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And then there’s Amelia. While everything is great between us, it nags at me that I told her I love her and she didn’t say it back. I know that she needs time. I mean, her divorce won’t be final for months. And yet, a scared little voice inside of me worries that she may never say it, and wouldn’t it be safer just to run?

No. Let Amelia tear my heart out. I’m not hurting hers.

Five minutes later, the three of them arrive.

Amelia gives me a wide smile when I stand up to greet them. I shake Mads’s hand first, then offer Chase a high five. He gives me a shy smile, which is new from him, before slapping my hand. I give Amelia a light kiss on the lips before pulling her chair out.

Mads raises her eyebrows. Chase doesn’t notice but quickly grabs the seat I just vacated next to her.

“Thanks,” Amelia says as she sits down.

I grab my beer, which is now in front of Chase, and take the seat across from Amelia instead.

“Are you excited about the festival?” I ask Chase.

He nods. “Mom says you’ll go with me on the Tornado.”

I smile. “Sure. The Tornado is my favorite.”

We order dinner, and Madison asks Chase about everything he’s been up to since the last time they saw each other. She asks about his friends and school, but as it often does with Chase, the conversation goes back to baseball.

“Are you going to watch me in the tournament on Sunday?”

“I’ll watch a little bit,” Madison answers, “but I’m performing in the afternoon.”

“Blake and I will come watch,” Amelia says. “And afterward, you and I will watch the Old Timers’ game.”

“Really?” Chase asks, his face worried.

“Really.”

Amelia won’t be doing the punch party on Sunday—we’re inviting the Clearview team and their families to lunch at the festival—so I’m as excited as Chase to learn that she wants to watch the game, especially after what happened last time with Ethan and Charlotte.

“It’ll be fun,” I say.

“So no one’s coming to watch me perform?” Madison puts on a fake pouty face.

Chase laughs. “Penny will watch you. She’s been talking about it all week. She wants to join your band when she grows up.”

“Does she now?”

Madison and Amelia share a look. They’ve got something up their sleeves for sure.

“I’m hoping the tournament will end in time for us to see the end of your show,” Amelia says.

When the food comes, Madison asks me about the bar. I tell her about my plans to open a brewery, and I love watching Chase and Amelia excitedly throwing out ideas.

I imagine Amelia being a partner in the brewery. I love the idea of working with her, of planning together, of opening something that is both of ours. I’d have to ask Bryce, of course, but it’s a new version of the future, one that has me excited. It’s a new way that Amelia just fits into my life, a new way to tie her to me.

We finish dinner and head out to the festival. With the carnival taking up all the parking spaces, we have to park at the baseball field and walk into town. But it’s a beautiful walk, with the town of Dogwood Grove lit up in front of us and the carnival’s colorful lights calling out to us.

Chase skips down the street, he’s so excited, and I have to leave Amelia’s side to keep up with him.

Chase lists off every ride he wants to go on as we get closer and closer.

“I wish my dad could come with me. He loves the bumper cars.”

“I’m sure that can be arranged,” I say, hating for anything to bring down his excitement.