Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,60

sip of coffee.

“Yeah, before Gray and I met.” Maddie grinned. “Well after, I guess, since we met when I was a kid. But this was where we met for the second time.”

“Right.” Van didn’t try to hide her confusion.

Maddie laughed. “Sorry, I’m talking too much. Gray’s been in the studio all week and I’ve had nobody to talk to. That’s why I came to see Murphy, but then I remembered that he doesn’t talk much.” She shook her head and put her hand on Van’s wrist. “Am I holding you up? Do you have somewhere to be?”

“Only the drive-in. But I can stay and drink this coffee. It’s good, by the way.”

“I forgot you were working with Tanner.” Maddie lowered her voice. “How’s that going? If he’s anything like Gray, he’s making you work all the hours god sends.”

“I’m enjoying it,” Van admitted, smiling at the petite brunette. “I’m busier than I’ve ever been, but it’s really starting to come together.” And yeah, she was enjoying being with Tanner, too. Even though when they were at the drive-in he kept his promise and was all about business.

When he climbed through her window at night, though, he was anything but.

“I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.” Maddie clapped her hands together. “I’m so excited about making out with Gray at the movies. It’ll be like I’m a teenager again.”

Van laughed. “A lot of people have said that to me. It’s making everybody around here nostalgic. How about you? And how’s Gray?”

“I love him to death, but he’s such a damn perfectionist. He’s been recording the same song for a week, and keeps asking me to listen to the latest version so I can hear the difference.” Maddie leaned forward. “And I have to lie and say I do, because it’s exactly the same.”

“Is this a new album?”

Maddie nodded. “Yeah. And I think the pressure’s got to him. He said the last one wrote itself, but this one…” She sighed and shook her head.

“Wasn’t the last one about you?”

“Apparently.” Maddie grinned. “Anyway, I was wondering if you’re free on Sunday? We’re having everybody over to watch the documentary about Cam’s team. You and Zoe are invited, and your mom if she’s free.” She glanced at Van from the corner of her eye. “And Tanner will be there, of course.”

She could imagine Zoe’s excitement at visiting Gray Hartson’s house. Okay, so he probably came below Adam Levine, but he was still a huge rockstar.

“I didn’t know Cam was in a documentary.”

“It’s one of those Netflix ones. They followed his team around for all of last year. I was hoping he could come and join us, but he’s having to do publicity for it. So the next best thing is that we all watch and give him hell over the phone.”

Van laughed. She could just imagine the ribbing Cam’s brothers would give him. “That sounds like fun. Zoe and I will be there. I’m not sure it’s my mom’s kind of thing though.”

“No worries. And if she changes her mind, feel free to bring her. We’ll be cooking up a feast, since Logan will be there.” Maddie smiled warmly at her.

“I guess I’d better go,” Van said, finishing her coffee. “Thanks for this,” she said, lifting the mug. “How much do I owe you?”

“It’s on me.” Maddie told her. “Or on Murphy, technically. I’ll see you Sunday.”

Yeah, she would. And Van wasn’t sure why that made her body feel all warm and gooey inside, like chocolate left on the window sill on a warm Virginia day.

She stepped outside the diner, glancing at Fairfax Realty across the bright green of the town square, and took a deep breath.

Maybe it was the fact that some people in town accepted her and wanted to spend time with her.

This place was starting to feel like home again.

“Stop staring at her,” Logan murmured. “Unless you want everybody to guess what’s going on.” He’d flown down from Boston the previous night, and the three of them – Tanner, Gray, and Logan – had spend yesterday evening at the Moonlight Bar, catching up and shooting pool.

While Gray had been buying his round, Logan had taken the opportunity to ask Tanner how it was going with him and Van. He’d caught him up quickly. They were together, but trying to keep it on the downlow.

That was easier said than done now that he was sitting on the sofa in Gray’s beautiful den, following Van’s every move. She was looking hot