it, even the angry, ugly parts. Even when it’s directed at me.”
Everett could feel Teddy swallow against his chest.
“But you’re not ugly when you’re mad,” he said into her ear. “You’re actually kinda hot.”
She laughed and pulled back. “I hate you.”
“You don’t!” Everett said. “And I promise, you tell me when the next dinner at your mom’s house is, and I’ll be there with bells on. Not literally, unless you want me to wear them as a form of atonement, and in that case, bells it is.”
“Okay.” Teddy took a deep breath and nodded. “So . . . you were working?”
Everett groaned. “Yeah. The meeting in New York got bumped up, so I was trying to get ready for it and completely lost track of time. You want something to drink?”
Teddy shook her head and sat down on the sofa.
Everett sat down beside her. “It’s, like, I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t turn my brain off. All I’m thinking about is if the Imagination Network is gonna like the show.”
“Wait,” Teddy said. “The Imagination Network is in New York? That’s the meeting you’re going to?”
Everett nodded.
“The Imagination Network that wants to buy your show?”
“Well, that’s the hope, anyway,” Everett said, taking a sip of the now-warm beer on his coffee table. “We’ll see what happens.”
“I didn’t know . . . I wasn’t . . . ,” Teddy started. “So the Imagination Network is in New York?”
Everett knew he was missing something, but he wasn’t sure what. “That’s correct.”
“So if they bought your show, you would . . .”
“Move to New York,” Everett completed her sentence.
Teddy’s eyes widened. “Were you planning on telling me that you’re moving to another state?”
“Hopefully moving to another state,” Everett corrected, then realized that was the wrong thing to say. “I thought you knew.”
“How could I have known that?” Teddy asked, her voice growing louder. “I’m sorry I don’t know the location of every children’s entertainment company.”
“Is that . . . a problem?” Everett asked.
“Uh, yeah, Everett,” Teddy said. “It’s almost a nine-hour drive.”
“Much shorter by plane,” he pointed out.
“Oh, my God,” Teddy said, folding herself in half so she was talking to her knees. “You missed dinner. You’re moving. All because of your job. I’ve been here before, and I know how this ends.”
“What are you talking about?” Everett asked. “And also what are you saying? Your voice is very muffled.”
Teddy sat up. “I’ve already dated one guy who treated me like garbage because all he cared about was his job and the prestige of it. And Richard dumped me, Everett, after I spent years bending over backward to help him follow his dream.”
“Hey, I have zero intentions of dumping you,” Everett said. “That’s the furthest thing from my mind, trust me.”
“How are we going to stay together if we’re in different states?” Teddy asked, dragging her hands over her face.
“We don’t have to be in different states,” Everett said slowly. “You can come with me.”
Teddy dropped her hands into her lap and sat completely still. “You think I should move to New York with you?”
“Yes!” Everett grabbed her hands and smiled. “Think about how great it would be. I’m sure we can find you a job on the show—”
“No.”
“No what?” Everett asked.
“No!” Teddy said louder, standing up. “I’m not doing that. I want to visit New York, but I mean visit. On my own terms. And I don’t want to work for you, Everett. I already told you that.”
“Okay, again, it’s not really working for me,” Everett said, standing up to face Teddy.
“And anyway, I’m taking over Colossal Toys, remember? How am I supposed to run a toy store in Columbus if I’m in New York?”
“You decided to take over?” Everett raised his eyebrows. “You never told me that was for certain.”
“Don’t sound so incredulous! Do you think I can’t own a business?”
Everett held up his hands. “Whoa. That is not what I said. I think you can do anything, Teddy. Of course you can own a business if you want to, but you didn’t sound remotely excited when you told me about it. In fact, you kinda sounded like you wanted me to talk you out of it. You’ve spent a lot of time telling me that you wanted to discover what you’re passionate about, and not once did you mention small-business ownership or vintage toys.”
“Well, maybe you don’t know me that well after all. I am just starting to get my life back. I don’t want to give it away