“Love to hear it. I can tell the book will be a bestseller.”
“Haha, I love you. How are you doing? How are the Jenny’s?”
“Ugh, I’m struggling. Work sucks and the Jenny’s make me want to stick a needle in their I’s every day. Did I tell you I probably won’t have my job either?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maverick and Logan said I could stay on if I want, but they think the paper is a sinking ship. They said a new owner will likely make big changes. And honestly… it’s not been the same since you left.”
“I couldn’t stay. There was no way I was going to write an article about the Waverlys, and Holly wasn’t going to keep me unless I did.”
“I’m glad you stuck to your guns. That’s loyalty, Gina.”
“I mean… I love him. There was no way I was going to go back on my word.”
“But he told you you could.”
“Yeah. But he only said that because he was hurting. I would never be able to live with myself if I betrayed his confidences like that.”
“Oh, he’s leaving the office. Oh my God—he’s coming right up to me. Oh, shit, Gina.” I hear a thud, and I think she’s dropped the phone on her desk.
“Hi, Emma.” I hear Hunter’s muffled voice in the background, and I freeze. Am I going to be able to listen to their conversation?
“Hi, Hunter. Good to see you again.”
“You, too.” My heart melts at hearing his voice. “So, Holly tells me Gina no longer works here.” Oh my God, he’s asking about me.
“Yeah, she’s not here anymore. That’s because Holly told her she had to write an article about you and your family. And Gina told her she wouldn’t. She told Holly, ‘You will not use me. You will not use my connections. And I will not allow you to hold that over me.’ And when Holly threatened to fire her, Gina said, ‘You can’t fire me. I quit.’” I feel sick as I hear Emma talking.
Why is Emma telling him everything, and what is he thinking? There’s silence in the background.
“I see,” Hunter says quietly.
“You see what?” Emma snaps. “She loves you, Hunter. She was conflicted before she even started working there, before she even knew you were a Waverly. She felt bad just meeting your grandparents. She told me she felt icky. Why do you think she left that first day? It wasn’t for clothes. She felt like shit. You’re a jackass if you don’t see that.”
“Tell me how you really feel,” Hunter says smoothly, and I think he starts laughing. Why is he laughing?
“I’m going to kill you, Emma,” I whisper into the phone.
“She loves you, Hunter. And if you love her—and you weren’t just fucking around—you need to fix this shit. It’s been three weeks. My best friend is fading away. She’s lost her light, and she feels guilty. If you love her, do something about it.”
“Oh my God, Emma, stop,” I whisper urgently. The call suddenly ends, and my heart stops. Did her battery die? I am going to go crazy because I need to know what happens next. But I can't leave work. Ginny and Otis have been too good to me. I wait for Emma to call me back, but the phone doesn’t ring. I’m miserable watching each minute tick by on the clock.
Thirty minutes pass, and I decide to try calling her again. Just as I reach for my phone, the bell above the door rings, and I turn automatically to greet the new customer.
“Welcome to Chapters and Pages—” I freeze as I see that it’s Hunter.
Standing there like fresh air. So tall, handsome, and familiar. “Welcome to Chapters and Pages bookstore. How can I help you?” I say politely.
“You’re an idiot,” he says, walking toward me.
“What?”
“You’re an idiot.” My heart starts racing.
“You’re an idiot, too.”
“Really?” he asks. “That’s how you’re going to speak to me?”
