“It’s research,” I said.
“You’re unbelievable,” Shane snapped. “You drop off theface of the earth, skip out on the Atlanta con, leave me to schmooze with TikTok demonologists—alone—and now you’re holed up in Hicksville playing Scooby-Doo with some lumberjack?”
I winced. “It’sWillow Grove.And Beau’s not a lumberjack, he’s?—”
“Tall? Hot? Emotionally available for once in your damn life?”
I groaned. “Why are you like this?”
“Because one of us has to be the responsible adult, Noelle. And last I checked, we’ve got apanelin Austin next Thursday. Live taping. Full house. Sold out.”
Shit…I’d totally forgotten.
Maybe Beau had brainwashed me with his dick after all.
“Right,” I said quickly. “I know. I’m—I’m coming back for that.”
“You’d better. Because if I have to do an hour of Q&A by myself while you’re out there getting wifed up, Iwillkill you. And youwillbecome podcast content.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
“Seriously, though,” he said, softer now. “You okay?”
I rubbed my hand over my face. “Yeah…I think so.”
“You sound weirdly happy. Did you hit your head on something?”
“Shut up.”
“No, really. It’s freaking me out. I’ve never heard you like this. You’re not even pretending to be miserable.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
Because he wasn’twrong.
I’d been here all of three days, and I was more relaxed than I’d felt in years. Sure, copious amounts of sex could do that to you, endorphins and all that…but I didn’t think it was just the sex.
It was all of it.
Feeling so welcomed right away thanks to Beau and Delilah and even Milo…having a warm bed to crawl into at night with a gorgeous man.
I washappy.
Weirdly happy, just like Shane said.
“I’ll send you the files tonight,” I said, brushing a hand down my thigh. “I’ve got two hours of interview, and I want to try to catch some B-roll this afternoon—there’s a local hunter who swears the Gloamstrider’s been tearing up game trails.”
“Jesus Christ,” Shane muttered. “Alright. Just—make sure you’re home for the panel. I’m serious.”
“I will be.”
“And text me back next time, you fucking gremlin.”
I smiled. “I will.”
“Love you. Don’t get murdered.”
“Love you too,” I said, and hung up before he could say something else snarky.
