Page 96 of When the Smoke Clears

“No. But how hard could it be?” I hop up several stone steps.

“See, I think those should be the words carved on your headstone. How hard could it be?”

I giggle. “Perhaps. But I won’t have a gravestone unless I die after my father and before my mother. My father will insist on cremation. It’s important to quickly release the soul from the body by fire for the journey of reincarnation. But I suppose How hard could it be and solitary hiker could be in my obit. What about you? What will your postmortem celebration entail?”

Will laughs without hiding it. Maren and Ozzy glance back at us, but Will ignores them.

“I suppose it depends on how I die.”

“If you die in the line of duty, you’ll get full honors as a local hero. You’ll have a bell service and maybe a ‘Placing of the Glove’ service. Honor guard. Flag on your casket. The whole shebang.”

“Why do you sound so excited?” He laughs, and so do Ozzy and Maren.

“It’s a privilege for people to remember and honor you so fondly for your life and service.”

“Yes, but that means I have to die in the line of duty, which means I’ll die young.” He adjusts his gray beanie.

“You’re already forty. Young is relative.”

“Ouch,” Maren says with a laugh. “Careful, Everleigh. Most of us are not in our twenties.”

We reach a more challenging part of the trail that requires climbing a few boulders. Fitz makes Jamie go first, and he’s ready to catch her if anything happens. Lola flies up the rocks, and Ozzy nods for Maren to go first as well.

“It’s fine. No one needs to catch me,” I say when Will goes up the rocks before me.

He turns at the top of one boulder and holds out his hand. “If you need my old, brittle hand, it’s yours,” he says, wearing an ornery grin.

“Keep your hand. I’m a solitary hiker, anyway.” I climb up the rocks.

At the top, everyone stops for water. It’s a cool, crisp day with full sun illuminating the tranquil view of the valley. Hiking this time of year is a serene experience. Lola rips open a snack bar. I reach for my water and realize my bottle is empty from this morning. In my excitement to be invited on this hike, I forgot to refill.

“Aren’t you thirsty?” Will asks.

I shake my head, and he reaches for my bottle. When I grab for it, he holds it just out of my reach and shakes it.

“You don’t have water?”

I wrinkle my nose. “I forgot to refill. It’s cold. I’m fine and plenty hydrated.”

“Here we go,” Fitz announces as Jamie continues up the trail.

Will hands me his water bottle as they leave us behind.

I take a sip and hand it back to him. “So your parents’ neighbor has a daughter who’s an attorney. Sounds like a good catch.”

“Don’t do this.” He caps his water bottle and continues up the trail.

“Do what?”

“Show your jealous side.”

“My jealous side? What is my jealous side? Is it like you dragging me outside of a bar before I make it to the ladies’ room with a hot football player?”

“That was for your protection,” he says.

“I doubt that, but whatever helps you sleep at night. I was just making small talk about a woman who has enjoyed your dick inside of her even though you don’t remember her name.”

“Her name is Karen.” He lengthens his stride until I have to jog to catch up to him.