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Jack said a little uncomfortably, “Well…”

Ellery laughed. “You better watch it, Jack. Watson’s liable to think you’re getting serious about him.”

“Ha,” Jack said weakly.

Ellery laughed again, turned to the table Jack had set for dinner, and threw Jack a startled look.

“Wow. This is so nice.” No lie. Candles in small hurricane lanterns. Flowers in a mason jar. Little white lights strung around the patio posts and through the shrubs. He opened his mouth to make some joke—he didn’t want to embarrass Jack by making too much of a nice gesture—but Jack looked both pleased and self-conscious.

Jack was doing all of this for Ellery. It was lovely and romantic. Jackintendedit to be lovely and romantic. He said instead, “I didn’t realize it was so pretty out here. We should have eaten out here all summer.”

“Shall we sit?” Jack pulled Ellery’s chair out.

Ellery sat down. He felt unexpectedly self-conscious, even a little shy. He smiled at Jake.

Jake held up the wine bottle. Ellery nodded.

“What should we toast to?”

Jack said quietly, “To life well-lived with those we love.”

“That’s nice.”

Jack filled their glasses. They clinked rims, and the silvery chime floated through the twilight.

The wine was very good. The food was very good. The conversation…

Well, Jack was a little quiet and Ellery was a little nervous. But every time he glanced at Jack, Jack smiled at him, and Ellery felt happy. Happy in a way he couldn’t even explain.

Finally, as they were reaching the end of their meals, Jack put his fork down.

“Have you made your mind up about whether you’re taking the role in the Happy Halloween reboot?”

“Not yet.”

Jack ran a gentle finger over Ellery’s knuckles. “Is it that difficult of a decision?”

Ellery lifted a shoulder. “I don’t want to do anything that puts strain on our relationship.”

Jack’s smile faded. His hand stilled. “Do you think our relationship can’t take any strain?”

“I don’t… I know you really don’t like the idea, and that matters to me. I don’t want to make you unhappy.”

“I don’t want to make you unhappy either. If you want the role—”

“I don’t know that I want it. I sure as heck don’t want it if it ruins things for us.”

“Ruins things?” Jack looked taken aback.

Ellery exhaled a long, suddenly shaky breath. “I’m being dramatic. Sorry. I’m just tired.”

“Tell me what’s worrying you.” Jack’s voice was so quiet, so gentle, it made Ellery’s eyes sting.

“It’s silly. I know. I worry about eventually having to let Kingston go or losing the bookshop all together. I worry about losing Captain’s Seat. Everything takes so much money.”

After a moment, Jack said, “You could sell Skull House.”

“No. I can’t. I promised Nora she’d be able to use it for the Historical Society. I can’t do that to her. Or the island.”