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Max put his burger down and wiped his hands with a sigh. “We need to know if you’re coming back. We finished the library episode without you a few weeks after you left and I convinced the studio to let us break for the holiday season while we work out some permits. Episode four will be filming as soon as January starts.”

“What are you doing for episode four?”

“Town hall,” Max said.

I nodded thoughtfully. “Andy Donahue still running facilities?”

Max hesitated before answering. “Yes. But we’ve convinced the mayor to keep Andy out of our hair. We have full autonomy. He’s not even allowed on set.” He paused for another moment, and my stomach clenched with dread as he was speaking, ice flooding my veins, because I knew exactly where this was going. “We need you, Kieran. We can’t go forward without an interior designer, and you’re one of the best in the industry. You’ve got the experience, the on-camera presence, and you’re familiar with how everything works. You know everyone on set. We’d like you to come back.”

I had seen the request coming when they showed up a little while ago, even if I’d hoped against hope that I was wrong, but now that it was in front of me, panic threatened to take over. I shook my head slowly. “I… I don’t know.”

“Is it the money?” Max asked. When I shook my head, he continued. “Then what’s giving you pause?”

For a few moments, I didn’t answer. What was stopping me? I was really loving my time in Pine Bluff, but moving back to Port Grandlin didn’t mean I couldn’t visit whenever I wanted. I’d already deflected accusations of being flirty with Ellis, but the truth was, I wasn’t ready to leave and cut short what we had going. I was still getting to know him, and enjoying every minute of it.

Besides that, I was weary of being on camera. I missed being able to just be myself. Having to be a camera-ready persona all day every day was exhausting, and I was tired of going home drained and ready to collapse. Interior designing wasn’t usually a very physically strenuous job, but for someone like me, being on camera felt like one. I just wanted to design. I didn’t want to perform anymore.

“It’s not just any one thing.” I bit my lip and thought about how to phrase what I wanted to say. “Being on camera, for one. I’m tired of it. I don’t think I want to do it anymore.”

“What if we brought you back in a consultative role? Strictly off-camera,” Max said.

Letting out a soft sigh, I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I like it here. I’m not ready to leave. Why are you pushing so hard to get me back?”

Micah gave me a soft, understanding smile. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Max cleared his throat. “You’re one of my best friends. We’ve been working together in some capacity or other for years. When they finally gave me the green light to put together my own crew, I felt like I’d won the lottery. I hate to see the team get broken up because of a cranky facilities manager.”

“It’s not just Andy. Not anymore.”

Max nodded and exhaled softly in concession. “I know. I’m just sorry to see you go.”

“And honestly, I’m sorry to leave. But it’s time. I’m ready to do something different.”

Micah raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Interior designing in a small town?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, maybe not that different.” I knew I should leave it at that, but they were two of my closest friends in the world besides Lena, and I really, really wanted to tell someone—anyone—about Ellis. “But… this time, there’s something more than just work keeping me here.”

Micah pounded one fist lightly on the diner table in triumph. “I knew it. It’s that guy, isn’t it? Ellis, right? The hot, tattooed one.”

Another laugh escaped me and I nodded. “It’s new. So new we haven’t told anyone. So…” I mimicked zipping my lips shut and they both nodded and copied the motion. “But, guys, I really like him.” Just saying it out loud made my heart give a squeeze.

“Well, if you like him, I’m sure we will, too. You’ve always been an excellent judge of character,” Micah said.

“Except when you picked your last roommate.” Max laughed and elbowed Micah, who had been my roommate in Port Grandlin, until he’d met Asher.

We finished our meals, laughing and catching up as we ate. I told them about the tattoo shop, about Ellis, and about the library reno in Pine Bluff that had helped me focus on what I wanted, in a way Heartland Overhaul hadn’t been able to do. They talked about their partners, the rest of the guys on the crew, and Port Grandlin gossip. When we finished lunch, my heart was full, my mind was at peace, and I could hardly wait to get back to Ellis and tell him everything.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ellis

Imade significant progress on the shop while Kieran was gone—with him not around to distract me, I’d put music on my phone, turned up the volume, and knocked out a lot of painting. The more I worked, the less I thought about what Micah and Max wanted from Kieran and whether they were—at that very moment—talking him into returning to Port Grandlin and his job. I was sure that’s why they’d come and it wouldn’t be unreasonable if Kieran decided to leave. The thought made nausea wash over me, though. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

I tried not to let myself stew too much, instead focusing on every brush stroke, every push and pull of the paint roller, and the music blasting through the room. They were only gone a little more than an hour, but it felt like an eternity.

Finally, though, Kieran returned, pausing the music when he came in. When the music cut out, I spun around, confused, my chest tightening with anxiety when we made eye contact.

“Hey,” he said, his voice sounding quieter than usual in the sudden silence of the room. His expression was pinched, brows drawn tight together, worry lines etched on his face.