Page 13 (1/2)

"Garrett says it ht be serious" Juliet prompts

"No!" I yelp "Well, yes No I don’t know," I finish, miserable

"Does the mysterythe naton"

"Ooh, I think I reht, with a hot brother? They summered in Beachwood some of the years I was around"

"That’s hi

"Yeah, well he grew up into a god A rich, perfect, faultless god" I can’t keep the edge froret, and the re Hunter is that I will never come close to

"I like the sound of this" Juliet can’t have heard my tone "What does he do with all that rich perfection?"

"He trains horses"

"OK, now you’re justwith randfather’s ranch"

"A sexy, gorgeous horse trainer I love it!" Juliet giggles "I lad you’ve found someone We both are"

"I haven’t…" I try to object "I e, my voice leaden "It won’t last"

"How can you be so sure?"

I sigh "I just know I’s, they just don’t work out like that for me"

There’s silence for a ain, her voice is gentle and hesitant "I know it can be hard to let go of the past Going back to Beachwood, trusting Eain, it wasn’t easy for ive someone a chance"

I feel a lump in my throat, but I s it back "It’s not the sahs "You know you’re alelcoer, whatever you need This is your ho ht voice "Listen, I better get going But say hey to Emerson for me"

"I will," Juliet replies "You look after yourself And co up quickly, cradling the phone to my chest

The house is silent and empty

I let out a breath Emerson has said a dozen ti in ether, and aslike I’ every time I drop by for a visit or pick up the phone They’re still caught up in the thrill of being with each other, after spending so long apart Even though I miss him, miss both of the every day faced with the kind of world I’ll never know, on the edge of soreat love story

So I stay here in Beachwood, spinning e

What if it already has…?

The rest of the day is a total wash I’, so I clean the house instead: scrubbing the kitchen floors and sweeping off the porch as if I can sweep Hunter’s face from my mind His wordsinsecurities, so by the time I head out forhim so many times I don’t even knohere I landed in the end

"You look nice," Garrett’s voice greets ht," I retort, joining hi on my apron "You’re still on probation for that fair stunt And telling Eri You look nice"

I glance down, self-conscious "Oh, thanks"

"Plans later with loverboy?" he asks, teasing

I throw a dishcloth at hiives me a look, like he doesn’t believe me, but the truth is, I have no clue Hunter said he’d coo not to believe anything a guy says Still, that didn’t stopout a cute sundress instead of my usual slobby tank Just in case, I told s of the bar, it’s likeuy! Brit thinks she stands a chance!

"Hell, throw on a sht actuallyet to slouch around here all scowling whenever you like, and it’s , but when I do it, I’m a moody bitch"

"Who said I was irl? Was she hot?"

I shake my head "You’re impossible"

"And that’s why you love ging past at a painfully slow pace I told et hter, until I can’t help jerking my head around to check the door every tiet whiplash, if you keep that up," Garrett jokes, watching h it off, but I still turn to check the next tioes

Still no Hunter

Disappoint this way, like a fresh cut every time someone who isn’t him strolls into the bar I can’t help it I wanted to believe him when he said he wouldn’t quit on uy like that could want a girl likeas the minutes tick by, a dozen tiny paper-cuts across , but by the tiht, I feel numb, used up

It’s over

He didn’t coulars trails out, and Garrett bolts the door behind theht, neon glow It always seemed sad to me, how the dim, smoky atmosphere could be banished with the flip of a switch: fun and revelry and seduction all wiped away in an instant, leaving nothing but e across the floor Now it feels likethere with it, crushed and broken

"Hey, can you grab the crates fro chairs "The winds are picking up, and I don’t want stuff s all over the lot"