Page 22

THE WAITING ROOM chair was hard and unforgiving, and I’d been shifting in it for the past twenty minutes, trying not to jump out of my skin.

I wasn’t allowed in with Ben, which was bad enough, but Theo, the confident, take-no-prisoners lawyer, had gone in with him.

Not that I was jealous of Theo—okay, maybe a little.

But mostly, I just wanted to be the one by Ben’s side, glaring at this Brad guy and threatening him into handing over whatever it took to keep Ben out of this mess.

My fingers drummed a restless rhythm on my knees.

The office smelled of coffee and printer toner, and the hum of the fluorescent lights above felt as if it was mocking me.

What was taking so long?

What if Brad was jerking them around?

What if this was a game and they walked out with nothing?

I leaned forward, elbows on my thighs, staring at the door as if I could will it to open.

Nothing. Another minute passed.

My stomach twisted tighter with every tick of the clock.

Then, at last, the door opened, and Theo stepped out first, his face like thunder.

My heart dropped. I shot up from the chair so fast it skidded backward across the linoleum floor.

“What happened?” I demanded, my voice sharp with worry.

But before Theo could answer, I saw Ben step out behind him.

And he was grinning.

Ear to ear. Relief hit me like a freight train.

“We’ve got the password to everything that shows I didn’t know what Brad was doing,” Ben said, his voice almost giddy.

My legs buckled, and I dropped back into the chair, tugging him down so he sat beside me.

His hand was warm in mine, and I didn’t let go as Theo strode over to a nearby desk and started typing furiously on a laptop.

Theo leaned back after a moment, a satisfied grin on his face.

“The initial audits,” he said, scrolling through files on the screen.

“They’re all here. And the documents naming those involved.”

He glanced over at us, his expression victorious.

“I’ll get this over to the prosecution. I imagine we’ll have all six fund managers making deals before midnight.”

I turned to Ben, squeezing his hand tighter.

“So… does this mean—”

“I don’t have to testify?” Ben asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Theo nodded. “Let’s talk about this outside,” he said, which sounded ominous.

Maybe he wanted privacy to break bad news?

I grasped Ben’s hand and held it tight as we headed out to Theo’s car, and both climbed into the back.

“I’ll make calls,” he announced and began to pace outside, his phone pressed to his ear.

Theo’s deliberate gestures with his free hand made it clear he was in mid-argument.

I turned to Ben, who was quiet after his initial high and fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve as he processed that we still didn’t know if he needed to testify.

“You okay?” I asked to break the silence.

Ben nodded, though the tension in his shoulders said otherwise.

“Yeah. Brad was… not how I expected him to be,” he said, his voice low.

He glanced at me as if gauging my reaction before continuing.

“I’d changed him from my best friend into this supervillain, and I expected him to accuse or try to hurt me or… all he wanted to do was apologize.”

I frowned.

“‘Apologize’? For what? The years of fraud or the part where he was withholding things that could have meant you’d be dragged down with him?”

Ben huffed a bitter laugh, shaking his head.

“I think for all of it. But mostly for… I don’t know, for being a shitty friend. He said he didn’t think it would go as far as it did. That he didn’t mean for me to be part of it.”

“Did you believe him?”

Ben’s jaw tightened, and he stared back out of the window.

“I think he was sorry. But sorry doesn’t fix everything.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I reached over and rested my hand on his thigh, grounding him in the only way I knew how.

He covered my hand with his, threading our fingers together.

“He asked Theo to help him,” Ben said after a moment, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“He knew Theo would be there with me, and he wanted to push for a reduced sentence because he cooperated, gave up the password, handed over everything he had.”

“So, it wasn’t just to say sorry.” I couldn’t keep the disbelief out of my voice.

Ben shrugged, his grip on my hand tightening.

I studied him for a moment, the way his eyes stayed fixed on Theo as he paced outside.

“You don’t owe him anything, Ben. You know that, right?”

He nodded, but I wasn’t sure if he believed it.

Before I could say anything else, Theo’s pacing stopped, and he turned toward the car, his phone still pressed to his ear.

He gestured sharply, his lips moving in what appeared to be a string of curses before hanging up and marching over our way.

“Brad’s not getting a reduction,” Theo said as he slid into the driver’s seat.

“The prosecution’s already moving forward with what we have and are convinced they have enough. Sure, his cooperation was worth something, but it was not enough to erase what he had done and change his light sentence. The prosecution doesn’t need you, and your name has been taken out of the ring.”

Ben let out a breath, leaning back against the seat.

“So that’s it, then?”

