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“I need someone to help me manage The Magic Wonderland. Someone who’s mature enough to handle that job and who knows the ins and outs of this place. Someone like you.”

My eyes grow wide with surprise. “You want me to manage this park for you?”

“Well, co-manage, yes, for now. Then one day, you could manage everything while Irene and I sail to the Bahamas.”

“But I’m perfectly happy being Prince Charming.”

He sighs. “I feel like your talents are wasted in Costume Crew.”

“Why? Am I not performing well?”

He shakes his head. “You’re the best Prince Charming this park has ever had, Colton. But you’ve got so much more to offer. Plus, this job comes with a higher paycheck. You know that I’m retiring soon and—”

“Let me stop you right there, Frank. You know I’m leaving.”

He sighs. “So you say. But there’s nothing out there that will change things for you. Even if you moved to some secluded place far away, you’d still be you. No offence, but you can’t run from your problems because you’ll always take yourself with you.”

I lean back in my chair and grit my teeth. I don’t want to listen to his analysis of my inner workings.

He levels me with a deep look. “You know I’m right. Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to decide right away.”

“I’ll think about thinking about it.”

He laughs. “Sounds fair enough.”

I get up, but I know I can’t leave like this. “I appreciate your offer, Frank. I don’t want to come across as ungrateful by not agreeing to it right away.”

“Don’t worry about it, son. This is a big decision. I wouldn’t want you to take it lightly.”

“Thanks,” I say, then head out of his office.

It’s as if something is trying to keep me here in Summerville Creek. First, there’s Elle. And now this offer from Frank.

I decide to catch some fresh air and take my bike for a ride before picking up Elle. Her shift isn’t over for another hour anyway.

Things just got a lot more complicated, and I need time to think.

Chapter Thirteen

Elle

“That’s what you’re going to wear?” Maggie stands in the doorway of my room with a shocked look on her face. If I didn’t know any better, I’d be offended.

“These are my usual clothes. What’s wrong with them?” I ask.

“Nothing. I just thought you’d wear something with a bit more sass to it for a date.”

I put my hands on my hips and level her with a stare. “A date? I’m not going on a date. You said you had planned a fun night out with friends.”

She grins at me in that way she does when she’s got news to tell. Uh-oh. The look in her eyes tells me something doesn’t add up. “I got the three of us a date. Surprise!”

My heart drops into my stomach. A surprise date? And she fixed Colton up with someone as well? I might be sick just thinking about it. I know that about four in ten Americans go on a blind date at least once in their life, but that doesn’t mean I want to be one of them.

“Oh, Maggie, I don’t know. Dating is the last thing on my mind right now.”

She frowns. “Just the other day you went out with that Zeke guy. What’s changed?”

I shrug, trying to look and sound innocent. “Nothing.”