“I know what you said, but who thought buying a certain kind of sock would help?”
“I did. I knew,” Larkin says, pointing to herself.
“I thought you were just trying to make me look like an idiot, like you did yesterday.”
She feigns shock. “How on earth did I make you look like an idiot yesterday?”
“I did not have to wear the waders around everywhere. I could have put them on when we got to the stream.”
She laughs out loud. “But where’s the fun in that? Seriously, though, seeing you in that getup, eating dainty slices of cake with Nora—best thing I’ve seen in years.”
I pull her in close and kiss the top of her head. “Glad I could amuse you.”
“I don’t think you’re just amusing me—I think you’re amusing yourself.”
I pull her toward a rock that overlooks the majestically blue views of the channels. “I think I’m starting to amuse myself.”
“You’re more relaxed,” Larkin points out. “Normally, when you get an email thread from your siblings, you’re irritated all day, but it’s like you let this last one roll off you.”
“There’s no point,” I say. “I can tell them to back off until I’m blue in the face, but they’re not going to listen. It is what it is.”
“Why do you think they don’t listen?” Larkin asks.
“If I knew that, I’d fix it.”
“There has to be something that is causing all of this tension. I’ve seen those emails—they’re a powder keg, ready to explode. And do you think it would help if you solved things with your siblings?”
“I honestly don’t know. I think there might be too much history, too many disagreements to actually fix anything. And the weirdest thing is I can’t really say how it all began—and I think we’re all the same in that, but no one will address it.” I sigh. “But I don’t want to talk about that right now. Not when we’re here, in this beautiful place. Not when we’re together, alone, enjoying nature like you used to with your brother and dad.”
She leans into my shoulder. “What do you want to talk about, then?”
“Us.”
“Us?” she asks, a quirk to her brow.
“Yes. Us. I know you want to focus on me, but I can’t just sit around, focusing on me, when you’re a part of me as well. I want to treat you like you deserve. Can I take you to dinner tonight?”
“You want to take me to dinner?” She draws back, slightly shocked. “Like, on a date?”
“Yes, on a date.” Looking out toward the water, I reflect on the last few days. The tumultuous conversations with my siblings, the slow understanding of what I’ve been lacking as a leader, the need for Larkin on a whole new level. “If there’s one thing I’ve noticed since our camping foray in the living room, it’s that I feel lighter when I’m around you, Larkin. And with all of these adventures, I feel like a new person, in a good way—and I know a lot of it has to do with you. Your encouragement, your help . . . your teasing.”
“The teasing is the best part,” she says with a smile, bumping my shoulder.
“I’m sure it is, but I think a big part of finding myself is not just going on these treks together but also making sure I keep you too.” I lift her knuckles up to my lips. “I’m not sure how to navigate this whole dating-my-assistant thing, but what I do know is that we need to figure it out, because I’ve realized I want to take you out, show you off, be the man you deserve.”
“Well, I didn’t expect you to say that on the top of this rock.” She turns toward me and cups my cheek. “I want the same thing, but I also want you mentally healthy, and I think a part of that has to do with solving things with your siblings.”
My jaw grows tight as I stare down at my hand, linking with Larkin’s. “You’re not going to make this easy and let me sweep everything under the rug, are you?”
“No. I’m not. Do you know why?”
“Because you care about me?”
She nods and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I care about you a lot, Ford. Which means we’re going to work through this, and who knows, maybe something will come along for the rebranding that will change your way of thinking.”
“That would be the hope.” I lean back on one hand. “But as for the new adventure man, what do you think of him so far?”