Page 111 of Tempt Me

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Walk me home?” I ask.

He blinks. A tiny flicker of that earlier joy shows briefly in his eyes.

“Sure,” he says.

We head out to the porch. Charlotte is getting into her car. “Want a ride?” she calls but I shake my head.

“Caden’s going to walk me,” I say.

“Okay,” Charlotte says, but when Caden’s back is turned she waggles her eyebrows.

I shake my head sharply. Nothing is going to happen—he’s leaving soon for good. I’m not about to open myself up to that hurt again. She holds up her phone. I nod. I’ll text her later.

We head down Main Street in the shade of the sugar maples. The silence billows between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s a silence of frustration. Of lack of answers.

“Well, this sucks,” I say.

Caden gives a surprised chuckle. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” He sighs. “It feels so pointless, you know? We’ve gotten all these new leads, new evidence, and for what? Nothing’s changed.”

“That’s not true,” I say. “You’ve changed a lot. You’ve got the police actively investigating again! We just don’t have all the pieces yet.”

“How many more pieces could there be?”

“I don’t know. But I’m betting on Junior Detective Everton.”

He glances at me, and a gentle smile pulls at his lips. It makes my stomach shiver.

“You are quite the optimist.”

“I am indeed. Especially for someone with a broken engagement.”

Caden’s expression turns grim. “If you feel like he needs punching again, I’m happy to offer my services.”

“Nah, he’s not worth it.”

He shoots me a sideways look. “You seem to be taking it in stride.”

“Do I?” I gaze up at the leaves rustling overhead. “I should probably be sadder about it,” I murmur. “But after the initial shock, I’ve felt this sense of…lightness. Like I knew all along he wasn’t my person.”

Caden goes quiet beside me. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. But it’s true.

“The world is your oyster,” he says after a moment.

“I hope I find the pearl.”

He gives me another sideways glance. “Youarethe pearl,” he says quietly.

I have the strongest urge to hold his hand. But I can’t give into that feeling.

He’s leaving soon, he’s leaving soon…I chant the words in my mind like a mantra.

As we enter the center of town, the sidewalks get more crowded, bustling with tourists.

“Hey guys,” Dev says, standing outside the Grater Good with a tray of samples. “Fresh pecorino? Just got it in yesterday.”

Caden and I each take a slice.

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