Leaving had crossed my mind, hadn’t it? I mean, who in their right mind stays in a town with a murderer running loose? It’s the logical thing to do, the safe thing to do. Pack up, move on, find somewhere else where death isn’t lurking around every corner. It’s what I would’ve done before.

But now? Now it’s different. I have Valkyrie and a house I’ve made my own.

I swallow, pushing that thought down. “I don’t know,” I say finally. “It’s… complicated.”

Celeste hums, unimpressed. “Complicated how? Because of a certain sexy baker?”

I shoot her a look. “Because this is home.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “Home is wherever you make it. You don’t have to stay here.”

“I know,” I admit. “But things are different now.”

She leans against the counter, watching me closely. “Well, if you do decide to go, I can hook you up with some of the best spots. A hidden gem of a town in the mountains? A beachside retreat? Hell, I know a place with the best damn coffee and the weirdest bookshop owner you’d ever meet.”

I chuckle despite myself. “That does sound tempting.”

“But…” She presses.

I sigh, wiping my hands on a towel and finally meeting her gaze. “But I don’t want to run anymore.”

There is a shift in her expression, her teasing demeanor softening just a little. “Good,” she says after a beat. “Because I think you belong here.”

At some point, we move on to prepping dinner, Umbra’s new music is playing in the background as she hums along. She practices while we cook, and I lose myself in the rhythm of chopping, stirring, and tasting. The day wears on, and the meal starts to come together. So does my resolve.

Tonight’s meeting is important, and I need to stay focused. But as much as I try to keep my thoughts in line, Theo’s smile, his laugh, and the way he kissed me keep sneaking back in.

I shake my head, determined to push it all aside. Tonight, I remind myself, is about solving a mystery, not reliving a kiss.

Even if it was the best kiss of my life.

* * *

The doorbell rings as I finish arranging the table. I take a deep breath, smoothing down the front of my comfy vintage shirt. If there was ever a day to dress for comfort, today was the day. My stomach twists with nerves—not just because of the meeting, but because of Theo. Last night’s kiss is still fresh in my mind, lingering like the taste of sugar on my lips, and I don’t know how to act normal around him now. Not when I can still feel the heat of his hands on my skin.