He snorted. “Of course not. Imadeyou one.” He grinned. “Carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting.”
“Oh, my God, I love you.” I froze, realizing what had just come out of my mouth.
But instead of freaking out, Elliot just laughed, then pulled me into a kiss. “I love you, too,” he said against my lips. “Just in case that wasn’t obvious.”
I grabbed his face and kissed him more thoroughly this time, until he pushed one hand against my chest. “Seth,” he panted slightly, laughter in his voice.
“What?”
“I didn’t bake this cake so that it could sit on my counter.”
“Okay, okay,” I agreed. “I’ll eat your damn cake.”
“You’d better,” he told me. “The looks I got in the grocery store for buyingvegancream cheese…”
31
Seth Mays
I’m not going to be home until late.
Or maybe tomorrow.
Elliot Crane
Let me know when you’re done?
Do me a favor and stay at Henry’s?
I’d gotten summonedby Colfax to a crime scene somewhere outside of a tiny little town called Aniwa that was on the very edge of Shawano County. It was about as far from Shawano as I could get while stayinginthe county—not quite an hour drive. But it was the phraseBring your kitthat had me the most concerned.
The call had come a little after three-thirty, and since it would be almost five by the time I got there, I knew it was going to be late before we got anything done. Especially if I had to wait for the fire to cool.
I frowned down at my phone—Elliot hadn’t replied yet.
None of the dead animals had been accompanied by actual threats, and nobody had tried breaking in, at least as far as we knew. But that didn’t mean I was comfortable with Elliot staying alone in the house if I were gone half the night. Or maybe the whole night.
I was just about to text him again when the phone buzzed in my hand.
Elliot Crane
Going to Ma and Pop’s for dinner.
I’ll stay there.
Seth Mays
Okay.
I’ll text you when I’m done.
Thanks.
Be safe.
I love you.
I couldn’t help smiling when I saw his last text. The fact that Elliot Crane loved me was still new enough that I got this stupid grin on my face every time he said it. Even in text.
