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“Oh, she’ll be just fine Spruce is in good hands, especially noith Mrs Strong in charge”

Vann s for a moment “That’s true”

It was the biggest shocker Spruce has ever known, the day of the election when Nadine Strong won by a landslide Vann’s mom, of all people, played a unique role in that outco to Vann, she talked Cissy McPherson into running against Nadine, with a plan to subvert her ca the sche inward at her own character—Vann’stheether The McPhersons joined forces with the Strongs as their ether they united all of Spruce’s best interests and won the town over

I’ wears the proverbial crown, she’s freaking out about how to exercise her power Despite the expected growing pains, I’m certain she’ll find her rhythm

“We don’t have to ht now,” I point out “We can come back and forth for a while, just to test this little town out Stay here a few nights Or a week Or … longer”

Vann closes his eyes “Mmm, those waves …”

“I honestly don’t knohat our future holds Whether or not we choose to actually chase this crazy beach-town dreaay couples, townies, fishere boys, tourists …”

“I can hear those sweet, saves …”

“I feel like this place is giving each of us a little slice of our childhood back, a part that was —and now found”

“Just like home …”

“But no matter which path we take next with our futures, I knoho I’m takin’ it with”

Vann opens his eyes and turns his face to mine “Oh, you’d better bet I’ll be with you no matter what,” he vows to me “You’re my home no matter where we are, Toby”

It’s just like Jimmy said: When you make a friend, you stick with that friend until the end Friends are your home away from home, no ht back

Our lips coulls sing overhead, it only now occurs to me that we’ve found ourselves in a picture I’ve painted a dozen ti house by the sand, surrounded by a loving, artistic corain of sand—and with the boy of my dreams at my side Indeed, like the naht our lips and souls together, I’ll always resley pulled a shy yet deterht him how to love: as carefree as a rebel, brave, bold, and without li stroke of the brush at a time

The End