A trio of boys pounded across the new bridge.
“Get to higher ground! The dragon’s almost on us!”
The one bringing up the rear dove off the side with a fairly impressive roll, coming up to face his imaginary foe with a sword branch in his hand.
Liam grinned, thinking of his brothers. They’d fought their fair share of dragons back in the day.
The banks of swings were full. Young mothers pushed toddlers and chatted. At the other end, a dark-haired little girl kicked her legs hard, her pink bow slipping down her curls as she rose higher. He remembered Riley at that age and Wynne, though neither of them would’ve been caught dead wearing a bow. They usually had scraped knees and grass stains on their clothes, so determined to keep up with the boys.
“Again!” At one of the lower slides, a little boy, maybe three years old, ran from the foot of the slide to the ladder. His dad lifted him up and set him at the top, where he slid into the arms of his waiting mother with a delighted giggle. Then he raced around to do it all over again. The parents looked at each other with a shared smile that shot a sharp pang of yearning through Liam’s chest.
He wanted that. Wanted that foundation of family, that new beginning. For all the fumbling he’d done in his first months back, he was ready for the next chapter of his life. He’d been heading there the moment he got involved with Riley.
“You look like you’re thinking deep thoughts.”
Liam jolted, wondering how long Autumn had been standing there. “I suppose I am. What are you doing here?”
She held up a book. “Just got off work and thought I’d enjoy the pretty day by reading in the park. What’s your excuse? I know you’re doing floors at the pharmacy today.”
“Detour on my way to the hardware store.”
“Odd place to detour to for you. What’s on your mind?”
“Do you think I’m impulsive?”
“No. You’re one of the most decisive people I know. You don’t make decisions without considering all the angles. That being said, you don’t lollygag around once you’ve made up your mind. You’re a man of action.”
“I think that’s the problem. I’m ready to act on something, and I’m not sure it’s the smart thing to do.”
“With the exception of a few select adventures back in high school, I can’t ever recall you doing anything stupid.”
Because he needed something to do with his hands, Liam gripped the top of the fence. “Well, it’s less that what I want is stupid and more that I’m not sure how it would be received, at this point.”
“Okay let’s just drop the oblique speak. Riley loves you.”
He huffed out a laugh. “I know. But even so, I’m not entirely sure we’re on the same page.”
“And you think what you want is rushing things.”
“My gut says no. More practical people would say yes.”
“Screw practicality.”
Liam arched a brow at her vehemence.
“I mean it. Nobody’s in this relationship but the two of you and nobody else’s timeline applies. Love isn’t supposed to be practical. You love her; she loves you. Period. End of story. And if you want to do something that’s an expression of that, I say go for it.”
Autumn Buchanan, always a champion of love.
“I’d need some help to pull it off.”
“Lay it on me.”
She was all but dancing by the time he finished explaining what he wanted to do. “Oh my God, Liam! That’s just—”
Smiling, he waved his hands in a tone-it-down motion. “I’m glad you approve.”
“I approve this so hard, I just can’t even.” She did some kind of celebratory booty shake, ending with a double fist pump.