Page 80 of Crazy in Love

They turned off Main Street and onto Second Avenue. “You mean the sheriff’s job?”

He rolled his eyes. “I forgot how this town has no secrets. Yes, that’s what I mean. Hayes and I are meeting next week to discuss it.”

As excited as she was to hear all this, she still worried. “Are you sure you’ll be happy here?” She stopped walking and turned to face him, needing to look into his eyes and read his face. “I don’t want to be responsible for a decision you might regret later. Or have you resenting me a year from now because you felt coerced to move home.”

“Don’t worry, Faith. I’ve given this a lot of thought. Analyzed it six ways from Sunday. You’re a big reason—but not the only one—I’m ready to come home.”

That was a relief. “Boston lost its shine?” she asked.

He paused to gather his thoughts, then took her hand and resumed walking. “I’ve always loved to read, you know? Even as a kid, I’d burn through series after series. Through books, I visited wonderful places and had amazing adventures. By comparison, Green Valley Falls was too small, too slow.”

“That’s why you were so desperate to leave?”

“Pretty much. I knew I’d never ‘see the world’ if I stayed. What’s ironic is that despite my grandiose intentions, I hardly ever left Boston. But somehow, between losing Andy, getting shot, and spending time here, everything’s changed.”

“Are you sure it’s not you who’s changed?”

“Oh, I know I have,” he said. “Rumor has it, that’s what falling in love does.”

She smiled. “So, you’ve sown your wild oats and are ready to settle down?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“What about a place to live?” she asked.

“Funny you mention that,” he said, coming to a halt in front of the Ashford house.

They turned to stare at it. “Not to interrupt, but do you want to hear the craziest thing?”

“Sure.”

“This house has been on the market for like twenty years. Last week, I called Jenny to see if I could buy it, and guess what?”

“Hmm.”

“Someone else hadjustput in an offer! What are the odds of that?”

He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and dangled them in front of her.

“You?” she squealed. “You bought it? Why?”

“For us, I hope.” He cocked an eyebrow.

“You want to move in together?” Her voice involuntarily ticked up an octave. Man, he was moving fast. Usually, she was the one who moved pedal to the metal in a relationship. Now, she needed a second to catch up.

“Someday,” he clarified. “Down the road. This place won’t be habitable for a while anyway. It’ll give us time to solidify this.” He waved a hand between the two of them. “And give Tess a chance to find a new roommate and all that.”

“Can we go inside?”

“We can do whatever we want.”

They skirted past weeds and broken chunks of concrete, making their way to the porch.

“Wow,” she said, taking in the flaky paint, saggy wood, and shattered windows. “It’s a real mess.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind. I have it on good authority you’ve wanted this place for over a decade.”

“Who told you that?”

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