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“Yeah, it is. But I guess we’ll see what we see, huh?”
It’s Harlan’s turn to nod.
I pull the door open and Harlan says, “I hope we see more of you, Jem.”
Walking through the sheriff’s station, I can’t help but think me too.
* * *
Later that afternoon I’m sitting on the back porch when the door opens behind me. I don’t even have to turn around to know that Boone just got back from whatever he was doing for the last four hours. The way his feet hit the ground, the sound of his steps, is familiar now. The hair on the back of my neck rises the closer he gets, and he leans down to brush a kiss on the top of my head.
Turning to him, I ask, “Everything good?” He looks relaxed, not stressed, so I assume that he had a good talk with his dad. He confirms it with a nod.
“Yeah. But I think that we should talk now.” There’s no expression on his face, just a blank mask, and nerves swirl in the pit of my stomach.
I set my phone down on the table and turn to face him fully, watching him lower himself in the chair across from me. “Okay.”
“I know that we said we’d talk more when we get back home, but my brothers are coming over for dinner tonight, and I figured we’d better talk before they show up since…”
“You’re coming home to work with your dad,” I say.
“Yeah.”
“So, let’s talk. What does this mean for us?” I ask, using my thumb to point between the two of us.
Boone’s eyes narrow on me, his gaze taking in my expression, probably trying to determine what I think. I school my features into as blank of a canvas as I can, because if he doesn’t want to continue this, I don’t want him to know that it’s going to wreck me.
“We’ve been having fun, right?” he asks.
Oh God. He’s going to break up with me.
I nod, nausea making my mouth water with the sour precursor to vomit.
“Yeah. Sure. Fun. Of course.” I stumble through the agreement.
He reaches out and snags my hand in his. “Jem. Take a breath,” he says, his thumb tracing the pulse in my wrist. Goose bumps pebble my arms, and I want to shiver at the contact. It’s been like this since the first time Boone touched me. What I put down to a bodily reaction to freezing was really my reaction to the man.
I suck in a lung full of air and let it out slowly.
“I like you,” he starts again and I want to groan. What does that even mean?
“I like you too.” What the hell else am I supposed to say?
He smiles at me, content with my response.
“I’ll be here in Everette. It’s only a two-hour drive. I talked to Dad about making sure that I have a few days off in a row, but my schedule is going to rotate. I was thinking with some planning on both our parts, I can come to you on my days off.”
What?
“Huh?” I say stupidly.
He runs his hand up my arm, his eyes steady on mine. “I was thinking that when I’m not working, I can come to you, or you can come to me on your days off. And when we’re both working, we can FaceTime.”
“You want to keep dating?” My voice is a high-pitched squeak.
He smiles at that. “Yeah. I want to keep dating, Jem. You’re incredible. I’d be stupid to let you go. I’ve never?—”
“Me either,” I rush out.
