an unreasonable amount of joy.
I’d just started a skillet of bacon when Connor’s phone rang, and I listened to the conversation with half a mind as I flipped the pancakes over.
“Hey… Yeah, we—Really?… So what are they… Okay… Yeah, wow… Right… For sure… Sounds good.”
Even in the best of moods, Connor wasn’t the chattiest of people. But when he hung up, he turned to me with the goofiest smile on his face.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“That was Tom. There was an emergency council meeting last night.” Connor’s smile grew. “The mayor was the tie-breaking vote, and McIntyre Beach is getting official park status and protection. The development’s off.”
My eyes went wide. “So Monday’s vote is cancelled? Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Connor set his phone down. “The mayor just called Tom and set up a meeting for Friday, to talk about park management.”
“That’s—that’s incredible.”
“Wanna know the best part?” Connor’s grin took on a wicked cast.
“Obviously.”
“They’re starting an investigation into Scott, and whether he abused his position as a council member.” Connor walked over, picked me up, and spun me around once before setting me back down. Pancake batter flew from the spoon I was holding, landing on the counter where Gretchen sniffed at it curiously.
“I know that technically, it’s more important that the beach will be saved,” Connor said. “But God, I am so happy to hear that. If you asked me if I believed in divine intervention right now, I’m pretty sure I’d say yes.”
I looped my arms around his neck. “There’s definitely something divine about you.” I tilted his head down for a kiss.
“Oooh, steamy.” Katie’s voice came into the kitchen just as my lips touched Connor’s. “Should I give you guys a minute? Come back later?”
Laughing, I kissed Connor once more before stepping back.
“You’re right on time. Come sit down. Breakfast is almost ready.”
My phone was the next to ring, around lunchtime, with a call from Eleanor, asking if we’d heard the news from Tom. At 3:00 p.m., Deacon called Connor to ask if he was staying at my place again that night, and if he’d be home for dinner, and Nora called in the middle of our dinner to get Tom’s phone number, for a follow-up article.
I was starting to feel hunted, so I was grateful to just lie in bed with Connor later that evening. Not doing anything, not even talking. Just lying there with my head on his chest.
I felt complete. Connor was here. Katie was safe down the hall. I wasn’t hiding anything anymore.
I turned and snuggled deeper against him. God, I loved how he smelled. Like woodsmoke and spice. Like things that were deep and green and growing. He smelled alive, and he smelled like safety, and he smelled like home.
I’d just begun to let my hand stray down towards his waist when my phone rang, again.
“No fair,” I grumbled into his chest.
“We could always throw it out the window, say it was stolen,” Connor said. “I’ve heard there’s been a rash of criminal activity on the island recently.”
I sighed and reached across him to pick it up. After all, it might have been Katie’s lawyer, or someone else important. I blinked and scrubbed a hand across my eyes when I saw the name on the screen.
“It’s Joey Leeds,” I said wonderingly. “What’s he doing calling me? At 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday, no less?”
Connor shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
I swiped my phone on, then rolled over onto my back. “Hey, Joey. What’s up?” Connor’s fingers traced up and down my arm.
On the other end of the line, Joey cleared his throat. “Hey, Julian. I was just—I heard that the vote about the park has been cancelled.”
“Yeah?” News traveled fast in Adair, but I’d never thought Joey cared that much about McIntyre Beach one way or another.
“Does that mean you’ll be at school tomorrow, then?”
I frowned up at the ceiling. I didn’t have anywhere else to be, now that the vote had been called off. And the meeting with the superintendent and school board was Tuesday, which made tomorrow my last day to make any kind of case for myself.
It was, of course, my first day teaching since coming out—another thing that the whole town undoubtedly knew about by now. But I wasn’t going to hide from that, even if it did make me feel a little queasy. Joey didn’t need all that explanation, though.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Why? Is Dustin going to be out sick, or did you need—”
“No, Dustin’s