Page 78 of Love Story

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, sweetheart,” I said.“Let’s go home.”

BEN DECIDED TOsell his Prius because in his words it was shit on country roads.I didn’t point out the whole snow tires thing, given I was irrationally happy he was looking to buy a truck in Caldwell Crossing.However, that meant we were in the city—carless—so Ryan came out with his truck to help take back the rest of Ben’s life—which wasn’t much.The secure storage unit was near empty—five or six boxes, a small duffel bag, and a beat-up desk chair that was more sentimental than functional.

“Not much to show,” Ben said softly, his voice laced with something sounding like regret.“Too busy working to collect anything.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed it.“It’s not about the stuff.”

We lifted everything into Ryan’s truck, which was barely half-full, and I climbed into the back seat with Ben, even though he’d told me I could take shotgun.Ryan raised an eyebrow at us through the rearview mirror but didn’t comment as he turned up the radio and pulled out of the storage lot.

Ryan smirked at me through the rearview mirror as he drove us to Caldwell Crossing.“You missed a lot in two days, Sam.The town’s buzzing.”

“Oh yeah?”I asked, leaning back in the seat, Ben tucked against my side.“What’s the latest?”

“You’ll love this one,” Ryan said, glancing at me with a wicked grin.“At the Founders Day Fair, there will be a bachelor auction for the Harmony Lake Animal Rescue League.”

I groaned.“Not this again.Didn’t they learn their lesson after the last one?That poor guy from the post office ended up with two competing bidders and a year’s worth of awkward encounters.”

Ryan’s grin widened.“Oh, it gets better.Guess who’s been voluntold to take part this time?”

I frowned, already feeling a sense of impending doom.“Who?”

“Conor.”

I blinked.“Conor?As inourConor?”

Ryan nodded, his laughter bubbling up.“Yep.He’s so pissed.Someone—no names mentioned, but I’d bet on Mamie—put his name down without telling him.”

I snorted, imagining Conor’s reaction.“He must’ve lost his mind.”

“Completely,” Ryan confirmed, his grin stretching ear to ear.“He stormed into the community center demanding answers.Mrs.Jennings just smiled sweetly and said, ‘It’s for charity, dear.’”

Even Ben was laughing now, his head tipping back against my shoulder.“I’d pay good money to see that.”

Ryan cackled.“Well, you might have to.I hear tickets are going to sell out fast.”

I shook my head, already feeling sorry for Conor.“Remind me to stay far away from this auction.”

Ryan grinned.“You’d better.I hear Mrs.Jennings has her eye on you next.”

I turned to Ben, a smirk tugging at my lips.“I’m not a bachelor.”

Ben raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching as if trying to hold back a smile.“Oh?Is that so?”

I leaned closer, brushing my shoulder against his.“Yeah.I’m off the market.”

Ben laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my chest tighten.“Well, that’s a relief,” he said, resting his hand on my knee.“Because I’d hate to outbid the entire town to keep you.”

Ryan glanced back at us through the rearview mirror, rolling his eyes.“Conor’s out here being auctioned off for charity, and you’re all lovey-dovey in the back of my truck.”

“Jealous?”I teased, nudging Ben as he tried to stifle another laugh.

Ryan huffed, turning up the music.“I’m ignoring you.”When we pulled into town, he slowed the truck and glanced back at me.“Where to?”

“My place,” I said before I could overthink it.

Ben turned to me; his eyebrows raised.“Your place?”

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