Page 107 of The Promise Of You

I head to my office and give Declan a call. It’s time I get off my ass. “What’s the law about surveillance cameras?” I ask him.

“No such law in Vermont.”

Huh. “So I can put cameras anywhere?”

“As long as you don’t break privacy laws, yes.”

“What’s’at mean?”

“Surveillance cameras are legal as long as they don’t capture anyone else’s private area. Like your neighbor’s garden or inside their house. Just don’t put cameras anywhere there’s an expectation of privacy. Like bathrooms.”

“Gotcha.”

He stays silent for a beat, and when I don’t add anything, he asks, “Does this have anything to do with what you asked me the other day?”

“Maybe.” Totally.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Justin.”

“I’m just getting my thumb out of my ass, like you said I should.”

“What happened to letting us take care of it?”

“That’s actually the part about getting you specific and demonstrated evidence. Or clues, whatever. You’ll be in the loop, no worries. Expect a call late at night one of these days.”

“Can’t wait,” he grumbles and hangs up.

I spend the next hour ordering cameras online, next day delivery.

Then I head to Clark’s Meadow to help take down the tents. A bunch of guys are already hard at work, and within a few hours we’re done.

Late afternoon, I’m pouring beers when Haley walks behind the bar. “I’m going to let you guys handle this tonight,” I tell her.

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Nice. Where’re you taking her?”

“I’ll be upstairs. Need some rest.”

She swats my bicep. “Take her out somewhere nice! In Colton’s car.”

“I’m going to be at my apartment, which is right upstairs. I need some rest.”

“I’m sure you do,” she whispers.

“If you guys need anything, you call me right away.”

“We won’t need anything. It’s Sunday. It’ll be slow. Go have fun.”

I’m about to tell her I’m not going to have fun, but that’d be a lie.

“Haley! I’m serious. You guys need anything, you call me.” I know they can handle dinner service without me, but I wasn’t here last night. I won’t be here tonight either. I feel a little guilty about it.

“Hope you take her somewhere nice,” she calls out teasingly as she walks out to the sidewalk.

I don’t tell her I’m cooking for Chloe. I don’t tell her I want to see Chloe in my space, in my bed, in my shower, on my kitchen counter. I want to make her mine in any way possible, and that means bringing her to my place.

I never wanted to date anyone. I never wanted to hook up with anyone in town.

But everything changed with Chloe. I want her in my world. I want her to be my world.

---