Page 84 of Paging Dr. Summers

“And I don’t want you to leave. I’m falling in love with you.”

Oh. I wasn’t expecting that admission.

“You are?” My voice came out all garbled; I could hardly believe it was true.

“I am.”

“How does Erica feel about it?” I didn’t want to push her out of his life, but I couldn’t bear the thought of her coming between us either.

“She didn’t say,” he teased me. “But I told her about this amazing woman who’s made me realize life doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be good. In fact, figuring out the mess of it together makes it more worthwhile. I wished Erica and I would have discovered that.”

“Are you saying I’m a hot mess?” I giggled through my watery eyes.

“Definitely hot.” His lips landed on mine, pressing ever so gently. “Come back with me,” he murmured against my lips.

“I don’t know if I belong in Aspen Lake. My own father doesn’t want me there.” All my vulnerabilities spilled out.

“To hell with him. I want you there. And if I’m not mistaken, judging by your letter, I think you’re falling in love with me too.”

“You got that, did you?”

“It seemed pretty obvious to me,” he said cockily.

“I am falling in love with you.” It felt good to admit that. So good. Yet there were other considerations. “But what if this doesn’t work out? It’s not like I can afford to live in Aspen Lake for much longer, and I don’t have a job, which doesn’t look good for you—dating an unemployed DJ who canceled her once-in-a-lifetime job interview tomorrow because I refuse to let Maxwell pay me off again. And I told the rental company I was leaving today.” I rattled off every barrier I could think of, my voice rising with each one.

“Are you finished?” he spoke against my lips.

“Uh-huh,” I said, completely taken with him.

“None of this is insurmountable. We’ll figure it out together. Besides, you didn’t even read the rest of our bucket list.”

“I’m still trying to get past number one. I can hardly believe you think we belong together.”

“Let me prove it to you.”

“How are you going to do that?” I needed to know what I was signing up for.

“You’re going to have to read the rest of the bucket list to find out.”

“I will later, after I learn how to decipher your chicken scratches,” I teased him. “But you know, the last bucket list someone gave me led to some pretty big discoveries. One not so pleasant.”

His thumbs brushed against my cheeks. “Brooke, I can’t promise you a happy ever after. That’s never a guarantee. But what I can promise you is that I will do my best to take life to the limit with you. And I will do my damnedest to never push you past your limits.”

Oh, that was it. I was a goner. Him remembering my mother’s words did me in. I gripped his shirt, hanging on for what I had a feeling was going to be the start of a wild, beautiful ride together. And I knew I had to take it and see where it went.

A relationship like ours didn’t come around every day, or sometimes not even in a lifetime. That I knew.

“Okay, I’ll go back with you.”

He let out a tremendous sigh of relief before he pressed his lips against mine, infusing them with what felt like hope. I liked hope. It meant we were both willing to imagine a future together. Possibly a future in Aspen Lake.

I didn’t know if Aspen Lake was ready for me—or me for it—but I knew there was unfinished business there. Something else my mom had left for me to discover. I just hoped it was more of a big-budget film than a network drama.

“ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE READY for this?” I aimed the mic at Brooke, who was curled up on the couch with Lola pressed against her side. The two had been inseparable since I’d convinced Brooke to come back a few days earlier. My grand plans to monopolize her time had taken a hit, but how could I complain? The sisters needed this, especially with Lola heading back to school in a few weeks and both of their lives recently being turned upside down.

Brooke flashed me that grin—the one that said,Come kiss me.

I fully intended to as soon as possible.

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