“Oh my god,” I finally say.“What did you tell them?”
“Well, I don’t sell businesses, I sell real estate, and their buyers would potentially be...”He swallows.“A ski conglomerate.”
“I thought one of their kids would take over eventually.”
“So did I,” Silas says.“But apparently none of them are interested, and the Schaefers want to move on.”
I lean back against the couch, dumbfounded.
“I thought you should know.Before we make any decisions.”
I grab Silas’s hand, threading his fingers with mine.“I know how much you love Here.And I appreciate you telling me about this.I don’t think it changes my mind, though.I think I should move to Here.”
Silas’s gaze meets mine.“We don’t know what’s going to happen.Maybe they shut it down—they might not find a seller or decide the land’s better empty.Here would dry up.”
“Those are hypotheticals right now, and this is in the early stages.There have been plenty of things in my job—leadership changes, prospective projects, stuff like that—where we waited to plan because the whole thing might fall apart.But even if it does move forward, the town also needs Herevians who are passionate about saving it.Like you.”
I bring Silas’s hand to my lips and kiss his thumb.
“And me too.”
When Hunter returns,he sets his mochi donuts on my kitchen counter next to our Thai food that arrived while he was gone.Silas and I have both put normal clothes on, so at least I’m not in my bathrobe anymore, and Silas has an ice pack on his nose.
“I’m moving back to Here,” I announce.The words feel surreal coming out of my mouth.“Not right away.I need to talk to my boss, finish some projects.But I’m coming back.”
“You’re serious.”Hunter looks between us, searching for the joke.
“I’m serious.I’ve been remote most of the time anyway.And Here has grown on me.”
“Because of him,” Hunter says, gesturing at Silas.
“Because of a lot of things,” I correct.“Including him, yes.But also because I saw Here differently.Through his eyes.And through my own, without all the baggage I was carrying.”
Hunter is quiet for a long moment.Then he sighs, running a hand through his hair.“This is really happening.”
“Yeah,” Silas says.“It is.”
“And you two are...”Hunter trails off, making a vague gesture.
“Together,” I finish.“We’re together.”
Hunter reaches for the box of mochi donuts, pulls one out, and takes a massive bite.He chews thoughtfully, staring at both of us.
“Okay,” he finally says.
“Okay?”I repeat.
“Okay.”He swallows.“I’m still mad.And hurt.And it’s going to take me a while to get over you two lying to me.But”—he looks at Silas—“you’re my best friend.I just wish you’d trusted me enough to tell me.”
“We were scared,” I admit.“Of this.Of you being angry.”
“I am angry,” Hunter says.“But not because you’re together.Because you lied.”
He stands up, walks over, and pulls me into a hug.“You’re my sister.I want you to be happy.”
“Even if it means moving back to the place I swore I’d never live in again?”I mumble into his shoulder.
“Even then.”He releases me and looks at Silas.“And you.”
