Page 128 of Trick or Tease

“About damn time,” Billy called out. “I was starting to think I would have to lock you two in the haunted house until you worked this out.”

Lucy was practically bouncing with excitement. “This is the best possible ending to the season. Partners in business and in life!”

I kept my arm around Sabrina’s waist, not ready to let her go.

“They act like locking us in the house would be a punishment,” Sabrina joked.

“Yeah, yeah,” Lucy groaned. “Whatever you two freaks do in there is your business.”

“Did you sign the papers?” I asked Sabrina.

“Nope.”

“Sabrina, please,” I said.

“Let’s sign and then we are celebrating,” Billy said.

We made our way back to the house, the four of us walking together just like we used to. The partnership papers would make this new relationship between the four of us official. It would bind us together not just as friends and family, but as true partners in every sense of the word.

I had stopped at the liquor store in town earlier that morning, picking up a bottle of champagne on the off chance that Sabrina would actually forgive me. It was probably presumptuous as hell, but I had been desperate enough to hope for the best while preparing for the worst.

The papers were still out on the table. The four of us sat down.

“Okay,” Billy said, pulling out a pen. “Let’s make this official.”

I watched as he signed his name with a flourish, then passed the pen to Lucy. She practically bounced in her seat as she added her signature, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Your turn,” Lucy said, sliding the papers toward Sabrina.

Sabrina picked up the pen and hesitated for just a moment, looking around the table at all of us. “You’re sure about this? Once I sign, you’re stuck with me.”

“That’s the idea,” I said softly.

She looked at me for a long moment then nodded once. I watched as she bent over the papers and signed her name. Sabrina Lamb, part owner of Hogan’s Hill Farm.

We were business partners. I hoped one day we would be more than that.

I took the pen from her. This was it. This was me choosing this life, this family, this woman, over everything I thought I wanted. I signed my name next to hers. It felt like coming home.

“Done,” I said, setting the pen down. “We’re officially partners.”

Billy whooped and pulled the champagne bottle toward him. “Time to celebrate!”

The cork popped with a satisfying sound. Lucy cheered as Billy poured the fizzy liquid into our glasses. It wasn’t the most expensive champagne I ever had, but it tasted like victory.

“To partnerships,” Billy said, raising his glass.

“To family,” Lucy added.

“To second chances,” Sabrina said, looking directly at me.

“To home,” I finished, and we all clinked our glasses together.

“So,” Billy said after we’d all taken a few sips, “what’s our first official act as partners?”

“Planning next year’s festival,” Lucy said.

“And what about Christmas?” Sabrina asked.