Thankfully for them both, the cannolis were as fresh and delicious as ever. But even with the sugar rush they brought on and the adrenaline that was still pumping from being thrown over a man’s shoulder, Stella couldn’t keep the beginnings of doubts out of her mind.
“Okay, you’ve turned serious. If it means that much to you, I’ll give you the rest of mine.” Sam slid his plate towards her, though she could see the longing in his eyes as he did so.
“No, keep it. It’s not that.”
He shoved the rest of the cannoli in his mouth before she could change her mind and then swallowed before speaking. “What is it, then?”
Sam had been honest with her, so Stella felt it was only fair she returned the favor. She took a deep breath and laid it all out there. “I like you too. Have liked you since the moment we met. But I’m not sure what all of that means considering, technically, I’m only on vacation. This isn’t my real life.”
Sam’s mouth fell open. “This isn’t real? Are we in Oz?”
Stella frowned, and he grinned, clearly still too happy to be weighed down by the reality of their situation like Stella was.
“I’m sorry,” he said, holding up his hands and leaning back in the booth. “You’re right. We should talk about things.”
“Yes, things,” Stella said, secretly hoping Sam would describe the “things” so she didn’t have to.
He tipped his head to her, waving her to continue.
“Okay, well.” Again, Stella didn’t want to come on too strongly. They’d only known each other a few days, and even though they’d just confessed they liked each other, that didn’t mean it was normal for Stella to be considering where they would live or if she should move or if he should move. What if she completely freaked him out?
“I just think we should be realistic about our expectations. We don’t even live in the same town.”
“I’m not tied down here,” Sam said, waving a hand flippantly.
“You own a business.”
“Pah.” Stella leveled her gaze at him, and he sighed. “Okay, fine. I’m a little tied down. But knowing how to fix cars means I’m not afraid to put a little mileage on them. I’ll come visit you.”
Stella chewed on her lip. “A weekend relationship would be good enough for you?”
“It would be better than nothing.” The sincerity in his eyes made Stella’s lungs squeeze. “Plus, I’ll buy a phone made in this century, and we can video chat. And call. And text. You’ll be sick of me in no time.”
Stella highly doubted that. In fact, she was afraid the more she got of Sam, the more she’d want. She was worried it would become like an addiction she couldn’t break. She was afraid he’d get sick of her, which was why her next question was especially difficult to ask.
“What if I moved here?”
He hadn’t been expecting that, she could tell. His eyes widened, and he stared at her for a moment, not betraying any emotion.
“It’s just a question,” Stella hurried to explain. “I mean, I don’t own a business. I’m not tied down back at home, and even aside from you, Willow Beach is great. I really like it here. And, I don’t know…it’s your town, so I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything, but it’s just an idea—”
“I’d love that.” Sam laid a hand over Stella’s and squeezed. “The town would be better with you in it.”
“What if we broke up?”
His eyes sparkled and his eyebrows lifted. “Does that mean we are dating?”
Stella blushed, feeling like a high schooler. “Well, yes. I thought so.”
“Me too. I think so, too. We are definitely dating.” Sam raised his hand for the waitress and ordered another plate of cannolis in celebration.
They were halfway through their second cannolis when Stella redirected the conversation back to the topic at hand. “You never answered my question. About what would happen if we broke up. Would you be okay with me living here? Would things be strange? I have a feeling we’d have a lot of the same friends, and I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Sam licked the cream from one of his fingers and let out a long sigh. “Since we only started officially dating five minutes ago, I’m hesitant to make plans for when we break up, but I’d like to believe the two of us are mature enough to handle that situation should it ever arise.”
“You threw me over your shoulder and carried me here. Are you sure we’re that mature?” Stella gave him a small smile.
“I’m positive. Besides, I’m not territorial. I can’t control who lives in this town. Separate from the conversation of you and me—us—if you want to live here in Willow Beach, you should. If that is what would make you happy, that is what I want for you. Having you closer would simply be a tremendous plus.”
Did Stella want to move? Quit her job? Was she ready to start over entirely after only a few days in Willow Beach?
Security had been the name of the game as a single mom. Stella’s life revolved around order and schedules and managing expectations for Jace and herself. She stayed in a job she wasn’t passionate about because she made good money. She lived in a house she didn’t love because she could afford the down payment, and it was in a good school district.
Now, she had the opportunity to make her life what she wanted, free of any obligations to anyone else, and as crazy as it seemed, Stella wanted this.
When her phone buzzed and Stella saw Brenda’s name flash on the screen, she thought it must be reality coming to call her home. As someone who didn’t believe in signs, she couldn’t help but think this was one. The moment she began pulling away from her old life, her old life came knocking.
This time it was a text message, not a phone call. Stella opened it and skimmed the long message.
Brenda: Seriously,
