Pot Roast made an awkward excuse about heading to the hot tub to become a “pot boil” and left. Probably best. I was fuming.

Nick had asked me to this party, and now he was ditching me. And I knew why it stung extra hard—sure, I’d only known him for a few days, but sometimes the way he acted made me feel like Woody had. That I wasn’t enough—that there was always somewhere better to be.

And this time, I’d had enough.

“Take me with you.” I crossed my arms. “If it’s so urgent? I’ll come.”

* * *

We’d been driving for ten minutes, but Nick hadn’t said a word.

I stared out at this amazing town that just over a month ago I didn’t know existed and now felt a tiny bit like home.

But where were we going? We’d gone past their house five minutes ago and were heading to the edge of town.

Nick’s knuckles were tight around the wheel. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed him into this. “Look, if you want, you can just drop me off.”

“As long as you swear this is just between you and me, Hol?”

“I promise.” And I meant it. What could be so bad?

“No Elle, no anyone?”

“Sure. No rash-er decisions.” I mean, I didn’t know what he meant, but one of us had to acknowledge we were still dressed as bacon.

When he hit the indicator, I swiveled in my seat—finally, I was going to discover where he’d been running off to. But when I saw the big, white building and the huge sign by the big gates, I thought I must have gotten something wrong.

ALPINE PEAKS SENIOR LIVING. About half of the bulbs in the sign had given up life long ago.

“I’m confused…” Nick was definitely pulling into a space. “This is your guilty secret?”

“Not guilty, no.” He turned off the engine and unclipped his seat belt. “But not something the others know, if that’s what you mean. Come on.” He opened his door and gestured for me to do the same. “I’ve got someone for you to meet.”

I pointed at what I was wearing, but he just raised an eyebrow. “You said you wanted to come…”

So I shut up, put up, and followed him in.

“Well, look at you!” The receptionist waved her pen up and down at Nick. “You should have told me you were making a special effort!”

She was definitely a fan of Nick’s.