“Mmm. You sure?” I twisted my mouth to one side doubtfully. “Ernest’s not just the bartender, he’s also the mayor, remember?Andhis bar is the old town hall.” I nodded at the Historical Society plaque affixed beside the door which, aside from the “The Bugle, Est. 1767” sign on the front lawn, was truly the only thing that made the building look like anything besides an old, white clapboard Colonial house. “So, like… I’m pretty sure Ernest would know, baby.”
“I’m positive. Citizenship is about where you live and are registered to pay taxes, not some ridiculous cider-based eligibility test. And furthermore, you don’t get to ban someone forever just because?—”
“Tell me more,” I whispered huskily, fluttering my eyelashes at him. “Educate me, Daddy.”
Knox closed his eyes and shook his head. “I hate you.”
“But not as much as you love me!” I laughed. “And, good news, Ernest says I can convey citizenship on my spouse, so when we… Uh.”
Shit. I had definitely not meant to say that.
I cleared my throat. “You know what? I think I hear the second half of the game starting. I was out here chatting with the fam, but I’m done now. So weird how you can’t get a signalinside the building, eh? But you’re right, we should go back inside.Brrr. Chilly. Does it look like snow to you? Hurry before we’re stuck out here in the blizzard.” I pushed ineffectually at his muscular arm.
He refused to be budged. “Mmm. Wait just a minute there, Goodman. Finish your thought. Are you offering to marry me so I can… become a citizen of Little Pippin Hollow?”
“No. Ha! As if.No. We’ve only been together for, like, four months! A third of a year. And I’m only twenty-five, Knox. That’d be… it’d be…”
Crazy. Scary.Perfect.
My pulse increased with excitement and no fear whatsoever, but I forced myself to calm the fuck down. Before we got together, Knox had been unsure about getting into a relationship at all.
He was joking. Joke. Ing.
Sure enough, when he looked at me his eyes danced. “Hey, if we did, would that make me a naturalized citizen of Whispering Key, too? Because your dad offered to take me out on the boat when we were down there last month, but I’m thinking maybe I should get myownboat since I’m a citizen. Can I be part of the group chat? Should we ask the mayor? He’d probably know.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I see what you’re doing and you’re not funny.”
“Except I kind of am.” He smiled his happy-go-lucky smile and I melted into a puddle of Gage-goo right there.
“You kind of are,” I agreed. “And as my boyfriend, you can be part of the group chat whenever you want.” I patted his chest, mostly for the excuse to touch him. “Their shenanigans might piss you off constantly, though, fair warning.”
“Nah.” He leaned in and ran his cold nose against my jaw, making me shiver. “I’m calm as the orchard in winter these days.”
“Yeah.” I teased with a happy sigh. “And all because you found the love of a good man.”
He laughed. “I was gonna credit the weekly therapy sessions, consistent meditation practice, good coping mechanisms, total lifestyle change, and having a patient doctor who’s worked to get me on a good combo of medication even though it’s taken months.” He turned and wrapped his arms around my waist. “But all of that has gotten me to a place where I can appreciate and return the love of a good man, and build a future with him, which is pretty crucial.”
“Aw.” I leaned into him. “I was joking and you got all serious. I love you.”
“I love you, too. And I appreciate you giving me that jokey out, but I don’t need it. You’re it for me. So if you everdowant to seal that deal, baby, and become an efficient Sunday for real, you just let me know.”
I gaped at him. “Wait.Wait. Seriously?”
“Serious as your newfound love of cows,” he vowed.
Knowing how fond I was of Diana, that… was very serious indeed.
He kissed me and it tasted like laughter. “I can see I’ve broken your brain, Goodman. It’s fine. We don’t need to decide anything tonight. We have forever, so there’s no need to rush to get?—”
Hawk threw the door open, his face pale and his eyes huge. “You guys need to come inside. Webb accidentally gotmarried!”
Accidentally?
Knox stared at Hawk in shock, but me? I grinned hugely.
“Come on,” I told Knox, tugging him by the hand. “This I have to see.”
It turned out that life in Little Pippin Hollow might actually be weirder than any other place in the world, and way more exciting than any big city.
