Maija moves on, pinning James with a stare that could cut glass. “Rich man. Good posture. You will look good in the coffin.” James freezes, mouth half-open.
Brett snorts, delighted. Maija turns to him: “Strong arms are useful. You can carry buckets. You outlast the rich one when collapse comes.” Brett preens. James scowls. Maija remains unsmiling. “Do not misunderstand. None of you would survive until February. But for Baywood, you are adequate.”
She moves on without pause, planting herself in front of Earl, who looks like he’s waiting for his final grade. “You are silly. But your buns are edible. You rather eat them than take a beating. That is a good Finnish compliment.”
Earl’s eyes mist over. “She likes my buns,” he whispers reverently.
Then, Maija stops in front of me and Xaden again. “You two distract the town with kissing and music. Every village needs distraction. I will come to your wedding.”
I’m very actively not looking at Xaden right now. Earl claps his hands, still flushed. “See? She loves us all! It’s a Baywood miracle!”
“Tolerance is enough. Love is a bonus. You two got the bonus.” She glares at Xaden and me and goes to sit on the nearest bench, expression still unsmiling, as if she’s said all there is to say.
XADEN
Cole approaches me in the kitchen, brow furrowed, curls everywhere. I pull him into a kiss. “You didn’t have to buy him Legos,” he says, breathless, after we pull away. He’s holding up a receipt like it’s Exhibit A. “That’s a lot of money.”
“It was a starter set,” I protest. “And his face lit up like Christmas morning. Worth it.”
Cole sighs, but there’s no real heat in it. “You can’t just keep throwing money at him. He’s already spoiled enough.”
“I’ve been saving for years,” I say, quieter now. “Didn’t exactly have time to spend it undercover. It’s yours if you want it. Both of you.”
His expression softens. “I know. And my money is yours.” He drums his fingers on the kitchen counter. “Have you thought about the Sheriff’s post?”
“Yeah, I already told Keller I’m going for it.”
Cole tilts his head, studying me. “You’d look good in the hat,” he mutters, blushing.
“Maybe I'll have to arrest you every once in a while.” He scowls, but I can see the idea appeals to him. It certainly appeals to me.
“I’ve been writing songs again,” he admits, looking so shy and nervous that I just have to pull him in for another kiss. “Not sure if they’re any good,” — he presses against me, making me groan against his lips — “but it feels good to write,” he finishes.
“They’re good,” I say, kissing his neck. He sighs happily, his breath warm against my skin, and heat rushes through me, filling me with anticipation.
That’s when we hear the crunch of tires in the drive. His parents are pulling to the driveway.
Noah barrels into the yard. Following the days after the arrest, I’ve learned that Noah has the tenacity of a terrier and the energy levels of a small power house. He’s also incredibly cute and — thanks to Elaine Hudson, I guess — very strict about manners. I accidentally cursed once in his presence, and in seconds, Noah was next to me, demanding an explanation.
“Sleepover!” he shouts, making sure all the neighbors are aware of his plans, too. He’s wearing a backpack he insisted on packing himself. It contains three socks, a flashlight and his T-Rex figure. Cole emerges from the house carrying the actual overnight bag.
Elaine’s smile is softer than I’ve ever seen it when she looks at us. Suddenly she folds me into a hug before I can decide if I’m ready for it. “Believe it or not, I’ve always liked you,” she says. It’s nice even though I’m still more on the not believing side.
Andrew lingers a step back, hands in his pockets, and clears his throat. His jaw tightens, like the words scrape on their way out. “Xaden,” he says. “I owe you an apology. For the things I allowed to stand. For not telling the truth when it mattered.” He forces himself to meet my eyes. “I’m proud of what you did. I’m ashamed of what I didn’t.”
There’s a silence that doesn’t feel empty. I nod once. “Thank you.”
Noah tugs Elaine’s hand. “Can I bring Dinosaur the Dog?”
“Oh, sweetie, couldn’t it stay behind?” Elaine asks. “You have your T-Rex, right?”
“I need them both,” Noah pouts.
“You don’t need them both,” Cole says, but that only gets Noah to take a deep breath, ready to inform us very loudly that yes, he does.
I ask: “Noah, can I ask you a favor?” He nods, both doubtful and curious.
“I’m a bit nervous about my own sleepover. Is there any way you could leave Dinosaur the Dog here with me?” Noah contemplates my request, brow furrowed. “Would you feed him?”
