Page 65 of Crazy in Love

“All right,” Nick said. “I’ll keep it in mind.” Not! No way was he coming back here for good.

Max slid up beside him. “Hayes tryin’ to get you to take over the sheriff’s department?”

“How’d you figure that?”

“The I-just-sucked-on-a-lemon look on your face.” Max laughed. “Would it really be so terrible?”

“It would go against everything I’ve been working toward for the last decade.”

“It’s not so bad here, you know?”

“I know,” Nick said. He couldn’t insult the town without insulting its inhabitants. And he didn’t want to hurt Max’s feelings. “Just not for me.”

Tess and her posse had gathered at a picnic table and were deep in conversation. He wondered how they could always have so much to talk about. They saw each other constantly and lived in this tiny town. What new news could they possibly have now that they didn’t have yesterday? He didn’t realize he was staring until Max spoke again.

“So, you and Faith Sullivan, huh?” He nodded to where the friends huddled.

“What? No! Why would you say that?”

“You know there are no secrets in this town. Plus, I doubt you’re lookin’ at your sister like that.”

“I’m not lookin’ at anyone ‘like that,’” Nick said, turning away and hoping his cheeks weren’t reddening.

Thankfully, Max’s daughter approached. “Up, Daddy.” She threw both chubby little arms in the air, and Max scooped her up.

“Hey, sweetheart. Where’s your momma?”

“I’m here,” Jenny said, popping up behind them. Jenny had graduated the year after Nick and Max, but they’d run in the same circles, and Nick had been pretty good friends with her. She’d followed in her mother’s footsteps and become a real estate agent.

“Cookie,” Lilly demanded.

“What do you say?” Max said.

The little girl thought for a second. “Two cookies.”

“How about ‘please’?” Jenny prodded.

“Oh, yeah,” Lilly said. “Cookie, please.”

“I’ll take her,” Jenny said, and Max handed her the baby. Jenny gave him a quick kiss before heading off.

A strange feeling passed through Nick. Not really jealousy, but perhaps a mild envy. They seemed to be so in love, and love was something that eluded Nick. He pictured himself married someday. Even having kids. But the path to get there was blurry. How did one go from a set-in-their-ways bachelor to a wedding and a family?

“How’d you know Jenny was the one?” Nick asked. He’d had a lot of girlfriends over the years, but none that made him consider proposing. What if it was him? What if he lacked the gene that told you when you were in love?

“Ah,” Max said. “The age-old question. You’re not going to like the answer.”

Nick waited.

“I just…did.” Max shrugged. “Plain and simple. We were friends, and then, all of a sudden, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.”

“How’d you know she liked you back?”

“Even worse answer. I didn’t. I had to bare my soul. Go out on a limb, put my heart on my sleeve, and tell her how I felt. Then hope and pray she felt the same.”

“You’re right. I do not like any of those words. Wanna get a beer?”

Max laughed and nodded. “And some of your mom’s chili. She makes the best.”

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