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Shortly after sunset, Lorenzo and I stood on the dock of the ferry that connected Catalina Island and thesuitcase, a , andat me

“I want you to call me when you reach your destination,” he said “It doesn’t matter how late it is”

“I should call you in theI think I’ll arrive in Mendocino around three am”

“Three is fine”

“No, it isn’t,” I said “You’ll be asleep”

“Actually, I’ll be up waiting for your call”

“Okay, fine I’ll call you at an ungodly hour”

He smiled at me and said, “Thank you” We stood there for a few moments as a breeze blew in off the harbor and pushed my hair into my eyes He reached up and brushed it back for o”

“You’re right” There was so rabbed hih to ain, but finally I took a step back and said, “I’ll talk to you in a few hours”

I slung the s overmy suitcase down the dock After a minute, Lorenzo called my name I turned to look at him, and he ran to catch up with me

He took my face between his hands and kissedThen he started to say so, but he hesitated Finally, he said, “Safe travels” I nodded, and as I continued down the dock, I wondered what he’d really wanted to say

Chapter 6

Phoenix Jaymes wasn’t what I’d expected His texts had been so professional and efficient that I’d pictured solasses, a bowtie, and a clipboard Instead, he turned out to be a friendly guy of about thirty with shaggy brown hair, a short beard that seemed unplanned, and a warm smile He was dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt, and cowboy boots, which he’d accessorized with sos When he opened the back of his dark blue Ford Bronco to load uitar case It was the perfect finishing touch to the whole indie rocker vibe he had going on

My cat was on her leash, and as I picked her up and cliet me”

“No probleed his phone into a charger before pulling away from the terminal

The Bronco didn’t look like a rental, so I asked, “Did you drive here from LA?”

“I did, and it was pretty fun I hadn’t done a road trip in ages” He glanced at the cat, who’d settled in on ?”

“Yes, but she doesn’t know she’s not a person”