Page 71 of Home Town

“I love you.”

Her head whipped up at his words. “Excuse me?”

“I tried to say away from you, Josie and I can’t. I love you. And maybe you are with Kirk, and maybe I should have told you weeks ago, but I need you to know now. I love you and I’m willing to fight for you. For us.”

She didn’t move, except for the shaking of her knees and her hands. Her lips parted but no sound came out.

Corey let out a short humorless laugh. “Are you speechless for the first time in your life? Now, of all times?”

“I think I am,” she whispered.

He took a single step closer to tower above her. His voice was soft as he said, “This is the one time I really need you to say something.”

“Why did you leave? Again. Without even a goodbye.” It might not have been the words he wanted but it was all she could come up with in her shock.

His chin dropped to his chest before he raised his gaze again. “Because I couldn’t stand watching you with another guy.”

“But why? You said you didn’t want to date me.”

He shook his head. “That was ten years ago. I wasn’t ready then, but Josie, I’m ready to more than date you now. I’m ready to put in for a change of station so I can be closer to you. Ready to get out of the Navy when my contract is up so I can go wherever you are. More than ready to commit fully to us.”

As far as speeches went, it was a pretty good one. Good enough she felt inspired to relieve one of his worries and say, “I’m not dating Kirk.”

His gaze softened and he took another step closer. “No? Why not?

“Because he’s not the man I’m in love with. He’s not you.”

Corey closed his eyes and let out a breath. When he opened them again, his gaze found hers. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Do I hear… strings?” Bailey asked as they neared the front doors of the school and the sound of the string quartet filtered out to them.

Of course Bailey had picked up on that. She always had been a musical prodigy.

Josie smiled and pushed open the doors. “Yes! And listen closer.”

Bailey’s eyes widened as Quinn said, “Is that?—”

“Bailey’s hit song, Unrequited? Yes, it is! Xander found this string quartet that plays classical arrangements of all popular songs. Isn’t it incredible?” And it fit their chosen theme of a Regency-era ball perfectly.

“Wow. That’s amazing,” Bailey breathed.

Quinn scowled. “Yes, it’s amazing, but I still want to throttle Xander.”

“Please don’t,” Josie begged. “At least not until after the gala. He’s been enormously helpful to me. I need him able bodied at least until after the cake comes out, okay?”

Quinn grumbled something and moved to talk to their parents as their mother waved him over.

Bailey gazed at the musicians on the stage and then at Josie. “Thank you for that. I feel less… useless without my voice. You know I would have performed for this. For you.”

“You are far from useless. You wrote these amazing songs. And you’re here. You’re a local celebrity whether you sing tonight or not.”

As Josie said that she saw more local celebrities walking in. Namely Mudville’s mayor Stone Morgan and Harper Lowry, who was the president of Mudville’s Historical Society as well as a best-selling local author.

Bailey let out a sniff. “Thanks for saying that but given Xander got Bill Pullman and Kelsey Grammar to attend, I’m not sure we can even call me a celebrity.”

“Pish-posh. So they acted on television and in a movie or two. You sold out Madison Square Garden,” Josie reminded her.

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