He hopped in the backseat. “Thanks for the lift.”
Shifting into reverse, Asher grinned while he backed out of the drive. “It’s entirely selfish. Let me drive that Shelby of yours, and I’ll chauffeur you around anytime.”
“No way, no how. How about I cover your tab next time you come to the pub instead?”
“I suppose that’ll do. For now. You off today, or need to rush back?”
“Nah, I’m off. Pete’s been wanting more hours. Baby on the way.”
Asher shifted into gear and headed toward the mountains. Sophie turned in her seat, her wildly brown-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. “You don’t have to answer if you think I’m being nosy, but, all okay in your world these days?”
There were few that he would share with, but Sophie had been through more hurt than anyone else he knew, and Asher wasn’t far behind. “Yeah. Actually, it’s a really good day.”
“Glad to hear it. Your dad doing okay?”
“Yeah. He’s thinking of converting the family room into a man cave.”
“Impressive.” She smiled, settled comfortably as she visited. He could see Asher’s hand reach across and rest on her knee. “I’m not prying, I promise. You can tell me to shove off, but have you heard from Trace at all?”
Only Sophie could get away with the personal questions, who knew why. Although, it may be because she was his accountant and knew a lot of personal information because of that. Aside from Haley; Haley was an open book with him and he couldn’t help but be the same with her. Rebound thing. “Nope. You know we broke up, right?”
“I know. Pip was telling me how you guys were joined at the hip all through high school, so I wondered how things were going. Not that we were gossiping, but I think the consensus is that the break-up is temporary while she’s out of town and you get your shit together. But, I have to say, you guys seemed… I don’t know. Dull. No offense; I don’t find either of you dull individually.”
“None taken.” Out the window, he took a long pull of fresh oxygen as they drove across a narrow bridge, the river raging underneath, particularly white-capped today, thanks to the heavy rains last night. “I didn’t have the capacity to focus on the relationship.”
Slowing as they approached the camouflaged road, Asher turned and hopped out, swinging open the unlocked metal gate.
Sophie glared, not at Finn, but in general. “I don’t think that’s how it works. A heart doesn’t care if the timing is convenient. Especially if you’re hurting. It sounds more like an excuse. I love you, and I love Trace, but do me a favor? If she doesn’t set your hair on fire, don’t get back together when she gets back in town.”
Hopping back in, Asher didn’t close the door all the way, but rolled past the gate, then hopped back out to close it again.
Finn nodded. “You’re not wrong. It was a very polite excuse to avoid hurt feelings. Honestly? Whatever we had all those years ago? It’s different now.” She was right. It shouldn’t take so much work. Hell, maybe it was because Haley was a fling, rebound, whatever, but he didn’t feel like he had to work at it.
Asher and Sophie didn’t look like they had to work at affection or the other critical pieces. Sure, they probably fought like everyone else. The Halseth home had shaken with some shouting matches over the years, but the love came easy.
Asher climbed back in. Sophie added, “If you want to talk, we’ve both been through a lot of loss. And dull relationships. Well, me anyway. I’m not sure Asher knew the meaning of the word before I hooked my claws in him.”
Grabbing her knee again, Asher subtly squeezed a ticklish spot until she squealed.
“Anyway,” she continued, shifting out of his reach. “It should be as easy as breathing. Not the relationship. Any relationship should have ups and downs and doubts. But the knowing that it’s right.”
Both hands back on the wheel as the truck bounced in every damn direction, Asher checked the rearview and caught his eye. “That sounded heavy. You seeing someone?”
Finn blushed. He actually blushed. That was a damn first. “No comment?”
Asher hooked a right as the path narrowed. “That may work on Grady or Lincoln, but cops require answers.”
Flipping him off, Finn unsuccessfully masked a grin. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Sophie laughed and turned around in her seat. “You’ll be okay, Halseth.”
Bumpingdowntheovergrownlogging road, slipping and sliding over the muddy path, Haley drove the overpriced SUV through a huge puddle that was so deep it may technically be considered a pond, then her engine roared as she drove up the other side. Nate would be horrified as mud splattered all over the shiny black finish.
Grinning from ear to ear, squealing as her tires spun out, then caught a moment’s traction on solid ground, she gripped the wheel and roared with satisfaction. What was the point in having such a badass vehicle, if she only drove it to and from the shops? Her grin grew to a lip-biting growl as she clawed her way out of the Nate-hole another inch.
The others were parked and gathering their gear as she joined them in the clearing. Her gaze landed right on Finn. Something dynamic about him; or maybe it was the subtle grin as he stood with his backpack on, arms crossed, flashing her a secret wink as she hopped out of the car.
Tossing her backpack over her shoulder, she looked up at the crystal-clear sky, felt the breeze brush over her skin, still cool thanks to last night’s welcome downpour. “Beautiful,” she remarked to no one in particular.
