"About me.Because I'm..."My pulse pounds, making my skin hum.I turn to face him."I'm in love with Sage."
"Yes, we established that forty minutes ago.Keep up."
"No, I mean...I'm in love with her.Present tense.Current state.Active condition."
"Again, we know.There was a whole whiteboard."
"I have to get her back."
"Finally.”Connor fully exits into the alley."What changed?"
"I just realized I was ready to commit assault and battery for a woman who hacked my dating profile."I swipe unsteady fingers through my admittedly unkempt hair."That's not normal behavior."
"No, but it's romantic.In a deeply concerning way."
"How do I fix this?"
"Well, first you come back inside and eat eggs Benedict?—"
"Connor."
"Right.Serious mode."He considers.“Prove yourself.”
“How?”
"I don't know.What do people do in romantic comedies?"
“Do I look like I watch romantic comedies?”
"That explains so much."He sighs."Okay, think.What does Sage need?"
"She needed money.I sent a check."
"Jesus, Luke.Emotionally.What does she need emotionally?"
I think about Sage on her porch, crying in the rain.Sage saving the inn.Doing what no one else in her family would do—could do.
Being the one person who put everything on the line.
"She needs to know I choose her," I say slowly."Not her inn or her business or what she can do.Her."
"Okay, that's good.How do you show that?"
"I..."I pause."I need to make some calls."
"To who?"
"Everyone."I'm already pulling out my phone."I need Daniella, the SafeStay team, maybe a goat..."
"A goat?"
"Buttercup.She's essential."
Connor stares at me."Are you having a breakdown?"
"No.I'm having a breakthrough."I grab his shoulder."Tell the others I'll be back.I need to get my shit together."
“And what shit would that be?”
