“Hey.” His eyes turn serious. “You deserve to start writing. No matter what your family’s going through.”
“I’ll try,” I say, knowing I don’t have any extra energy to think about a book right now.
As he turns to leave, I call out to him.
“Logan.”
He looks back at me.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything.”
He nods. “Anytime. You know that.”
I twist my hands together as I fumble for the right words. “Our once-a-year thing this year felt extra…”
“Special.”
Yes.
I blink. “And also…”
“Macey.” Logan grabs my hands, forcing me to stop wringing them. “It was perfect. And next year, whenever that happens, will be amazing, too. Right?”
I exhale in relief. “Right. So. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
He tips his cowboy hat. “Count on it.”
22
Nine months later
* * *
Macey
* * *
I stare at the blank page of my diary. In a few more pages, this journal will be finished. Maybe then I’ll actually have the courage to start a novel.
“Macey, good news! You’re taking the day off.” Ginny bursts into The Cowherd. “George is taking your shift, and your brother’s going to work in your office on the books.”
“Really? How do you know all of this?” I’m already coming out from behind the bar.
“Logan set it up. He said every time you technically have a day off from the bar, you spend it helping somebody else. Which is true, Mace.” Ginny grabs my hand. “So we’re going to spend the afternoon tubing on the river!”
“That sounds amazing.” I wave at George as he walks in through the door.
“I know. Let’s go to the store in town and buy new bathing suits first.”
Ginny starts walking so fast I have to nearly jog to keep up with her.
“Is everything all right?” I ask her as we hustle down Main Street.
“Of course. Why?”
“You seem…tense.”
Beep!
