Page 108 of Just One More Thing

I rip the blindfold off just as Jake climbs down from the platform, grinning, dimple fully deployed. “What was it?” I demand.

“Mostly mud.”

“Mostly?”

“Mostly.”

He catches my wrist before I can investigate further, and wraps my hand carefully in a towel.

The whole town watches.

I realize I don’t care.

The Stay the Day competitors have been dropping out one by one throughout the afternoon, mostly due to reckless lemonade consumption. Once you leave your spot, you’re eliminated.

The golden retriever holds out heroically until three fifty-eight when a rogue hot dog rolls past and his stomach simply would not be denied.

Two hot dogs, one doughnut, and no lemonade later, Mrs. Kravitz wins.

Wayne presents the ribbon like it’s the Lombardi Trophy. She accepts it exactly the same way.

I watch Jake move through the crowd afterward, crouching to talk to a little girl holding up a drawing she made of Hank wearing a tutu.

Hank wanders over and leans his entire body against my legs. I scratch behind his ears and straighten his bandana. I think this dog inherited Jake’s patience and Jake’s inability to leave anyone standing alone.

Granny rolls up beside me, closing her notebook while counting cash. She looks at me. Then at Jake across The Green. “You going to stop overthinking it?”

I watch him laugh while handing the drawing back carefully with both hands. “I’m working on it.”

Granny makes a sound. The sound of a woman who has watched me “work on things” my entire life and has developed opinions about the process. “He’s been waiting a long time,” she says gently.

“I know.”

“Emory. Don’t make him wait in the wrong direction.”

Before I can answer, she points suddenly across The Green. “You now owe me a hundred dollars!” she yells at Wayne before speeding away on the scooter at full throttle.

Jake looks up from across the lawn and finds me instantly. Like there was never any question where to look. He smiles.

And something inside me finally loosens.

For the first time in a very long time, I stop wondering if I belong here.

And start wondering why I ever believed I didn’t.

CHAPTER 28

JAKE

If there’s one thing Blue Crab Bay does better than gossip, it’s gratitude.

I step up onto the small wooden platform and look out at the crowd. Chalk lanes are still faintly visible from the Fetch-A-Fish relay. Orange cones lean like they’ve survived battle.

The center of The Green glows like something out of a postcard Blue Crab Bay never got around to making but should’ve. The sun hangs low behind the live oaks, string lights looping overhead between branches, posts and whatever else volunteers could reach with a ladder and a prayer.

The Tail Flickers are tuning up onstage for the last event of the day. The Tail Wag. A night of dancing.

I tap the microphone. It squeals, and Mrs. Kravitz winces but keeps her phone pointed directly at me. “Sorry,” I mutter, adjusting it. “That one’s on me.”