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Milo halts his steps, his hands coming to rest on my hips.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What about the mastermind behind the story?” His voice lowers. “Doesn’t she deserve happiness? Peace? Love?”

“That all depends.”

“On?”

“Who she gives her heart to.”

“Whoever he is,” he lowers his face toward mine, “will never be deserving of a heart like yours. Not even if he lived a thousand lifetimes.”

“Don’t say that,” I whisper.

“Why not? It’s true. I don’t think I deserved it back in high school either. There were so many things I could’ve done differently. So many times I should’ve—”

I press my fingers to his lips before he can finish the thought.

“Fuck yesterday. Fuck tomorrow. We have tonight. Remember?”

Milo catches my wrist and presses a kiss to my fingertips before cradling my face between his palms.

“You stole my words. Is that ethical for a writer?”

“Creative Writing 101. Always borrow from the best.”

His laugh is low and warm as he leans in to kiss me. Unfortunately, his lips never make it there. Not when a police cruiser tears past us, its siren slicing through the quiet street.

Milo closes his eyes and drops his forehead against mine.

“That’s the second time we’ve been rudely interrupted.”

I laugh. “I guess that means tomorrow we just need to meet somewhere more private.”

“Where?” he asks without missing a beat.

“How about the lake?”

“I’ll be there. Midnight?”

“Midnight.”

This time, I’m the one who goes in for a kiss, only for another police car to race past us, sirens blazing. Instead of cursing the interruption, I watch its taillights disappear down the street toward the Alder B&B. Then another cruiser follows.

“Something’s happened,” I say, fearing the worst as I start speed-walking toward the inn.

I only make it a few steps before realizing Milo isn’t beside me.

I turn around. “Milo? Aren’t you coming?”

“No.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He then turns and starts walking in the opposite direction.

I have half a mind to follow him and ask why the hell he’s acting so weird all of a sudden, but I don’t. Not when a white van passes me and turns toward the B&B, the medical examiner’s seal visible on its side.