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I would have to move. Leave Sue and the bakery.

Leave Matthew.

I was in turmoil.

Sue knocked and came into the apartment, looking concerned. “Are you all right? You left the bakery so quickly.”

“Sorry, it was an important call.”

She sat down. “Tell me.”

I explained the call, showed her the email. She listened and read the email, nodding. “You have to take it, Maddy.”

“But the⁠—”

She held up her hand and stopped me. “The bakery and I will be fine. Jenn is wanting more hours, so she can have them and I’ll hire someone else. You have to go.”

“It starts in two weeks.”

She glanced at the letter. “They offer help finding places to rent. You could fly out soon, find a place, and be ready.”

I looked down at the screen then back up. “Matthew,” I whispered.

“You have to tell him. He’d want you to go. It’s a year, Maddy. If whatever is between you is real, you’ll make it work.”

“I think I’m falling in love with him.”

“Even better. I think he feels the same way from how he looks at you. You’re young. You can have both—you just have to work hard. Together.”

I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. “Together while apart. His parents are leaving while I’m gone. He’s already anxious. How will he handle it when I tell him I’m going too?”

She sat back. “How he handles it will tell you the sort of man he really is.”

My doorbell rang, and she stood as I wiped my cheeks.

“And now is the time to find out.”

Matthew greeted Sue as she left, holding up the large bag he was carrying. “Plenty for three,” he offered as he bent slightly and kissed her cheek.

She laughed, shaking her head. “I have wine and cheese night with the girls. You two enjoy.” She looked at me meaningfully, our eyes having a silent conversation before she shut the door and left.

I went to the kitchen, taking some plates from the cupboard. Matthew came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and tugging me close. “Hey.”

I turned and draped my arms over his shoulders, lifting my face for his kiss. “Hi, handsome,” I mumbled against his mouth as he kissed me hello. He held me tight, our mouths moving together tenderly. He sighed and tucked my head to his shoulder. “I needed that.”

I ran my fingers through his hair. “You okay, Matty?”

He hummed, his arms tightening. “One of those shifts last night. Busy. Argued with my boss. The charge nurse was giving me attitude the whole time. Patients were cranky. No time to eat. I had to run errands, so not much sleep earlier.”

“That explains the overly large bag of Chinese.”

He chuckled and pulled back, his tone now teasing. “I’m starving. I got a little extra so you could at least nibble.”

I carried the bag to the table, delving inside and lifting out container after container onto the wooden surface. “Seven dishes between two people?”

He set down the plates and utensils he carried in. “And spring rolls. There should be some wontons in there too.”

I sat down. “Dig in, then.”