Page 124 of No Place Like Home
Yeah.
He kinda knew it then too.
thirty
TWO WEEKS LATER
“Ican’t believe I let y’all talk me into this.” Cade adjusted positions on the dunking booth board, his bare feet dangling into the water beneath.
Rosalyn grinned, sidling up as close as the oversized tank would allow. Cade looked way too cute in swim trunks and a white T-shirt, sunglasses tucked into the neck. “It’s for the town, Landry. Get on board.”
The Water Day fundraiser Delia planned was going great. The mid-August sun shone bright overhead. Across the park, children squealed their way down the inflatable slide set up near the gazebo.
And she was here with Cade.
For good.
“Yeah, quit complaining.” Noah wound up his pitching arm as he stood a few yards from the buzzer mounted on a tarp to Cade’s left. “A little water never hurt anyone.”
“Just accept now that you won’t bring in as much money as Sheriff Rubart or my father did.” Elisa stood to Noah’s side, where she’d stopped admiring the way her engagement ring shimmered under the sun long enough to have a conversation.
Next to Elisa, wearing a tank top and shorts, Zoey snorted. “I’m pretty sure Noah and Linc will help make up any difference.”
“Yeah, I’m pitching until he goes in.” Noah tossed the ball from hand to hand. “Take my money.” He lined up for the shot.
“Wait!” Rosalyn reached toward Cade and grabbed his sunglasses. “I’ll hang on to these for you.”
Cade smirked, shifting positions on the bench. “You’re assuming he’s going to hit the buzzer.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Noah narrowed his eyes. “Step back, Rosalyn, unless you want to get splashed.”
“That’s a lot of confidence.” Linc crossed his arms over his muscle tank.
“I played baseball growing up.” Noah squinted at the buzzer. “Just wait.” He threw the ball.
It bounced two feet from the buzzer and rolled back toward him.
“I think it’s safe to give me my sunglasses back.” Cade laughed.
Rosalyn slid them on her own face. “Not a chance. I believe in my friends.”
“Cheap shot, Ace.” Cade pressed his hand over his heart, his eyes dancing, and for a second, they were eighteen again. Standing on the outdoor platform at graduation as a dozen cannons shot confetti high into the air. Locking eyes across the throng of students as they moved their tassel to the other side of their shiny blue caps.
Completely unaware of all the future held.
Rosalyn’s stomach fluttered on cue. Oh, but she liked being back in Magnolia Bay. Liked that she had made new friends and restored a full relationship with not only Cade but her mom.
She’d finally told her parents everything. All the mistakes, the lies, the misplaced trust. The bad decisions and fear of being rejected if she didn’t do everything perfectly.
And like in Chug a Mug that day with the laptop, they’d handled it with grace.
“I never wanted you to be perfect at ballet, I just wanted you to have fun,” Mom had said.
And wasn’t that ironic? “Well, I never had fun because I wasn’t perfect at it.”
They’d laughed together, teary. “None of us are perfect. Sure, I was disappointed you quit—but not for long.” Mom’s eyes had glazed over as she took Rosalyn’s hand, squeezed. “You were obviously meant to fly.”
And looking into Cade’s steady gaze now, she realized there were multiple ways to do exactly that.
