I gape at him. Then I point to the house behind me. “Thatis Dolly and Raymond’s house.”
Wyatt’s jaw falls open. “Are you kidding me?”
“No. I tracked them from Tahoe to Albany to this house.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.”
I’m feeling rather amazed myself, because this is the mother of all coincidences. “So your friend, Cole Tanner, the country star—that’s his mom’s house over there?”
“Yeah. He bought it for her about a year ago after his album went platinum. Lorraine wanted to leave the south to live near her sister.”
“And why areyouhere?”
“Cole’s kicking off his tour tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. His mom wanted to meet me. We just finished dinner, and we’re about to head back to our hotel.” Wyatt stares at me for a moment, as if trying to convince himself I’m actually here. “I can’t fucking believe this.”
Then he moans. A low, miserable sound.
A groove digs into my forehead. “Why do you look so upset?”
“Because I don’t want to give them the satisfaction,” he grinds out.
“Who?” I ask blankly.
“The Spencers.”
“What do they have to do with this?” My head is spinning.
“No. You’re right.” Wyatt nods decisively, only confusing me further. “This doesn’t have to be a ghost. It could just be fate.”
It clicks in my mind. “Wait. You think this is about Darlie?”
“Remember how much they gloated in Tahoe after they learned we were together? They said Darlie played matchmaker. You and Ihaven’t spoken in amonth, and now you’re standing here, visiting Darlie’s sister—” He jabs a finger toward Dolly’s house. “And I’m two doors down, visiting my best friend’s mom—” He jabs his finger at Lorraine’s house. “That isn’t a coincidence, freckles.”
I want to argue, but part of me thinks he’s right.
“We might need to apologize to the Spencers,” I say solemnly, and for a moment, it’s like old times and we’re back in Tahoe. For one beautiful moment, he’s flashing that lazy smile and I’m smiling back, and my heart feels lighter than air.
Until I remember we’re not in Tahoe, and we’re not together anymore.
“Hey, so listen…” He bites the side of his lip, shifting awkwardly on his feet.
My good mood plummets.
Oh God. No. I know where this is going. Damage control. He must know I saw the pictures of him and Mollie May, and now he’s trying to get ahead of that.
“I have some news.”
Now I feel queasy.News? What the hell is this? Is he going to tell me he’sdatingher? Is it an official thing?
“Mollie May asked me to come on tour with her. As her opening act.”
I blink in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, the original opener was Stylo Lewis, but he just got charged with that DUI, and her team thinks it’s bad PR if he stays on the tour. So…” Wyatt laughs nervously. “She asked me.”
“Wow, that’s huge.”
“I know.” He looks amazed. “Honestly can’t believe it.”
