Page 169 of Two-Step
Beau sniffs thoughtfully. “Google says it’s about a thirty-minute bike ride south.”
“In Laurel Canyon?!”I shriek.
He presses his lips together and gives me a thoughtful frown. “I will need to get a bike before Monday.”
I ignore this comment. “What about your job teaching French?”
“Iwillbe teaching French.”
“Yeah, but what about your disadvantaged kids who need you?”
His frown deepens. “I have a feeling these boys need me too.” Then his focus zeroes on me. “And it’s also a matter of what I need.”
I try not to say something stupid. I really do. “And what do you need?”
“You,chère.I need you.” His voice is whisper soft, and he pairs it with a figure-eight that he traces over my heart. “I told you. I’m not going anywhere.”
I swallow hard, knowing what he’s giving up to be here. To be with me. “What about your mom?”
He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. “We have a plan.”
My eyes widen. “We?”
Beau nods.“Nonc,Aunt Lorraine, my sister Val, and me.”
Something eases in my heart. That’s a lot of people. Still, I’d like to be part of the plan.
“What’s the plan?”
Beau sniffs again. “Morning video calls from me and Val and regular visits fromNoncand Lorraine. And…” Beau watches me, his eyes alert, but he adds nothing.
“And?”
“And when you know without a doubt that I’ll be back, I’ll go visit her.”
I blink back tears, overwhelmed by everything he’s doing to make this work. “Can I join your video calls?” I ask wetly.
His smile is epic. His eyes glisten. “Absolutely.”
“Can I go with you to visit her?”
For the first time, a real frown of concern marks his brow. “I’d love for you to. I really would.” My heart sinks at this turn. “But once we get settled, I plan to go every month. It’ll be a lot. I don’t expect you to give up—”
“I’m going,” I declare. “If I’m off, I’m going.”
His frown eases, but doesn’t disappear. “I sold my tiny house so I could afford to fly that often. If I take Spirit each trip, I can do it for the next three years—”
“We can go more often if you want to. For as long as you want to.”
Beau shakes his head. “This has to be something I do on my own.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. I’ll just pay my own way then.”
I watch him fight his smile. “Okay.”
And then I bring down the hammer. “But you sure as hell aren’t riding a bike to Laurel Canyon. You’ll be killed.”
He scowls. “What?! No. It’s not that b—”
