The bike rumbles to a stop at the base of Maple Ridge. I kill the ignition and strap my helmet around the handlebars. Tess texted me back half an hour ago and asked to meet up on top, where we shared our last night together eight years ago.

The more I think about things, the more I think I'm fucking up. Maybe I do love her. I've never loved a woman before. Or at least I've never said the words to one. I don't know if I know what true love really is. All I know is that I sure as hell wouldn't have turned my bike around for any other woman on this planet. And that has to mean something, right?

The night air blows cool and crisp as I hike up the side of the ridge. The footpaths are worn and rutted, following the same contours as when I was a kid, but rougher, more ragged around the edges. That's what this whole town is like. Slowly fraying around the edges, slowly decaying. That's why the rainbow bagel shop is so important to the future of the town. Not because I expect it to singlehandedly save the town, but because it represents a new direction for everything, the first glimmer of hope since everything started slowly trickling out to Springville. It's proof that the town has the potential for a better future.

When I reach the top of the ridge, I see her. She's wearing a lacy white shirt and a skirt that blows in the quiet night wind. The moonlight illuminates her, and where her collar unfolds I see the luscious, curvy folds of skin where her cleavage tucks into her shirt. But as fucking gorgeous as she looks, her face is what truly captivates me.

In that moment, I realize I'm a fucking idiot. There's nowhere fucking else for me except by her side.

I approach her. Her bangs flutter against her forehead in the wind, and I nearly reach out to brush them out of her face before I manage to restrain myself. The expression on her face tells me that I've got some explaining to do.

"So," she says.

"So."

"Tell me what you want to talk about."

"First things first. Sit down." I sit down on one of the flat-cut tree stumps and make room for Tess next to me, but she takes a seat on a different one. She folds her arms. I ignore it.

"First thing," I say, "is fuck that old man Wilkinson. We're gonna rip down the notice on the restaurant and resume business."

Tess looks skeptical. "That's illegal."

"Does it look like I give a fuck about a stupid law?"

"Hunter," says Tess, her voice exasperated. "I thought you wanted to have a real conversation."

"This is a real conversation."

"You don't seem to understand. This isn't the wild west. There are lawyers, and government officials, Hunter. There are fines."

I shrug. "Let them come. They can bring all their ammo. But when the public finds out about what the mayor is doing to his citizens, he'll get thrown out of office."

"And operating the business without permission is supposed to help that?"

"It'll be a peaceful protest."

"And then what?"

"And then you have your restaurant back."

"What about you?"

I pause. I don't want to say anything I don't mean.

"Are you still going to leave me and go to Alaska?" She's not pulling any punches.

"What do you want, Tess?"

She sighs and stands up. She turns away from me, and stares off over the ridge, at the sleepy little town. "What I don't want is to force you to do anything. I want it to be your decision."

At least a full minute of silence passes. Then I speak. "I want to stay here with you."

She looks back at me, an expression of incredulity on her face. "Are you saying that you love me?"

I pause again and I grit my teeth. This feels like a much bigger deal than the fake marriage did. I've never said those three words to any woman on the planet, not even my crappy mom when I was a kid. "I want to be completely honest with you," I say. "I'm not going to say something that I can't be 100% sure about. I think so. But I'm not ready to say it yet."

She looks damn hurt, and turns away again. "Hey," I say. I tug on her sleeve. "Look at me."

She does, and she looks more damn beautiful than I've ever seen her.

I cup her cheeks in my hands and crush my lips against hers. Everything else in the world disappears while our lips touch. She tastes like ice cream, and I breathe her in. My body craves everything she has to offer.

When our lips part, she looks dazed, and I damn well bet that I do too. "Only honesty from now on," I say.

She pauses, and then nods. "Don't hurt me again," she says. "I don't think my heart can take it."

"I won't. I promise." I'm not ready to say the three words yet, but I think I will be. Soon.

"Let's go," I say. "Let's go open up that café, and tell all our friends near and far to come get some goddamn illegal rainbow bagels."