Page 272 of Time Stops With You

“I love you,” I say sincerely.

“Belize sounds fantastic.”

“It’s a paradise, Cullen. I mean, yeah, every country has its ugly underbelly. It’s not perfect. But for our needs, the air and the food in Belize will allow you to live much longer. I’m sure of it.”

Without a word, Cullen gets up, takes away my plate and disappears outside. Moments later, he returns and climbs back into bed with me.

I immediately continue making my case. “This is a good idea. From every angle, Belize has what you need. You only have to check in with your doctors every three months. It’s close enough to the US that those visits won’t be too hard on you.”

My words stop as Cullen abruptly pulls me into his chest and adjusts my legs in between his. Our clothes are still on and he’s looking at me with pinched eyebrows, so I know we’re not about to go any further than cuddling.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to argue,” Cullen says definitively. “I thought it’d be better if we could argue like this.”

I laugh into his chest.

He says nothing more.

Neither do I.

Rain patters outside the large windows, but I’m safe and warm, my legs tangled in Cullen’s and his arm banded around my waist.

He exhales shakily and speaks in a quiet voice. “Nardi, your life is here. You just leased that commercial kitchen. Your videos are taking off and your catering clients are in the US, not Belize.”

“I can feed people in Belize just as well as I can in the US. In fact, Belizeans will probably like my cooking more than Americans. And I can make videos from anywhere. My business podcasts all say that a personal brand is more important than a physical location anyway.”

“What about Josiah?” Cullen argues. “You once told me that Belize isn’t equipped to foster your brother’s academic abilities.”

He has me there. However, I’m a fighter and I refuse to give up, especially because I believe this is the right thing to do.

“Josiah can come with us to Belize and study online. Knowledge isn’t only found in a physical classroom. It can be a digital classroom too. When he’s eighteen, he can go to a college in the US. He’ll be fine.”

Cullen shakes his head. “You worked so hard to build a life here. Now you’re leaving it behind? I can’t let you do that.”

“You're notlettingme do anything. Like I said, Belize is close by. Now that I have my citizenship, I can fly over any time I want.”

Cullen’s expression remains closed-off.

I realize it will only hurt my case to keep pushing so I kiss him instead. Breaking apart, I plead, “You don’t have to make up your mind. At least think about it.”

He nods gravely. “I will.”

Later that night, mom calls my phone and threatens to send a search party if I don’t come home.

She doesnotbuy my excuse that I’m at a girls-only camping trip with Sunny and the other farmhouse ladies.

The lie would have worked…

If I told Sunny about the supposed trip we were taking together.

“Sunny called me earlier this evening, asking why she couldn’t get in touch with you. The jig is up, Nardi. Where on earth are you? All I got three days ago was a text saying you and Mike aren’t going to work out. Why not? What happened?”

I glance at Cullen and mouth.“How do I explain this?”

He shrugs—the jerk—and leaves me floundering on my own.

“Uh, mom…” I realize with some dismay that I probably shouldn’t say this over the phone. “Can you wait until tomorrow?”

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