He felt a surge of happiness as he gazed at the vista before him. He’d gone from seeing the world only through a six-inch slit—something you could barely call a window—while being caged in a cold, dank prison just five months ago to living in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and he was building a life here. A good one. He had a job he enjoyed. He had a sound mind and a strong body. His mother still wasn’t behaving as she should, but he had other family and friends who were normal and productive and supportive. Susan was even being nice to Maddox. And now there was Harper.

How could he ask for more?

He pulled out his phone to reread her message from last night. I just want you to know that whatever the future holds… I’m hoping you’ll be part of my life.

He’d read her text no less than twenty times on the hike today. Whenever he got so fatigued he wasn’t sure he could continue, he’d take a second to read it again. Axel Devlin was in town, making a play to get her back, and yet she’d sent that message to him. He almost couldn’t believe it. Would his future include Harper?

If so, he’d do everything he could to make sure she wasn’t unhappy a day in her life.

He wasn’t expecting to get cell service out here, so he was surprised when he noticed that he had one bar.

Was it a strong enough signal to place a call?

He found Atticus’s name in his contacts, just in case he might be able to get through.

Sure enough, Jada’s brother answered. “Hello?”

“Guess where I am?” Tobias said.

“Where?”

“Hines Peak.”

“Nice! That’s the highest peak in the Topatopa Mountains, isn’t it? Have you seen any condors up there?”

There was a 53,000-acre California condor sanctuary not far from where he stood, but humans weren’t allowed to go in it, and he hadn’t thought of bringing his binoculars. He’d stuffed his pack with just about everything else he could lay his hands on—none of it very useful, though, since he’d been concerned only with reaching a certain weight while having it all fit. “Nah, didn’t think to bring binoculars. Would’ve been smart.”

“You wearing a pack?”

“I am.”

“How much weight are you carrying?”

“A hundred pounds.”

He whistled. “Was it tough?”

It hadn’t been easy, but Tobias was so exhilarated that it didn’t seem too bad now that it was over. “It was…doable,” he hedged.

“Would it be doable with another fifty pounds?”

“I think so.” As good as he was feeling right now, he felt he could carry twice as much.

“How long was the hike?”