Page 67 of Ransom

Maggie studies my face, her expression thoughtful. "And you're okay with that? Him just... leaving again?"

"Yeah, I am," I say, surprised to find I mean it. "It's for the best, really."

We're approaching the coffee shop now, the smell of fresh-roasted beans wafting out to greet us. Just before we reach the door, Maggie stops me.

"You know I'm here if you need to talk more about this, right?" she says softly.

I squeeze her hand. "I know, Mags. Thank you. I’m good."

She nods, seemingly satisfied, and we pull open the door to the coffee shop.

And run right into Ransom's very large, muscular back.

23

RANSOM

Declan: WHO ATE MY CAKE?!

Jonas: What cake?

Kade: There was cake?

Micah: Details, man. What kind of cake?

Declan: A WHOLE SHEET CAKE. FROM THE FRIDGE. GONE.

Zach: Wait, you had an entire sheet cake?

Nick: Grocery store or bakery?

Declan: Grocery store. But that's not the point! And don’t judge me, Zach. You ate your weight in donuts yesterday. I didn’t even get one!

Colton: Dude, why'd you have a whole sheet cake?

Maverick: Yeah, what's the occasion?

Janey: Did we forget someone’s birthday?

Maya: Oh no, did we miss something?

Declan: NO OCCASION. JUST WANTED CAKE.

Cara: Can confirm. He just wanted cake. All of it.

Jonas: I want cake.

Kade: Dec, you okay, man?

Micah: Stress eating?

Zach: Video game marathon fuel? And fuck you, I gave Maya a donut. I just didn’t want to share with you.

Nick: Did you lose another bet?

Fuck, I love them. All of them.

Laughing, I toss my phone onto the bed, the flowered bedspread no longer as offensive as it was yesterday. Mrs. Winston looked at me funny when I walked back into her B&B, asking for my room back. Thankfully, this town isn't much of a tourist attraction, so it was still available.

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