rephrased that. What’s the worst that’s likely to happen?”
“Same answer.”
“All I’m saying is that if you don’t go after what you want, you probably won’t get it.”
“Yeah…” I trailed off. I didn’t want to admit she was right. Going after what I wanted had never been my number one skill. “But I don’t think I’m using Cullen as an excuse for anything. I honestly don’t think I’m ready for a relationship right now. In case you haven’t noticed, my career is circling the drain. I need to focus on writing, and then finding a new agent, and landing a publishing deal. That’s… a lot.”
“You know, these days you don’t necessarily need a publisher. Authors publish their work independently all the time.”
“I know that works for some people, but it seems so…”
“Scary?”
“Yes.”
“Scarier than having to find a new agent and land a new publishing deal?”
“Why are you trying to push me out of my comfort zone?”
She smiled. “Because sometimes you need a nudge.”
“How about this? I’ll consider it and do a little research so I know more about it. Will that make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Can we talk about you now?” I continued before she could answer. “I saw you talking to Logan Bailey last night.”
“Oh yeah. He was funny.”
“Did you hang out with him more after I left?”
Her lips twitched in a smile. “A little.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Did you go home alone last night or is there another reason for your sunny disposition this morning?”
She laughed softly. “No, I went home alone. We flirted a little and it was fun, but that was it.”
“Okay. That’s probably good.”
“Why?”
“Gavin said I should warn you about Logan.”
“Calling out his brother? Ouch.”
“No, it was more like he was being honest with a friend. He said his brother is a good guy but probably the kind of guy you should warn your girlfriend about.”
“I’m not even a tiny bit surprised.”
“I also saw you talking to Gram and Fiona. Aren’t they so nice?”
“I want Gram to adopt me. I seriously adore her.” She put a finger to her lips. “Maybe I should make something happen with Logan just so I can have Gram for a grandma-in-law.”
I laughed. “I don’t know if Logan is the one to go after if marrying into the family is your goal.”
“Good point. Besides, I’m too busy to think about getting married.”
“Speaking of busy, how’s your research going?”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh my god, so good. This town is a treasure trove of amazing stories. I’ve been to places with a lot of history plenty of times, but the way these people spin everything into a tall tale is absolutely fantastic. And don’t even get me started on the feud. It’s gold.”
“Yeah? So you’re finding a lot of stuff to write about?”
“Am I ever. I learned so much from Gram last night. You know what’s crazy? No one knows how the feud started. I’ve talked to people on both sides, and the one thing they all agree on is that no one knows the real story.”
“That’s so weird.”
“Isn’t it? Honestly, I love it. I’ve met so many townspeople who have their own version, but all of them admit they don’t really know. They’ve just made up their own theories. But then Fiona was telling me about some stuff Grace Bailey found. A woman named Eliza Bailey went missing, probably around the early 1920s or maybe a little bit before that. And there could be a connection to a man named John Haven, who also went missing. I’m not clear on whether they went missing at the same time, or if one of them might have been responsible for the other’s disappearance or what. I need to dig into it and see what I can find.”
“Maybe you’ll uncover the origin of the feud.”
“I’m kind of hoping I do. It’s such a fun mystery.”
“Keep me posted.” My phone buzzed, the little noise rattling my ear drums.
Ginny met my eyes. “Maybe it’s him. Check it.”
I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone.
“It’s him.”
“He’s reaching out. That means it’s your move.”
My move. I took another deep breath and read his text.
20
Gavin
The river meandered by, slow and lazy this time of year. It was cold out today, but I didn’t care. If my leg hadn’t been in a cast, I probably would have jumped in, just for the rush. There was something about dousing yourself in ice-cold water that felt awesome. Woke up the senses.
But I did have a cast, so I had to be content