Page 142 of The Even Odder Couple

Beside me, Spencer squawks.

“And who knows?” Mrs. Lockhart adds. “Perhaps one day, in the future, if I’m prompted by my political success to pursue a larger role in government, you might even run for mayor!”

While everyone claps again, Mrs. Lockhart extends her hand. Is she calling me over to give an answer now? My throat closes up. Being the recreation director would be amazing. But I wasn’t prepared to say yes in front of a crowd.

Spencer puts a hand at the small of my back, and I take a few tentative steps toward Mrs. Lockhart. I’m a deer in headlights. A baby deer.

A baby deer with a semi headed toward it.

“Hold, please!” Mrs. Lockhart backs up. “I still have a second announcement to make.” She waves me back and waits for the crowd to quiet again. Then she puts the bullhorn back to her lips.

“I—your fearless mayor—and Mr. Bernard Dudley—supervisor of the Edward R. McCoy Library—got married last weekend in a lovely private ceremony at the Apple Valley courthouse. From now on, you may address me as Mrs. Miranda Lockhart Hyphen Dudley Mayor.”

And with that, she drops her bullhorn.

* * *

It’s another two full hours before Spencer and I are ready to leave the ranch. The kids and counselors have said their goodbyes, along with hugs and tearful promises to be back again next summer. Even Mrs. Miranda Lockhart Hyphen Dudley Mayor is gone.

Before Mr. Dudley came to collect her, I explained that I’d need a day or two to decompress, then a follow-up meeting with the council.

I’ll almost certainly accept the job, but I’m still stunned by her public praise. The only other time I’ve felt this numb, I was going into anaphylactic shock.

When Spencer and I finally head to the parking lot, Clive is already there, about to climb into his Mustang. He loves that thing. A lot.

“Cheers, mates!” he calls out. The sky is dark, but the moon lights up his grin. “I’m about to meet Kayla to celebrate the extension of my work permit.”

“Whoa!” Spencer offers up a fist bump. “Congratulations, man. That’s great.”

Clive’s grin gets even wider. “Jonah and Val hired me to be the executive chef for what I’d call theirconglomeration of companies. Dodd Shipping. McCoy Construction. Homes 4 Humans. All their interconnected dealings.”

“Wow. From camp chef to executive chef?” I nod, impressed. “Big leap.”

And you know all about that, Tess. One giant leap headed your way.

“Indeed it is,” Clive admits. “But when Fix recommended me for this job, it was only to get me here to the States. He and Jonah knew I had larger aspirations.” He arches a brow. “Flipping burgers was fantastic, but now I’ll be overseeing staffing suggestions and menu creation, both here and abroad.”

“Huh.” Spencer tilts his head. “Will you be based in Apple Valley?”

Clive splays his hands. “I’ll have to travel for our larger fundraising events, but much of the work can be done remotely. So yes, for now, Apple Valley will be my base camp.” He checks his watch. “On that note, Kayla’s got champagne chilling. Would you two like to come ’round and join us?”

“Thanks, but we’ve got plans,” Spencer says, before I can respond.

Hmm.I was going to decline Clive’s offer too, but I didn’t know Spencer had already made plans for us. I’d been thinking we could finally be alone together, which is a lot to navigate, even without an audience. As we climb into Spencer’s trusty gray sedan, I lean back against the headrest.

“We don’t really have plans, right?”

“Would it be bad if we did?”

I turn my head sideways and meet his gaze. “It’s just that I’ve done enough people-ing tonight. I wasn’t expecting to be around anyone but you.”

“I understand,” he says. I offer him a small smile. Thanks to the moonlight, his face is half in shadow, both sides equally handsome. Smart and playful. Gentle and strong. He’s two ends of a spectrum, and everything I need.

“How about I just take you home?” he offers. And a peaceful warmth flows through me.

“Yes, please,” I tell him. “Home sounds good.”

For me—for a little while longer—homestill means Nash and Emi’s place. They pulled their house off the market with a plan to re-list after her first trimester. They both agreed they’d have an easier time picking the right buyers when Emi wasn’t nauseated and exhausted. But my time there’s running short.

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