Page 73 of Somebody to Save
“So, what were you like as a kid?”
He helped me over a larger tree that had fallen, and I liked how when we walked together, he always slowed his long strides so I could easily keep up.
“I feel like I wasn’t much different than I am now. I mean, for the five years I was an only child before Andrew was born, I definitely liked being the center of attention. But when he was born, being a big brother was my favorite thing. At least until middle school.”
“So, you’ve always been close?”
He shrugged as the stream came into view. “There were a few years when I was a teenager, and Andrew was still a kid whenhe annoyed the absolute shit out of me, but other than that, yeah, we’ve always been really close.”
“A built-in best friend,” I said, but my words died in a whisper as I took in the view in front of us.
The little stream with its rocky shores and clear water was no more than five feet wide. There was a little ice along the bank, and according to Beckett, the water level was lower because of the time of year. But there was still that calming sound of rushing water.
Beyond the little stream, there were more trees and rolling hills. With steep drop-offs and rocky ridges, it was bare in the most beautiful way. Quiet and serene beside the stream. I bet it was beautiful in the autumn, with colorful leaves filling the trees and the temperature slowly dropping.
“This is…” I couldn’t find the right words, nothing sounded descriptive enough.
But Beckett understood anyway. “I know,” he agreed, stepping up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I let my head rest back on his chest and closed my eyes, focusing on the sound of the bubbling stream and Beckett’s warmth. The easy rise and fall of his chest and each steady breath.
I paid attention to each breath and how the cold, crisp air filled my lungs. How it chilled my cheeks and ruffled my hair with each gust. A wonderful, easy calm washed over me, and I could almost cry.
I’d never been so relaxed, so without worry or concern. I couldn’t remember the last time I wasn’t taking care of something or someone else.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and Beckett adjusted behind me. He dropped his mouth to my neck and kissed me softly, lips lingering for a moment as he took a deep breath.
“I’m not sure why you’re thanking me, but you’re welcome all the same,” he said, and I giggled.
Turning my head, I caught his lips with mine for a quick kiss.I leaned back and smiled up at him. “For bringing me here. For caring. For knowing that this is exactly something I would love and needed. Just for being…you.”
He hummed against my skin, and I felt goose bumps over my arms and down my legs.
“I’m so glad you like it,” he murmured. “I’ll plan a time for us to come back for longer. During the summer, we can go down to the lake and go hiking.”
“Umm…not really a huge fan of hiking,” I admitted, and Beckett kissed my neck again before he pulled back and stepped up beside me.
“It would be a short hike. Nothing more than a mile.”
“Ahh, okay. I could manage a mile,” I agreed as he intertwined our fingers and carefully led us along the bank of the stream.
“I want to show you one of my other favorite spots,” he said. “It’s only about a quarter of a mile up.”
We walked in amicable silence for a little while, just enjoying the sounds of nature and each other’s company. It was nice that the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. That it wasn’t awkward, so there was no reason to fill every moment with mindless chatter.
“I want to ask you about your childhood,” Beckett said, and I peered over at him. We were both watching our feet more than anything, trying to navigate around rocks and trees and logs we came across. “But if you’d rather not…”
I understood his hesitance and concern. We were having a perfect time, and bringing up my childhood also meant bringing up how my parents weren’t around for most of it.
“No, it’s fine. I had a really happy childhood actually,” I said. “I mean, of course, losing my parents was not part of that, but Nana and Grams made it happy afterward. Since I was an only child, I got a lot of attention. It also helped that they probably felt a little guilty that I’d lost my parents so early in life.”
I laughed, and Beckett shot me his award-winning, panty-melting smile.
“So, you were spoiled?”
“Spoiled with love and attention,” I agreed. “But we never had a lot of money, so I wasn’t spoiled with material things. I never wanted for anything, though. Except for a sibling.”
“I couldn’t imagine not having a sibling.”
