Page 97 of Somewhere You Belong

I groan, dropping my head in my hands. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

And after seeing Dallas’s reaction to my leaving, I seriously wonder if I’m making the right decision about a lot of things. I know Penn suggested I stay with Dallas, but that would only make it that much harder to leave when my time here is over. Besides the floors, the only things left are the roof and a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, a decision we came to before he left today. If I’m going to put a new roof on the place, might as well spruce up the rest of the house, right?

With only those projects left, the timeline for renovations ended up being shorter than we anticipated, which means my time here in this magical town is coming to an end soon.

Going back to D.C. is inevitable, and even though every moment I spend here makes me fantasize about a life in Carrington Cove—with Dallas, Astrid, and those muffins—it’s just not possible.

My business is six hours away.

My life has been there for the past ten years.

I still don’t know what to think about my surprise visitor.

And I’m keeping a secret from this man that could destroy him.

I can’t be responsible for doing that to another person.

“What’s going on?” Astrid asks, pulling me from my inner turmoil.

“I have to go back home for a few days.”

“Okay…” She glances over at where Dallas is standing, smiling and talking to a few customers, and then it hits her. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you’ll be back, right?”

I lean back in the chair. “Yes, but not for much longer.”

Astrid takes a deep breath. “I hate to ask this, but does your offer to invest in the bakery still stand even though you’re leaving?”

“Of course, Astrid. I wouldn’t go back on that promise,” I assure her.

She sighs in relief. “Okay. Well, Greg and Jenny agreed to sell to me, and the bank said I wouldn’t qualify for the loan on my own. So, maybe when you get back this week we can meet up at the bank? You know, before the chaos of the Carrington Cove Games starts?”

“Oh, crap. That’s this coming weekend, huh?”

“Yes. And you can’t miss that.” She tilts her head at me. “Don’t worry about Dallas, Willow. He’s a big boy and I’m pretty sure he knew the score before he started whatever it is y’all have going on.”

“I know, but it still doesn’t make me feel great. I guess part of me feels like I’m leading him on.”

She tips her shoulder up, smiling. “Well, is there any chance that you might consider staying? And I’m not just asking for my own selfish reasons.”

“I—”

But I don’t get a chance to answer before another server comes over and places a club sandwich in front of me, along with a dirty martini with three olives.

“Oh, uh…I didn’t order this.”

The server tips her head in Dallas’s direction. “Dallas ordered it for you.”

Our eyes meet and in that moment, I try to answer Astrid’s question for the hundredth time.

Do I want to stay in Carrington Cove?

Yes.

But can I stay without dire consequences?

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