“Alright? Are you sure? You still look confused.”
“I need to go see Clem.”
“She’s probably still in town. She and Booker were just here for lunch.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
Gage left the restaurant and walked down the street to the sheriff’s office. When he went inside, Maya gave him a smile.
“Gage. How are you adjusting?”
“To what?”
“Being mayor.”
“Oh. Fine. It’s fine.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Is Clem here?”
“She’s in with the chief.”
Gage went to Booker’s office and knocked on the door. Clementine opened it. “Oh, hey. What are you doing here?”
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Without my husband again?”
“Um…yeah.” He looked at Booker. “Sorry.”
Booker laughed. “No problem.”
Clementine followed Gage out of the office, and they went outside. “The gazebo?”
“Sure.”
They walked to the park and sat on a bench under the gazebo. Clementine smiled. “Let me guess. You’re running for president now.”
“I need a woman’s point of view.”
“Okay. You know you work with a woman. And you’re dating a woman. And I’m pretty sure you’re in love with a woman.”
Gage turned to her. “Will you stop, please?”
“Sorry. What’s up?”
“Does love…terrify you?”
She laughed. “No. Love is wonderful. Why would it terrify me?” She cocked her head. “Does it terrify you?”
“A little bit, yeah.”
Clementine took his hand. “It’s not terror you’re feeling, it’s overwhelming awe.”
“How do you figure?”
“You’re happy, right? You can’t wait to spend time alone with Sydney. You think about her when you’re not with her. You want to ravish her at times when it’d be really inappropriate to do so. But thinking about it drives you crazy.”