Page 14 of Hometown Heart

"You know," Silas said, "the youth league could use more parent volunteers. If you're planning to stick around Whistleport."

The question beneath the suggestion hung in the crisp air. Ahead of us, Cody had stopped to examine his medal under a streetlight, his breath forming little clouds as he polished the bronze surface with his sleeve.

"Actually," I found myself saying, "I signed a year-long lease yesterday. It's a house on Maple Street, the blue one with the wraparound porch."

"No kidding?" Silas's smile spread slowly, like a sunrise over the harbor. "That's four blocks from Tidal Grounds."

I blushed. "Is it? Hadn't noticed."

"Liar." His shoulder bumped mine, playful and warm. "You mapped the walking distance to your morning coffee, didn't you?"

"Dad!" Cody called before I could answer. "Can we get hot chocolate from Silas's tomorrow, too? To celebrate?"

"Pretty sure Silas needs a day off sometimes, bud."

"I don't know," Silas said. "Celebrating sounds important. Very serious business." He winked at Cody.

We reached the car too quickly. Cody immediately climbed in, busy texting Edward about his medal. I loaded his gear in the trunk, very aware of Silas standing nearby.

I spoke softly. "Thanks for everything today. The coffee, the skating help—"

"The superior marshmallow selection?"

"That, too." I closed the trunk, turning to face him. "It's been... nice. Having someone to talk to who gets it."

"Whistleport's good that way." He took a half step closer. "Once you let it work its magic."

Chapter five

Silas

The carnival crowds had thinned to nothing, leaving only the soft clink of Cody's medal against his chest as he dozed in the backseat of Jack's SUV. Salt crunched under my boots as I handed Jack the last paper cup.

"Some night, huh?" Jack's voice was soft, ensuring that he wouldn't wake Cody. He didn't move to get into the car. Instead, he leaned against the door frame, his shoulders relaxed.

"Your boy did good." I matched his quiet tone. "That second shot? Pure instinct."

"Yeah." Jack glanced at Cody through the window, then back at me. The streetlamp caught the silver threading through his dark hair. "It's been such a whirlwind, and you're always right there. The skating lessons. The approximately eight thousand hot chocolates."

"Only seven thousand, tops."

Jack's laugh formed a warm, puffy cloud in the cold air. We stood, caught in that strange space where saying goodbye felt both necessary and impossible. A car passed on the street, its headlights sweeping across the parking lot, momentarilypainting everything in gold before leaving us in the gentle darkness again.

Jack turned the empty cup in his hands. "You know, I wasn't sure about this place at first. I know I told you how I picked it, but it seemed so small when we arrived to move in. I worried that it would feel—" He gestured vaguely at the quiet street.

"Too much like a fishbowl?"

"Something like that." He looked into my eyes. "But then the moments tonight. Watching Cody with his teammates. Seeing him belong somewhere."

"And you?" The question slipped out before I could catch it. "Do you feel like you belong?"

Jack shifted, angling toward me. The movement brought him close enough that I smelled the wool of his coat. "I think I'm starting to."

I didn't know how to respond, so I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Then, Jack's gaze dropped to my mouth for a heartbeat, and something electric crackled in the space between us.

I didn't plan what happened next. Wouldn't have dared to plan it. It went against all my rules for a settled life, but somehow, the distance between us vanished, and Jack's lips were on mine—gentle, questioning. The kiss lasted barely long enough to register the scratch of his stubble.

Reality crashed into me like a storm-fueled wave against the breakwater. I jerked back, nearly stumbling. With one move, I'd created a sudden gap between us, yawning wide like a steep canyon.

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