Page 104 of Fangirl Down

Considering she’d just delivered her two weeks’ notice, it was a dangerous place to be.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Josephine stood at the edge of the Golden Tee, watching Wells saunter through the space, hands in his pockets. He was not a hands-in-the-pockets type of guy. They were usually planted on his hips or his arms were crossed over his chest. She knew this man. Knew he was torn between being happy for her and apprehensive about the expiration date on their arrangement. And yeah, she was nervous, too.

Because when the shop was ready and the time came to return to real life, back in Palm Beach, Josephine wasn’t sure she’d be able to leave him.

For the first time, she pondered the wild possibility of giving up the shop. Staying on as Wells’s caddie until... when? Until he retired? He was only twenty-nine. Retirement might not come for well over a decade. And what if they broke up... personallyandprofessionally... and Josephine no longer had the shop to return to? That was a lot ofwhat-ifs.

And could she even physically leave the Golden Tee behind? Despite the flood, her family’s history was still very much alive within these walls. Walking away would be like removing vital organs from inside her body and pretending everything was normal for the rest of her life. She would miss the place, of course, but mainly, she would miss themeaningof it.

Hard work, ingenuity, pride, tradition. Family.

At the same time, Josephine was growing increasingly worriedthat leaving Wells could prove just as difficult. Add two or three more weeks to the equation and... how hard would it be then?

Wells pulled Josephine from her dark thoughts by asking, “Where is the consultation lounge going to go?”

She pointed toward the back of the shop. “There. I’m thinking of two leather wingbacks, a big architect board with maps and yardage. I want it to feel like the captain’s quarters of a ship. But... technologically modern.”

He nodded for a long time, as though envisioning what she’d described. “It’s going to be incredible, Josephine.”

“Thanks.”

“Where is the giant cardboard cutout of Wells Whitaker going to go?”

“In the bathroom,” she said, without missing a beat.

He barked a laugh, then fell silent again.

Time to face the elephant in the room. Head-on. That’s how they operated, wasn’t it? “Why don’t you just tell me what you’re thinking, Wells?”

“Okay.” He speared five fingers through his hair, before stuffing them back in his pocket. “I’m thinking... we just decided to be together this morning and already the situation is on the verge of changing.” His eyes closed briefly. “I don’t want anything to fuck with this, Josephine.”

“Then we won’t let anything fuck with it,” she said, trying to keep her voice even.

Wells’s chest rose and fell. “Yeah, except... you’ve met me, right? The self-destructive asshole who holds the record for breaking the most golf clubs on the tour? I’ve won more bar fights than tournaments.” He shook his head. “I’m worried I’ll backslide without you and... I’ll stop being this guy who is worthy of you, you know? I’m on thin goddamn ice, as it is. I’ve finished in the moneyoncein the last couple of years, belle. That’s nothing.”

“You’re wrong. It’s something.”

“Yeah? I don’t know.” He swept the room with a glance. “What I do know is that this place feels like Josephine. It has your energy and spirit. Your love for golf. I can’t deprive anyone of that, even if I’m inclined to keep you all to myself.” A rigid line moved in his jaw. “We’re going to spend the next few weeks kicking preppy ass on the tour, belle, because I want this place to be exactly what you want. Ineedthat for you.”

I’m in love.

I’m in love with Wells.

Oh... boy.

His ability to adapt and grow, his thoughtfulness, the way he cared about her without making her feel caredfor. Now, his selflessness had rolled through and knocked her down like a set of bowling pins.

Strike.

“Are you with me, Josephine?”

“Yes,” she murmured. Then louder, “Yes, of course I am. Those preppies are toast.”

And so am I.

“Glad we’re on the same page,” he said quietly, studying her beneath drawn brows.

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