olivia says but the affection in her tone reveals how much she likes wrangling our family.
“Well, you’ve got me now to help you plan these weekends,” Kristen says to Olivia while coming to stand next to Bradford, an adoring look in her eyes as she gazes up at him.The day he married her instead of Cecelia was a good fucking day.I shudder to think of what would have become of family vacations with that dragon woman along for the ride.
“This makes me very happy,” Olivia says.“Between work being super busy, planning a wedding for my cousin, and attending a million weddings with Callan, it’ll be great to have your help.”
“How about I take charge of coordinating the guys while you plan everything else?I don’t want to step on your toes, though, so whatever you need me to do, just let me know,” Kristen says.
“When she says ‘coordinate’, I’m almost certain she means ‘boss’,” I say.
Olivia grins at me.“Which is exactly the right word for what you guys need.”She looks at Kristen.“Thank you.I would love you to be in charge of bossing the boys.”
I turn silent while Mom, Olivia, and Kristen talk about the trip and the spa Olivia wants to visit.Olivia is radiating with the kind of beauty that can’t be dimmed.Not even a hangover and five straight hours of complaining like she did yesterday can lessen it.And while physically, she’s the most beautiful woman I know, so much of what makes her beautiful is her soul.Her way of loving people and caring for them.I’ve always been drawn to this, but now, I’m captivated by it.
I could watch her with my family for hours.Hell, I could watch her for hours period.It wouldn’t matter what she was doing, I’d happily dedicate myself to taking in every single thing she did.But watching the way she listens intently to my mother; seeing how she encourages Kristen when she appears uncertain; observing how she expresses her interest in everything being said; and receiving a smile or a sparkle of her eyes every once in a while throughout the conversation,thisis something I could do day in, day out.
The thing about all this that confuses the hell out of me is that none of this is new.This is what she’s always done and somehow I’ve never seen any of it how I’m seeing it now.I’ve neverfeltit how I’m feeling it now.
The conversation shifts and changes, and Bradford and I offer our thoughts every now and then as to what we’re interested in doing during the weekend away.When the topic of hiking comes up, Mom mentions a trail she’s heard about.She drags Bradford and Kristen to her computer to show them while I reach for Olivia and hold her back so I can talk to her about the week ahead.
“I have to fly to LA tomorrow and depending on how my meetings go there, I may need to go to Vancouver after that,” I say.“So, I may not be able to meet with your contractor on Wednesday.”After getting quotes from five contractors, Olivia’s remodel is beginning this week and I want to meet the guy she hired.After much deliberation and encouragement from this particular contractor, she decided to also remodel both her bathrooms.I’m concerned the guy is rushing the job.I want to meet him so he knows I’m watching his work and looking for any corners being cut.
She waves me off.“I’ve got this, Callan.I know you’re worried about this guy, but I looked into his work history.His work is high quality.I don’t foresee any problems.”
“I know you did, Ace, but I still want him to know there will be repercussions if he screws you over.”
She smiles.“I appreciate you looking out for me.You can come over and meet him when you get back.”
“Trust me, I’ll be over the minute I get home.”
“When do you think that will be?”
