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“I’m not taking it.”

Silence.

“Wait, what?” His tone shifts, caught between confusion and disbelief. “Beck, this is—”

“I’m staying in Irondale.” The words come out stronger this time, and I feel the weight fairly lifting from my chest as I say them.

Another beat of silence. “You sure about this?”

“Yeah.” I glance toward the kitchen, where Abby is laughing softly as Jake tells her some ridiculous story.

“More than sure.”

Turning down Boston was the easy part. Now… I need to show Abby that I’mall in.

Words aren’t enough. She needs to see it. Feel it.

And I know exactly how to make that happen.

***

I spend the next few days making calls, meeting with people, and keeping everything under wraps. It’s not easy, but I want this to be perfect.

Because Abby deservesperfect.

She and Jake were absolutely thrilled when I sat them down to tell them we would all be staying in Elmwood while I continued to work for the Ice Hawks. It was a trio of amazing hugs and kisses and I’m pretty sure a really sloppy dog kiss came into the fray at some point. I did my best to let them know how happy I am to have chosen them over everything.

But I want to go even further. And that is what I’ve been working on the past few days. When I see the look on her face… and the joy on Jake’s ...

I’ll know I made the right choice.

Chapter twenty

Abby

“Iswear,ifIhave to untangle one more set of lights, I’m giving up and using candles,” I mutter under my breath, wrestling with a stubborn string of lights that has somehow managed to knot itself into an unbreakable web.

Quinn chuckles beside me, her hands expertly stringing lights around the porch railing like she was born for this. “Come on, Abs. Where’s your spirit?”

“Buried somewhere under this mess.” I blow a stray curl out of my face, glaring at the lights. “Maybe I should just leave it like this. Call it abstract décor.”

“Or you could let Beck help,” Quinn suggests, a knowing grin tugging at her lips. “I’m pretty sure he’d jump at the chance.”

I pause, my fingers stilling for a moment.

Beck.

Even thinking his name makes my heart do that stupid fluttery thing it’s been doing ever since he chose us over Boston.

He stayed.

For me. For Jake.

Forus.

And I still can’t believe it.

“Earth to Abby,” Quinn teases, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’re smiling like a lovesick teenager. Want to share with the class?”