We head out to the front stoop, Jack locking up behind us. He’s parked his rented compact SUV in front of the house, and we throw our bags in the backseat. I most definitely dig through the snack bag for the gummy bears before climbing into the passenger seat and buckling up.

Jack looks over at me with a timid smile. “Ready?”

“Ready, Freddy.”

I last about five minutes just sitting and listening to the weird emo music in the car before I have to pull my phone out and do something. I use the time to answer some emails and DMs, as well as comment on and like some local florists’ Instagram photos. I wonder if there will come a day when I think of myself as a florist. Right now I’m a bartender who does some floral arranging on the side. And yeah, things have been picking up for Bridge and Blooms, but I still have a long way to go.

Once we get on the freeway, I have to put my phone away or risk getting carsick. I lean my head back against the headrest and close my eyes, keeping my breathing steady so my stomach stays calm.

“Sadie . . .”

A warm hand squeezes my thigh and I jump.

It takes me a minute to figure out where I am—still in the front seat of Jack’s car. Though the car is no longer moving and no longer in the state of New York.

I push my sunglasses on top of my head and rub my eyes. “Shit. What happened?”

Jack smiles, unlatching his seat belt. “You fell asleep. We’re here.”

I subtly check my chin for any signs of drool, but luckily my skin seems to be dry. “You let me sleep the whole way?”

He pushes open his door. “You conked out pretty hard. I figured I’d let you rest.”

Undoing my own seat belt and opening my door, I practically fall out of the car, my muscles are so stiff. It’s afternoon, the sun still a couple of hours away from setting. The golden light reflects off the water in front of us, and my mouth drops open. The house is right on the cove, a wide expanse of blue rippling out before us.

“Holy shit.” I turn around to take in the house itself. “Holy shit.”

One thing’s for certain: the Thomas family sure does have a knack for real estate. The house—mansion?—is massive, all gray weathered wood and white trim and exactly what I’d fantasize about if I ever wanted to live that suburban life in Connecticut.