Page 68 of Love Story

“Really?”I snapped.“Is that what this is?”

Marks didn’t blink, his calm demeanor almost infuriating.“No media.There is no angle.Brad sees this as an opportunity to do the right thing while he can.”

Theo leaned back again, the frown lines on his face deepening.“Right.And I’m sure it has nothing to do with reducing his sentence.”

I glanced between them, my heart pounding, then focused on Marks.“Is this a game for you and him?”

Marks huffed.“I can assure you it’s no game, but—”

“That’s enough!”Theo barked, and Marks subsided with a dismissive wave.Then Theo turned to me, his expression softening.“If Brad has what we need…”

“Then, I should go.”Was that what Theo wanted me to say?If I did this and was clear, I could return to Caldwell Crossing and have forever with Sam.

If he didn’t hate me.

Marks stood, straightening his jacket.“That’s for Mr.Marshall to decide.My client is willing to meet with your client.The choice is yours.”He slid his card across the table and left without another word, his heels clicking against the floor as he disappeared through the door.

Silence settled over the room like a heavy fog.I stared at Theo.“What do you think?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.“It’s risky.Brad’s a wildcard.But if he’s telling the truth and has those documents, it could save you from having to testify.Hell, it could save us all a lot of headaches.”

I stared at the card Marks had left, my mind spinning.“And if it’s a trap, and he has media there, and it’s a setup to expose to the world, I’m the whistleblower.What if it’s revenge for me handing over the details of what he did?”

Theo pressed a hand to my arm.“Take a breath, Ben.If it goes to trial, people will likely find out who you are.You’ve known that from the beginning.”

I did know that.The thought of facing Brad again made my stomach churn, but the alternative—standing in court, reliving every moment of what I’d found, even if it was from behind a screen, was a nightmare.

I swallowed hard, nodding.“I’ll do it.I’ll meet with him.”

Theo’s jaw tightened.“Let’s prepare for every possible scenario.If this is a game, we’re going to make damn sure we’re the ones who win it.No media.No logging your visit.You’ll need to give me a while to organize.”

“How long?”I want to go back to Sam.

“A couple of days.Okay?”

What else could I say?“Okay.”

THE RHYTHMIC CLATTERof metal against wood filled the sugar shack as I worked, scooping out the last batch of syrup for filtering.The early spring day was cool, but the heat from the evaporator kept the room warm, and the sweet scent of maple hung thick in the air.It should have been comforting and grounding, but instead, it felt suffocating.

I leaned against the workbench and cursed.I’d screwed up.Royally.I was like a hormonal kid—one kiss and thought I was in love.No wonder he ran from me.

Fuck.My.Life.

I was hiding in the sugar shack, pretending to be busy, licking my wounds like a fool.And for what?Ben was gone, back to Boston, back to whatever mess he was dealing with, and I couldn’t stop replaying our last conversation—or lack of one—in my head.

I dropped the ladle into the sink with a clatter and ran a hand through my hair.“Idiot,” I muttered under my breath.

The door opened.“Hello, Sam.”Harriet’s voice was light and cheerful as always.

I glanced up to find her standing there, a smile playing on her lips, her coat draped over one arm.

“Morning, Harriet,” I replied, straightening and wiping my hands on a rag.

Have you heard from Ben?Is he coming back?Why did he go?What did I do wrong?

I didn’t say any of that.Instead, I talked as though we didn’t have this Ben thing between us.“What brings you out here?I thought you’d be in the house with Mom.”

She stepped inside, eyeing the rows of jars cooling on the counter.“I was, and your mom’s catching me up on all the gossip over coffee, but I couldn’t resist popping in to see how things were progressing.”

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