“Well, I’m going to spend the next few days going through town to see what needs to get done before they get here, and then I’ll start working with the restoration committee to take care of my to-do list. But I might need some help with switching the town from fall to winter decor.”

“Why don’t you ask the fire department?” I suggest, knowing my plate’s too full to help as much as I’d really like.

“Oh shit, that’s a good idea.” Griffin laughs. “You’d think I’d have thought of that first; I’m the volunteer firefighter.”

“Your mind is mush right now,” Jen says. “Being in love does that.”

Ren leans down and gives him a kiss. “I was thinking about putting up a flyer offering community service to the kids at my school; that should get them involved as well.”

“Oh, smart. Put them on trash duty.” Reid winks. “Give me the cool jobs like driving the lift to hang up the wreaths.”

“You ran into a trash can last time.” Griffin eyes him.

“Because Brig was distracting me.”

Ignoring Reid, Griffin turns toward me. “I know this is asking a lot, but do you think you could inspect Holiday Lane? That street is perfect to show off. We would just need residents to put out their decorations early.”

I make a mental note to speak with Gina. “Yes, I can swing by in the next few days to speak with the residents and offer them a discount on rent if they decorate early. Just have to get Wayne to agree, and the rest of the street will jump on board.”

“Perfect.” Griffin lets out a huge sigh. “This could be big for us, for the town, for business. It could pave the way for future movies too, once word spreads about how accommodating Port Snow is.”

“We’re going to be famous!” Brig plows through the basement door and starts doing a jig. “I can’t believe I’m going to be an extra in a Lovemark movie.”

Griffin rubs his forehead as we collectively mutter an “Oh Jesus.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

ROGAN

Sophomore Year, High School

“Thanks for the ride, man.” I hop out of the car as Griffin stares out the window, taking in the manor looming up ahead.

“Please tell me you’re not going to do something stupid.”

I lean down so we’re at eye level. “No, I’m about to do the smartest thing of my life. Let Mom and Dad know I’m with Harper if they ask.”

“Are you really going to be with Harper?”

I smile. “I am.”

I move to shut the door when Griffin calls out, “You did awesome today, bud. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Griff.”

“Keep working hard, and your dream of going pro will happen.”

With a wave and a smile, I shut the door and take off toward the manor. I played an awesome game today. One hundred and eighty yards, two touchdowns. I felt unstoppable, but that feeling doesn’t even come close to the moment I saw Harper in the players’ tunnel. To say things have been strained between us over the last week would be an understatement. She hasn’t really spoken to me, and I don’t know if she was mad or embarrassed about our kiss. I have no clue, but seeing her waiting for me washed away all that worry.

I jog up to the abandoned manor and take the front porch steps two at a time. We stumbled upon the abandoned mansion last summer and realized it must be the infamous Snow Vale Manor. Curious and wondering if the rumors of ghost sightings were actually true (they aren’t), we started poking around and realized it was unlocked. So we walked right in and got down to exploring. And with each passing visit, the place became ours. The wood is worn, the paint is chipping, and some of the windows have been broken, but it’s a place where Harper and I find solace. When we need to have a serious conversation, or when we just need a break from life, we meet up in the manor, in the ballroom, tucked against the old boarded-up fireplace. We keep camping chairs in the corner along with blankets, a flashlight, and a battery-operated lantern in a kitchen cupboard.

I push through the door and carefully walk across the crumbling floorboards and torn-off wallpaper toward the light of the portable lantern off to the left in the ballroom. Pacing back and forth across the grand space is Harper, the cold air making her breath visible in the dim light.

I pause, suddenly nervous just at the sight of her. Hands stuffed in my letterman jacket pockets, I close the distance between us.

“Hey.”

She smiles sheepishly. “Hey. Good game.”

“Thank you.” I scan the space, feeling awkward. “Did you get to see both touchdowns?”

