Page 155 of Just One Kiss

“This is his house. He and his wife, Winnie, built it when he retired. I think all of their kids got married in the backyard, and one of them moved back in with her baby a few years ago.”

“I had no idea,” Josh said. “Pretty, right?”

Carly was perfectly happy in her quaint little cottage, but this house made hers look like a shanty. Josh pulled up into the driveway and Carly admired the giant hydrangea bushes flanking either side of the stairs leading up to the porch.

“Are we here for a dinner party or something?” Carly asked. “I’m not really dressed to see anyone.” She glanced down at her cut-off jean shorts and loose red tank.

He opened the door. “Come on, let’s go look around.”

She frowned as he got out of the truck, stopping in front of it and peering at her through the windshield. She opened her door and slid out, trying to make sense out of the scene.

“Come on!” He motioned for her to follow him, which she did, realizing it was the only way to figure out what he was up to.

He led her up the steps and onto the porch, then he pulled a key from his pocket and inserted it in the lock.

“What are you doing?” she hissed. She tossed a glance over her shoulder, as if Gerard and Winnie could show up at any moment.

“It’s fine, there’s no one here.”

“Is it, like, an Airbnb?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” He pushed the door open and smiled at her.

She walked through the door and looked around. “Wow.”

“Nice, right?”

“Josh, this house is amazing.” They stood in a wide entryway, and Carly admired the high ceilings that drew her eyes up to a second level. On one side of the staircase was a large family room and on the other, a formal dining room.

She followed Josh past the stairs to the back of the house, where there was a large, farmhouse-style kitchen with a breakfast nook and a big wall of windows that looked out across the lake. She moved toward one window, staring down at the private dock and a guesthouse off to one side.

“Do you like it?”

She turned and saw Josh leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, watching her.

“Are you kidding?” She faced him. “This place is incredible.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Okay, now this was just getting weird. “Why?”

“Because it’s yours.” He held up a small set of keys and jangled them in the air.

“I don’t understand.”

“I mean, I was thinking my mom could live out in that little guesthouse,” he said. “It’s kind of perfect since she’s going to need some help, but she’ll also want her own space.”

Bewildered, she shook her head. “Josh, what are you saying?”

“Look, I know things have gotten really crazy, and they’re only going to get worse the more people find out about my family. It’s a lot to take in.”

She didn’t respond. It was true—it was a lot to take in—and yes, it was only going to get worse.

“But I’m not going anywhere.” He closed the space between them. “Even when things get hard.” He took her face in his hands and searched her eyes, but she was certain all he’d find there was confusion.

“Stay with me,” he said. “I know you like things in order. I know you want everything to fit neatly into all those little boxes you have to check off. You want stability and assurances and guarantees. But life doesn’t give us those things. Life is messy and chaotic and hard.”

“Josh—”

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