Page 26 of Hartley

I could stand here and tell Forest he didn’t have to carry that guilt with him, but just like Jordan and the guilt he had over his son, Forest would carry it until he was ready to let go of it, whenever that would be.

A sound from behind me had me looking over my shoulder. I found our entire group standing at our backs, their concerned eyes on Forest and me. Okay, that was enough of this. I couldn’t spend the next two days upset, especially not with Ava here. She didn’t need more sadness.

I turned around and faced them. “Who’s the brave soul who will step onto the deck first to make sure it doesn’t collapse?”

“Me!” Oleander’s hand shot up like he was in class. I was almost certain they’d been here before we arrived to make sure it was safe. They must have sensed my desire to move past the somber mood.

“Screw that,” Sheldon said, elbowing his friend out of the way to stride forward. “If it’s going down, it’ll have me on it.”

“Not if I get there first.” Oleander bolted past him until they ran up the stairs, Sheldon hot on Oleander’s heels. I held my breath, waiting for the damn deck to collapse, but it held strong.

Oleander grinned when he faced us. “We were already uphere when we checked out the house. It might look like a gust of wind could take it down, but it’s pretty sturdy.”

“Jerks,” I called to them. I was right about them being here before.

Forest tapped me on the shoulder. “One lap.” That was all he had to say. I knew exactly what he meant.

When we were younger, when the deck was newer, we’d do a lap around the house, then race up the stairs. The first one to put their hand on the front door won and got to pick a chore for the other to take from their list. I was notorious for pushing harder when it was my turn to clean the bathrooms. Forest knew it was coming, but I was quick. Seventy-five percent of the time on my bathroom cleaning turn, I won, and Forest had to do them. Fuck, he hated me so much.

I laughed.

“You’re thinking about the bathrooms, aren’t you?”

“God, you were miserable.”

“What should we bet this time?”

I rubbed my short beard while also being grateful I wore comfortable clothes on the jet and sneakers. My loafers would not fare well running around here. I’d also fall. “Loser has to talk to Mrs. Morris when she inevitably asks what we’re doing.”

He groaned. “You know damn well she’s going to.”

She had to be at least ninety by now. I was certain she was still the neighborhood busybody. Without gossip, she wouldn’t have a clue what to do with herself.

I nodded. “Deal.”

“V, count us down.”

“I can’t believe you two are doing this.” He laughed.

“You should have expected it,” Forest said. Vail had beenhere countless times when Forest and I raced. “Come on. Let’s do this.” Forest got his serious face on and clapped his hands.

“Ready… Set… Go!”

Forest and I took off, rushing around the house, around the side that faced the sound, and back up the other side. Oh my god, was I pulling ahead? I was! I almost fist pumped the air, but if I did that, my dumb ass would probably trip, fall, and inevitably lose. So, I kept my arms pumping and rounded the deck railing until my feet were propelling me up the stairs, the door in sight. I could hear Forest’s feet on the creaky wood behind me. Sheldon and Oleander jumped out of the way.

And my hand touched the door first.

“Fuck yeah!” I called. “I won; you lose.” I stuck my tongue out at my brother and gave him the finger.

“You were never a gracious winner.”

“Screw that. I don’t need to be gracious. Have fun talking to Mrs. Morris about bugs, teenagers, and how loud the vehicles are that drive down the road.”

He groaned and leaned against the door. “She’s going to ask why we have so many vehicles and who all these people are. She’ll say how this is a quiet neighborhood and we’re inviting trouble.”

I smiled. “It’s going to be great. For me. Not you. You’ll suffer and I’ll love every minute.”

“I like this side of you two,” Sheldon said. “We should come here often just so I can gather enough tidbits to make fun of you both later.”

---