“That’s it,” Theo confirmed.

“You’re done. Go home. I’ll handle the rest.”

Ben stared at me then, his eyes searching mine for reassurance, maybe, or just an anchor in the middle of everything.

I squeezed his hand again, telling him I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I don’t have a home,” Ben murmured, asking me for something.

“Yeah, you do. With me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, sweetheart,” I said.

“Let’s go home.”

BEN DECIDED TO sell his Prius because in his words it was shit on country roads.

I didn’t point out the whole snow tires thing, given I was irrationally happy he was looking to buy a truck in Caldwell Crossing.

However, that meant we were in the city—carless—so Ryan came out with his truck to help take back the rest of Ben’s life—which wasn’t much.

The secure storage unit was near empty—five or six boxes, a small duffel bag, and a beat-up desk chair that was more sentimental than functional.

“Not much to show,” Ben said softly, his voice laced with something sounding like regret.

“Too busy working to collect anything.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed it.

“It’s not about the stuff.”

We lifted everything into Ryan’s truck, which was barely half-full, and I climbed into the back seat with Ben, even though he’d told me I could take shotgun.

Ryan raised an eyebrow at us through the rearview mirror but didn’t comment as he turned up the radio and pulled out of the storage lot.

Ryan smirked at me through the rearview mirror as he drove us to Caldwell Crossing.

“You missed a lot in two days, Sam. The town’s buzzing.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked, leaning back in the seat, Ben tucked against my side.

“What’s the latest?”

“You’ll love this one,” Ryan said, glancing at me with a wicked grin.

“At the Founders Day Fair, there will be a bachelor auction for the Harmony Lake Animal Rescue League.”

I groaned.

“Not this again. Didn’t they learn their lesson after the last one? That poor guy from the post office ended up with two competing bidders and a year’s worth of awkward encounters.”

Ryan’s grin widened.

“Oh, it gets better. Guess who’s been voluntold to take part this time?”

I frowned, already feeling a sense of impending doom.

“Who?”

“Conor.”

I blinked.

“Conor? As in our Conor?”

Ryan nodded, his laughter bubbling up.

“Yep. He’s so pissed. Someone—no names mentioned, but I’d bet on Mamie—put his name down without telling him.”

I snorted, imagining Conor’s reaction.

“He must’ve lost his mind.”

“Completely,” Ryan confirmed, his grin stretching ear to ear.

“He stormed into the community center demanding answers. Mrs. Jennings just smiled sweetly and said, ‘It’s for charity, dear.’”

Even Ben was laughing now, his head tipping back against my shoulder.

“I’d pay good money to see that.”

Ryan cackled.

“Well, you might have to. I hear tickets are going to sell out fast.”

I shook my head, already feeling sorry for Conor.

“Remind me to stay far away from this auction.”

Ryan grinned.

“You’d better. I hear Mrs. Jennings has her eye on you next.”

I turned to Ben, a smirk tugging at my lips.

“I’m not a bachelor.”

Ben raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching as if trying to hold back a smile.

“Oh? Is that so?”

I leaned closer, brushing my shoulder against his.

“Yeah. I’m off the market.”

Ben laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my chest tighten.

“Well, that’s a relief,” he said, resting his hand on my knee.

“Because I’d hate to outbid the entire town to keep you.”

Ryan glanced back at us through the rearview mirror, rolling his eyes.

“Conor’s out here being auctioned off for charity, and you’re all lovey-dovey in the back of my truck.”

“Jealous?” I teased, nudging Ben as he tried to stifle another laugh.

Ryan huffed, turning up the music.

“I’m ignoring you.” When we pulled into town, he slowed the truck and glanced back at me.

“Where to?”

“My place,” I said before I could overthink it.

Ben turned to me; his eyebrows raised.

“Your place?”

“Do you want to?” I asked, feeling nervous.

“I mean, it’s not that big, and maybe you’d rather go to Harriet’s first or—”

Ben cut me off with a decisive shake of his head.

“Nope. You said it now. I’m moving in.”

Ryan let out a whoop.

“Called it! I’ll help you unload, but only if you promise to keep the PDA to a minimum.”

Ben grinned, leaning into me.

“No promises.”

When we pulled into the driveway, seeing Conor and Haider standing outside the house made me pause.

They leaned against Conor’s truck, coffee cups in hand, chatting with my parents.

“Well, look who decided to come home!” Conor called, pushing off the truck and heading toward me.

“Thought we’d get here before you did,” Haider added, his tone smug as he followed.

I climbed out of the truck, barely managing a greeting before Conor wrapped me in a bear hug.

