interview.”
“You watched it?” I was surprised. That would’ve been four years after we’d broken up. It couldn’t have been easy for him.
“Like I would’ve missed that.” He winked and I felt a small jolt of energy rush through me. “Everyone in town was talking about it. Your grandfather put up a sign above the coffee counter alerting everyone.”
“He did?” Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“Yeah, well, he did. He was so proud. He told everyone who entered the restaurant that they had to buy your book. He even offered deals for people who showed him a copy of your book.”
“I didn’t know.”
“That’s because you never came back during that time.” His tone turned accusatory. “It was as if you forgot about everyone in Shadow Hills.”
“It wasn’t that,” I countered quickly. “It was just ... everyone wanted a piece of me during that time. Everyone thought I had something to give. I had to travel all over the United States and sign books at libraries. I was on the road every single day that year. I didn’t even have an apartment.”
“You didn’t?” He looked flabbergasted. “But where was all your stuff?”
“I don’t have any stuff,” I said. “I have ... nothing. Everything I own can fit in a suitcase.”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“It makes me sad.”
He wasn’t the only one. “I let things get out of control back then. I don’t know why, but I thought it was what I was supposed to want and I went with it. And when it came time to write my second book, I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I figured that would guarantee success. But it didn’t.
“When I failed, I found out pretty quickly that none of those people who were so quick to befriend me when I was on The View wanted to hang around,” I continued. “Before I realized it, I was alone and trying to find inspiration and ... it was over. It was already over at that point, but I didn’t see it.”
Hunter shook his head. “It’s not over. You loved writing more than anybody I knew. You’d absolutely lose yourself in the worlds you created. Don’t you remember telling me about those places? You had joy in the process. You’ll find that again. You’re just going through a bad spot.”
“I don’t even know if I want it.” The words were out before I thought better of them. I wasn’t sure if I meant them or was simply feeling sorry for myself.
“What?” Hunter was shocked. “Of course you want it.”
Did I? “I’m starting to realize that I gave up everything to get one thing that I thought I wanted. I don’t know that it was worth it. Giving up everything, I mean. I feel so empty most of the time.”
I didn’t know I was crying until Hunter used his thumb to wipe the tear from my cheek. “You listen here,” he said in a stern voice, leaning close enough so that only I could hear. “I always knew you would do great things. That hasn’t changed. You might not have gotten everything you thought you would the first go-around, but you have plenty of chances to try again.
“Life isn’t one strike and you’re out, Stormy,” he continued. “You have infinite chances to get what you want. You just have to decide what it is that you really want.”
He was so earnest. I was just about to tell him that, thank him for bolstering my spirits, when Tristan rounded the nearby tree. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and cringed when his eyes lit up. “Oh, geez.”
Hunter followed my gaze and frowned. “I didn’t realize he was still here. I thought he’d left.”
“We’re not that lucky.”
“There you are.” Tristan swooped in and positioned himself directly between Hunter and me, boxing out my ex-boyfriend and trapping me. “I thought you forgot about me.”
“I’ve been catching up with people,” I said. “I could never forget about you.”
“Of course not. I’m memorable.”
Hunter rolled his eyes behind Tristan’s back. “Most douches are,” he muttered, forcing me to press my lips together to keep from laughing. “It’s just not for the reason you want to believe.”
Tristan’s gaze darkened. “Do you have something you want to say, Hunter?”
Hunter managed to blank his face, but it looked as if it took monumental effort. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Then you should probably get back to your girlfriend,” Tristan said pointedly. “Last