Page 96 of Barefoot Lake

“That’s ok, too. You said your class is almost all remote anyway. I bet there’s a lot you could do from here if you wanted to. If the university had to choose between you leaving entirely or working primarily remotely from New Hampshire, I’m betting they’d figure something out for you.”

“There’s no guarantee I would get one of these other jobs for the fall.”

“There’s not, but I have faith in you. And if it takes some more time to get you back in the classroom, so be it. I’ll hire you at the nursery in the meantime if you’re bored.”

He really has been thorough, and the realization barrels into me like a freight train.

“I can stay?”

“You can stay.”

CHAPTER 37

Jake

The next day, I try to keep a straight face as Alice squirms like a noodle in the passenger seat. Her leg bounces up and down at over a hundred beats a minute, and she keeps glancing at me every few seconds. We’re on our way to Thanksgiving dinner at Eli’s parents’ house, and she’s nervous as all holy hell. I find it hilarious because we’re about to spend the evening with a group of the least intimidating people ever.

“Ace, you’ve got to stop bouncing around so much. I’m going to get pulled over for hosting a rave while driving.”

She stills for about four seconds before her leg starts bobbing up and down again.

“I can’t help it! I’m nervous!”

“That’s what I don’t get. Why? You’ve already met Eli and Scott, and you get along better with Grateful Bob than I do, and I promise you Eli’s parents are the nicest people on the planet. So, what’s got you so tied up?”

“These are your people, and I’m the interloper! What if they hate me?”

“They don’t hate you. You already know four of the people there like you.”

“Four? Eli, Scott, Grateful Bob, and…”

“Me, you dingbat. I like you.”

“You like me?”

“A whole fucking lot.”

She goes quiet, and her leg stills. I look over at her, and she’s staring back at me like she wants to say something. I look back at the road giving her time to work through it.

When I pull over in front of Eli’s parent’s house, she’s still struggling.

I put the car in park, turning fully to face her.

“Ace, what is it?”

She takes a deep breath.

“I more than like you, Jake.”

I feel her words like a zing to every atom in my body.

I smile before leaning over to kiss her.

“I more than like you, too, Ace.”

She smiles back at me.

As I walk around the front of the car to open Alice’s door for her, I’m hit with the realization that I probably just fucked up the “I love you” moment, and I immediately feel nauseous.