“Hey, are you—”
“I’ve gotta run, but I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
Beck paused, then finally said, “Yeah, okay. But call me if you need anything. And eat something.”
“I will.” I hung up, gripping the steering wheel and blowing out a heavy sigh—no time for food or pity parties, so I forced down my frustration and ignored my rumbling stomach. Then I started the truck, shoved it into gear, and headed in the direction of the senior center.
I didn’t make it half a block before my phone rang again, and I couldn’t glance over to check caller ID, so I answered without checking, assuming it’d be Beck again.
“I’m fine. I promise.”
“Not how I thought you’d answer the phone,” Ash said. “But it’s good to know you’re not still mad at me.”
I blew out a heavy sigh. With how my day had been going, I definitely should’ve expected this. “Iamstill mad at you.”
“Why? I went to Jamaica like you told me to.”
“Youranto Jamaica, and you did it after tattling to Mom and Dad about what an awful human being Beck is and leaving me to deal with the fallout. The same Beck, by the way, who’s given me a place to stay after my house burned down.”
“Oh, I bet he’s giving you a place to stay, all right.”
“Sebastian.”
The line went quiet, then he said, “Um…holy shit. Okay, so you’reactuallymad at me, then. Look, I’m sorry, okay? I just—Jesus, what the hell is that noise?”
“I’m driving a stick,” I grumbled.
“Like…you’re dressed up as a witch and it’s your pretend broom? Because I know you don’t mean a car. Don’t you remember what happened when you were a junior and you—”
“Yes. I remember. Look, now’s not a great time, okay?”
“Yeah, I’m getting that. What’s going on?”
There was no way in hell I was going to tell him everything that was swirling through my mind because he’d only fan the flames.
Instead, I said, “It’s just been a long week.”
“It’s Monday.”
“The most Mondayest of Mondays ever.”
He was quiet for a minute, then said, “Hey, remember the house you love? The little yellow one on Maple Street with the porch swing and the cherry tree out front?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, it just went up for sale.”
“Okay…” I said, drawing out the word. I didn’t have time to talk about this.
“What do you mean ‘okay’? I thought you’d be losing your shit about it.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Uh, maybe because you’ve been lusting after it for years? You have a secret board on Pinterest filled with decorating ideas for it, for fuck’s sake.”
“What’s your point?”
Ash blew out a heavy sigh. “Look, you and I both know Starlight Cove isn’t right for you. Just come home, Evie. Mom and Dad are salivating for it—Mom’s already planning the first week of meals she’s making when you come back. And I miss you.”
