Page 47 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

“Another meat lover’s, Will!” the mayor called out from his spot in the diner, and Will whistled his acknowledgment of the order. The shop wasn’t too busy tonight; word had gotten out that Will hadn’t been his usual self, skipping the flair and showmanship of making pizzas and just… well, making pizza. He slid the ultimate cheese he’d been working on into the oven and started slicing up the meat lover’s.

It’d only been a week, but it’d been the longest week of his life. The drive home coulda set records in the Monroe family for how long two of them could be together and stay quiet. Bells asked him one question on the way back, and it was to stop for a night instead of driving straight through. Otherwise, they’d both been pretty preoccupied with their own thoughts.

He’d resisted the urge to text Winter every waking second, but he hadn’t lasted longer than a few hours. They’d flirted all week, chatting till the early hours of the morning, and the only time Will felt like smilin’ was when he had his phone in his face and a notification with her name on it.

But it wasn’t the same. There was something missing from his precious Alabama that didn’t make it feel right anymore. He constantly felt out of place, which explained his less-than-stellar performances at the shop.

The bell tinkled over the door, and he barely looked up. “Welcome to Roe’s Pizza,” he said mechanically. “What can I get for ya?”

A huff he knew all too well floated to his ears. “Y’all can stop your mopin’ and come talk to me.” Bells crossed her arms, her dress swaying to the side as she canted her hip.

“I’m busy, Bells.”

She gave him a look like the devil himself resided in her blue irises. He slowly put the mayor’s order up on the counter.

“Uh, Mr. Mayor, you’re up.”

“Thank you, Will.” The mayor strode over, but when he’d caught sight of Bells’ face, he cautiously took the plate. Will sighed and signaled to Jeremy.

“Watch the counter for me, will ya?”

“No problem, boss.”

Bells marched into the back office, her shoulder knocking a picture off center, but she didn’t even stop. Will tapped it straight and closed the door behind them.

“A’right, let me have it.”

“I’m just as miserable as you, William,” she said, jumping right in like he knew she would. “But you don’t see me dragging my feet through the mud. You even got her number.”

“It’s not the same,” he grumbled, crossing his arms and refusing to look at her. He’d never been comfortable about talking how he felt. So many things could come spilling out—like the fact that they lived in two very different worlds, how she was way too good for him, and that he’d spent so much time up there wishing he was down here, and now that he was, he wanted to go back.

Bells’ irritation melted some. She crossed the room and leaned up against the wall next to him, dropping her head on his shoulder.

“I’m jealous, you know,” she said. “I go lookin’ for a fairytale, and you’re the one who found it.”

He snorted. “You call this a happy ending?”

“You found aprincess, Will.” She turned her head to give him the bossy eyes of an older sister. “Go get your happy ending.”

For a fleeting moment, he really thought about it. He was gonna grab his keys or look up flights and go. But he shook his head.

“How in the world is it gonna work? I couldn’t ask her to leave Frostville Mansion, and Alabama is home.”

“Is it really? Because you’ve been acting homesick ever since you got back.”

Had his comfortable and safe Alabama become empty and sad? He ran a hand over his growing beard, the first thought being he needed to shave. Winter liked it trimmed, and maybe he’d feel more at home with it close cut.

“Oh shoot,” he blurted, and Bells’ brow furrowed. His eyes widened at her, his mouth opening like he couldn’t believe it’d taken him this long to figure out. Home wasn’t a place anymore. Home was comfort, ease, laughter, joy, and love.

It was Winter. And he was ready to go home.

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