“Good to see he’s come back with you,” he said, thumping my back with enough force to rattle my ribs.

“Me too,” I muttered, though I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.

Haider was next, a little less aggressive but no less sincere.

“Whoop!” That was all I got from him, and it summed up everything.

“Hey, Ben!” Conor strode over, pulling him into a hug before he could protest. Ben was surprised but didn’t pull away.

“Welcome home, buddy.”

Haider joined in, wrapping an arm around Ben’s shoulders.

“Knew you weren’t going to break Sam’s heart.”

Ben flushed under their attention.

“Thanks,” he managed, overwhelmed.

Mom, of course, had to make her presence known.

“It’s about time you boys got here,” she said, hands on her hips but smiling.

“I was just telling Conor and Haider they’re not allowed to slack off while you two settle in.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Mrs. C,” Conor said with a mock salute.

“We’re here to work.”

“And to ensure these two lovebirds don’t get sidetracked with all the kissing and the mooning,” Haider added, earning an exasperated groan from me and a laugh from Ben.

“Seriously, though,” Conor said, his usual teasing grin softened as he turned to Ben.

“Sam’s always been happy, you know? But now? Now, he’s not going to be lonely anymore. And, bonus, I don’t have to marry him.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“Again, with this?”

Ben, bless him, was confused.

“Can someone explain this?”

“Sam and I had a pact,” Conor explained with a dramatic shrug.

“If we hit thirty and neither were married, we’d just marry each other. Practical, right?”

“‘Practical’? It was a joke,” I said, glaring at him.

“And for the record, I was never serious about it.”

Conor smirked.

“Well, I’m officially off the hook now.”

“Likewise,” I shot back, though my lips twitched with a suppressed smile.

Ben deadpanned, “Glad I could be useful.”

That broke the tension, and Haider laughed, clapping Ben on the back.

“You fit right in.”

Conor grinned and pointed at Ben.

“You keep him happy, all right?”

“Or you’ll have me to answer to,” Haider added, then thumbed toward Ryan, who’d stayed out of the teasing so far.

“Well, when I say me, what I mean is that I’ll set Ryan on you.”

“Jesus, Haider,” I muttered, earning another round of laughter.

Ben just shook his head with a small smile as he leaned into me.

Ben glanced at me, then he turned back to Conor and Haider, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

“I’ll keep him happy,” he said.

“I love Sam.”

He snuggled into my side when he said that, and my heart felt so full, and emotions pricked my eyes.

I turned him in my arms, tipped his chin, and kissed him.

“I love you, Ben.”

We stood there, eyes locked, and the weight of our words felt light.

It was sunshine breaking through the trees, smiles shared over pancakes, walks in the snow, and the taste of maple syrup kisses.

It felt like forever.

Mom pulled us both into a warm hug, her voice soft and full of joy.

“Welcome to the family, Ben.”

Dad stepped forward, gripping Ben’s hand and holding it for a moment longer than necessary.

His nod was steady, his words heartfelt but straightforward.

“Welcome.”

“All right, boys,” Mom announced with a clap.

“Let’s get this stuff inside.”

Conor and Haider laughed but didn’t argue, moving to help with the boxes while Ben and I shared a quiet moment amidst the chaos.

It was good to be home.

Even better now that Ben was part of it.

“You don’t have much stuff,” Mom said, her tone gentle as she glanced at the small pile of belongings Ben had brought in.

Ben sighed a soft, wistful sound.

“I never wanted to stay where I lived. It was always temporary. This… this is forever.”

Mom’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes bright with emotion.

She took a moment to compose herself.

“Well,” she said, clearing her throat and looking around my cabin, “we’ll need to make some adjustments. Maybe extend the cabin or—” her gaze turned speculative “—it might be time for you to take over the main house, Sam. Somewhere for the grandchildren.”

“The what now?” I choked out, heat flooding my face.

“Mom, don’t scare him off like that!”

But Ben only grinned, his eyes steady on mine.

“Kids sound good,” he said, his voice warm and sure.

I blinked, thrown off-balance.

“For real?” I asked, my voice quiet.

“For real,” Ben said, his expression full of love.

And we sealed it with a kiss, much to the loud disgust of my best friends, who started catcalling and making ridiculous noises in the background.

“Get a room!” Conor hollered, laughing.

“Preferably one soundproofed from us!” Haider added, with a dramatic groan.

Ryan shook his head, muttering something about maple sap being less sticky than we were.

Whatever.

I was in love.

And this was forever.

And my forever apparently came with a man I loved and children.