Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

before I had. It would be just like her to see his pride and use her harmless-old-woman looks to get around it, the same way she used her navy-speak to disarm and distract people.
    I grumbled about Alan's blasted pride, but it was the reason I was headed off to climb Two-Face instead of giving Javert his despised bath, so my complaining lacked heat.
    The Janus trailhead lay at the very back of the park's "improved" sections, leading into wilderness only the most dedicated enthusiasts ever penetrated. I was almost late, thanks to a sweating tourist with a truck bigger than his camper having trouble maneuvering both into a space meant for one, and blocking the access while he did.
    When I got to the trailhead, the rock-climbing group stood in three distinct sets. Professor Nieman stood with a Hispanic man her age, talking quietly in Spanish. Brad Cooper, Janelle Bianchi, Tony-someone and his climbing partner Arnold-something stood a few feet away, all with expressions varying from uncomfortable to annoyed. In the middle of the third sat Alan, planted on a low wall and writing on an index card. Elys Hasselbeck and Maggie Wilson stood over him, one on each side and looking like Valkyries or maybe concert security for a really big star. To the side but still with Alan's group and looking determined were a couple of guys I didn't know.
    Alan's hair was dark blue, and so were his nails. He wore scuffed jeans, a denim jacket, and sneakers, and kept his head down.
    "And ten!" Professor Nieman checked me off on another of her index cards. "Got your info, Blake?"
    I handed over the card I'd known I'd need. Professor Nieman wouldn't let me off the pavement until she had it. I could have warned Alan, if he'd been speaking to me.
    "You're his partner, Lukas?" Janelle said loudly. "That explains some things."
    Oh. Right. That was why I quit climbing. A big part, anyway, along with lack of time and energy. I smiled at Janelle.
    "Things like why I never went out with you? Well, he is prettier than you are."
    Professor Nieman snorted. Elys laughed out loud; so did one of the guys I didn't know. Janelle glared at him.
    "My own brother?"
    "The guy is prettier than you, Jan." The new-to-me climber walked over to me, hand outstretched. "Hello. Nico Bianchi."
    Nico introduced his partner Michael, and Tony and Arnold came over to say hi, and soon there was a talking, laughing group of students, and there was Brad and Janelle. Professor Nieman clapped her hands.
    "All right, gang, let's roll. That rock's not getting any closer! Cooper, you know the way." It never failed to amuse me how her speech changed off campus. I'd heard she swore like a sailor in bars, too. Her eyes fell on the picnic basket in my hand.
    "Planning on an army, Blake?"
    "Bear bait," I told her. "My aunt loves me."
    Professor Nieman shook her head. "It's your back," she said as the rest of the group filed after Brad and Janelle. "Mr. Lacroix, ready?"
    "Yes'm." Alan handed her the card then wriggled into a small backpack. He didn't look at me as Professor Nieman looked at the card.
    "Can your sister make medical decisions for you?" she asked Alan.
    He straightened, his face set. "No," he said.
    "Then why is she on this card?"
    "Because she's the one who cares if I live or die."
    "Then take your ass over to the legal clinic and get a medical power of attorney, Lacroix." Professor Nieman stuck the card in her shirt pocket and waved her partner at the trail. Alan rolled his eyes, but when I followed her, he walked with me.
    "I know you don't want to talk to me," I said when Professor Nieman was a ways ahead, "but—"
    "I'm not stupid," he snapped. "She's got us stuck so we have to talk or someone could get hurt. I get it."
    "I'm sorry I'm an idiot."
    "Forget it."
    Alan hadn't forgotten it. He walked with his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched and his eyes on his feet though the trail wasn't that rough yet. I wished I knew him better, or that Mallory was around to help, or… something.
    "I saw a bobcat from this trail once," I said. "Up there on the ridge."
    He didn't look up.
    "Lilia packed this basket when she found out I was climbing with you."
    He glanced at the basket with a fleeting smile. I looked around for something else to comment on, and stepped just wrong on a rock. I staggered; Alan grabbed my arm.
    "Don't drop that basket!"
    "I wasn't going to!"
    "I should take it," he said. "For safekeeping."
    The basket was heavy. I let him.
    "We should… lighten this a