“And Will is a workaholic, right? And he didn’t know about the Call until he read the books and put two and two together but didn’t want to freak Birdie out by telling her that he knew about the call when she had already figured it out ages ago?”
The more she says, the more my frown deepens. “Sounds like you’ve met them before,” I quip dryly.
“That’s because I have, B. Will and Birdie have a book written by Aster,” Cate says.
“What?” I whisper.
Something tugs at my memory. I gasp when it comes to me. “Oh.Ohhh,” I say. “Isla was telling me about how her and Case reunited and told me I should just read the book when it comes out’.”
Cate’s mouth drops open. “That’s her next book! Aster’s, I mean. This is surreal, B. You’re living a love story straight out of a book that we’re all going to read one day. This is awesome!”
“No,” I rush out empathically. “No. This isn’t me stepping into the pages of a romance novel. This is real life. I must be dreaming. Maybe I knocked my head.”
‘Brain aneurysm?” Alex asks.
“Something.” I run my fingers through my hair, pulling on the strands to try and shake off this feeling.
It’s not a bad one, it’s a distracted, disbelieving, questioning-everything-I’ve seen-and-heard one.
“I’ve got an idea,” Cate suggests. “Let’s go through a checklist for the Call. You can tell us if you’ve noticed or felt any of the things people usually go through when they’ve heard the mountain’s call from Aster’s books. It can be different for everyone, but surelysomeof them are the same.”
I arch a brow down the phone. “C, I love you. But are you honestly saying youbelievethis is true?”
“Here’s the thing, Blair Littlefoot, first equal best friend and platonic love of my life.” Her title for me brings a smile to my face for the first time since Sutton kissed me goodbye. “There are rumors–”
“Stronglybelievedones,” Alex adds.
Cate continues. “It’s widely known amongst Aster’s fans that the prophesy is true. Aster’s own love story with her husband is literal proof of it.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“Read the book and you’ll know,” Alex quips. “Just kidding. Aster was a bestselling author who was feeling uninspired and booked a cabin on Moose Mountain to try and rediscover her muse.”
“Instead, she ends up driving in a snowstorm, hitting a tree, and getting saved by Gray Cooper,” Cate continues, “who not only turned out to be the inspiration she was looking for, but happened to also be the man of her dreams. They were soulmates brought together in the most unlikely of circumstances. They believe that it was the mountain spirit’s doing and that Aster is Gray’s reward for him looking after and protecting the mountain.”
“See! That’s a good romance plot. It’snotreal life,” I argue.
“Except we’re telling you itisreal. It happened to Aster and Gray,” Cate replies. “She’s talked about it on podcasts and at her reader retreats.”
Alex nods. “After that, Gray’s three brothers on the mountain met their Ones too. First with Aster’s assistant, then a reader of Aster’s books who traveled to the mountain for one of her retreats, and then another fan who went for a hike, sprained her ankle, and got saved by the reclusive brother of the family.”
I can’t argue with that. But I do remember that Aster is coming on Saturday for the wedding.Maybe I can talk to her then?
“Did I tell you Gray and his brothers are distant cousins of Sutton and his family?” I say.
Both of my best friends shoot me a ‘are you kidding me’ look. Alex more than Cate. “And you’re sitting in a cabin on a mountain, on Cooper family land, after meeting a sexy, rugged, plaid-wearing mountain man–”
“He doesn’t really wear plaid,” I mutter.
She continues like I didn’t say a thing. “And you’re telling us youdon’tbelieve that their long-standing, widely believed family lore can’t be true?”
I can’t help but laugh at how ironic this whole thing is.
“One last thing before I let this go for the night,” Cate adds. “You went to Timber Falls to search for a new outlook on life and to see if Starchild’s prediction of new opportunities meant anything.” I nod. “When you told us you were going, it was the biggest surprise you’ve ever sprung on us but I loved it for you. If anyone needed to cut loose and break free of the mold they’d built themselves into, it was you.”
I’m still processing that when Alex speaks again. “I know you think Cate and I read too much and get too involved in the stories we’re reading.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. You guys seem to think life is just like a romance novel.”