She nods. “Yeah, they were impressive. They had no chance in hell of catching you. Must have been all those chalky protein bars you ate this summer.”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “Probably.”

Silence falls between us.

She chews on her lip.

I rock on my heels.

I hate that it’s weird between us. I hate how nervous I am around her. I need to nut up and get a little confidence. After all, I did score two touchdowns today. I need to act like the guy who scores two touchdowns in a game, and I think there’s one person who can help me gain that confidence. “Who said I was going to the Point after the game?”

Eyes wide, she shrugs. “I told you, some girls.”

“What are their names?”

“I didn’t look at them. I didn’t want them to think I was eavesdropping.”

“And were you?” I take a step closer, hiding the shake in my legs. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“I mean . . . they were talking about you.”

“Mm-hmm.” Another step forward. Breathe in and out, in and out. “And why did you care if I went to the Point?”

“I didn’t—” I give her a look, which makes her exhale sharply and stare down at the ground.

I close the rest of the distance between us and lift her chin so she’s forced to look me in the eyes. “Harper, why did you care?”

“Because.” Her lips tremble, and for the first time I realize something: maybe this confident, courageous girl is actually nervous too. “I . . . we . . . kissed.”

“I know.” I smile, briefly remembering the way she tasted so perfect on my lips.

“And I just . . .” She pulls on her hair. “I didn’t want you going there and kissing anyone else, okay?” She throws her hands up in defeat and turns to walk away, but I catch her wrist and pull her into my chest.

Cupping her cheek, I stare into her eyes, catching a hint of green, that lucky color, glinting in the dark of the manor. “And I don’t want to kiss anyone else but you.”

Gently, I bring her mouth to mine and hover for a second, soaking in this moment, knowing everything is about to change in the best way possible. Her hands fall to my chest just when I press my lips against hers. She immediately melts into my embrace, clasping her hands behind my neck and hanging on tightly. Spinning her around, I press her up against the dusty wall and trap her in place, pressing one hand against the wall, the other still cupping her face.

Our lips meld together, her mouth a little tentative while mine takes charge, but I don’t mind it; I actually like how cautious she is this time, as if she’s testing everything out.

She curls her fingers into my hair, pulling on the short strands, and her mouth falls open in time with mine.

Soft, sweet, tempting, she’s everything I thought she would be . . . and so much more.

Pressing in harder, I brush my tongue across her lips. A gasp pops out of her, and when I think she’s going to push away, she pulls me closer and slips her tongue into my mouth.

Hell. That’s the girl I know.

Taking everything she’s giving me, I let her explore. Fast and then slow, she changes pace from slipping her tongue against mine to closing her lips around me. I get lost in the feel of her, in the sweet taste of her mouth, and how her chest rapidly rises and falls so close to mine. A few more inches and I would be able to feel her breasts press against my body.

Because I’m desperate to feel more of her, to explore the girl I’ve been eyeing all summer, I take another step closer, trying to pin her against the wall—right as my foot plummets through the floorboard.

“Ahh, shit,” I mumble as I fall forward, headbutting Harper right in the tit. Not the way I was really planning on going about it.

“Oh my God, are you okay?” Harper steps away and places a hand on my back, the other poised on my arm to help me out.

“Christ, I didn’t see that happening.” I chuckle and yank my foot out of the floor. My shoe gets stuck and falls back into the hole, which is just perfect. This totally kills the mood.

“You lost your shoe.”

“Looks like I did.”

Cutely, she kneels down on the ground and peers into the hole, hands on her thighs. Nose scrunched, she turns toward me. “Are you going to stick your hand in there?”

“I mean, I need my shoe.” I sit down beside her.

“But there could be a spider or something in there.”

“When have you ever been afraid of spiders?” My brow raises in question.

She points to her chest. “I know I’m not afraid, but you are. That’s why I’m wondering if I’m going to have to come to your rescue right now.”

I clutch my chest with both hands. “Are you going to be my hero, Harper?”