“And Alli?”
Oscar dropped the ice pack and looked out the back windows. “Alli loves to make music. But more than that, she’s never been the same since Gideon left.”
Megs swallowed the lump in her throat. “You think she needs him back.”
Oscar exhaled and shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I know that she won’t ever find herself again if she continues to work at some CEO’s beck and call.” He looked up and fixed his eyes on her. “The world poured a bucket of water over both their glowing fires, and I’m just trying to breathe on the coals.”
Megs’ grip tightened on her arms. The line was cheesy, but somehow it didn’t sound laughable coming out of Oscar’s mouth.
The back door slid open and Megs’ head snapped up. Gideon stood on the mat, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Will he survive?”
Oscar sighed dramatically. “Only because of Megs’ quick thinking with the ice pack.”
Megs rolled her eyes and started back toward the patio. “Maybe we should call the Sugar Creek paper and have them do an exclusive op-ed?”
Oscar groaned and stood from the stool. “We should’ve filmed it! You could’ve posted it on your channel.”
Gideon’s brow lowered. “You have a channel?”
Megs waved him off, embarrassed. The last thing she needed was anyone she knew in real life searching up her socials. “I posted about Oscar’s challenge to try to help spread news about the books.”
“She’s single-handedly propelling my pre-orders.”
As the three of them stepped back onto the patio, Megs couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as Alli rushed back to Gideon’s side.She hasn’t been the same since Gideon left.“I think I’d better head home. Thanks, Emile.”
“Us, too.” Alli nodded in agreement.Us?Had she and Gideon driven together?
They gathered their things and offered to help Oscar clean up, but he insisted his team would take care of it. The two women who’d been snapping photos all night were already packing up the drinks.
Oscar walked them back through the house to the front door. “Thanks for being good sports.”
Alli leaned in close to Gideon and whispered something that made him smile, but Megs didn’t have time to ruminate on it.
“Where did you do your acting training?” Emile asked as he slipped on his shoes.
“Chicago, you?”
“New York.”
Megs zipped up her boots. “You didn’t stay in the city?”
“I’m going back in the new year. Needed a break.”
Oscar clapped him on the shoulder. “Lucky for us. My agent is Emile’s aunt, so she let me know he was back in town for the holidays.”
Megs smiled. “City life can get old quick.”
“Right?” Emile waved and walked out the door as Megs pulled on her jacket.
“So you’re helping your friends and your agent’s nephew?”
Oscar shook his head, but didn’t refute the statement. Oscar was kind-hearted. Even if he was playing Cupid, Megs could see why Gideon had been friends with him for so long. And possibly why he’d do something that made him uncomfortable because Oscar had asked. “Why didn’t you and Gideon stay in touch?”
“That was my fault. We’ve done a few things over the years, but I get so caught up in my own opportunities, I haven’t put much time into my relationships.”
Megs nodded.Maybe this competition was a bit of penance, too.“Thank you again, Oscar.” She turned to the door.
“You didn’t try to quit tonight.”
