Sawyer nodded. “I think so. I have a few boxes of miscellaneous stuff that I have to figure out what to do with, but for the most part, I’m settled. Did my first load of laundry yesterday, and that went well.”
“That was one of your big requests,” Courtney said with a chuckle.
“Listen, I am thirty-eight years old. I refuse to lug my dirty laundry to my mother’s house like I’m a freshman in college.”
“I know. You’ve said that exact line to me, like, fifty times.”
Sawyer grinned. “ ’Cause it’s the truth.”
Courtney studied her face, something she always did before she was about to broach a difficult subject, and Sawyer felt herself automatically bracing. “And how areyou?” It was a simple question, but Courtney put an emphasis on it that meant it was serious. She tapped a finger against her temple. “How are you here?” Then she tapped her chest, over her heart. “And here?”
Sawyer chewed a bite of her sandwich as she thought about her answer. Courtney was the one person in her life that she’d never, ever lied to. Not since they were kids. “I’m doing okay,” she said, and she meant it. “It’s hard. Not gonna lie. But I’m hanging in there.”
“Have you heard from her?”
Sawyer sighed. “She called the other day. Wanted to know my new address.”
Courtney’s eyes widened. “You didn’t give it to her, did you?”
“No. I told her she couldn’t have it.”
“Good. The last thing you need is her showing up at your door and doing her best to reel you back in.”
Sawyer nodded, trying not to picture Amanda’s face, her big blue eyes. “No. I donotneed that.” She chewed for a moment before adding, “And then I blocked her number.”
“Yeah? That’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you. I know that was hard.” Courtney had a way of looking at her that made it feel like she could see right into her soul. Maybe that was why she’d never lied to her little sister: She was afraid she’d know. Immediately. This time, shesimply gave a nod and moved on to the croissant. “I’m proud of you, Tommy. You were so wrapped up in her for so long, and untethering is fucking hard.”
“God, it so is.”
“And how’s the adorable new neighbor?” Courtney waggled her eyebrows and made Sawyer laugh.
“Honestly? I don’t think she likes me.”
“Well, that’s silly. She doesn’t know you.”
“True.” Sawyer thought about how cute Jenna had looked on her porch with her blanket and her book and her wine and her dog. She also thought about the pull she’d felt, how she’d thought about what it would be like to sit next to her with their feet up on the railing, just sitting together in the fall breeze.
Yeah, that was weird.
“Give her time.” Courtney’s voice tugged her back to the present.
“Yeah. I will.” She took a sip of her latte, then said, “And how are you feeling?”
“Like I’m as big as a house.” Courtney shook her head and held out a hand. “I had to take my rings off. They were getting too tight. Look at these sausage fingers.”
“Stop it. You’re beautiful.”
Courtney snorted loudly. “Yeah. A beautiful house.” They both laughed and talked about a few other mundane things before Courtney asked, “And how are things ‘Between the Lines’?” She made fun air quotes. “Your followers keep increasing, I see. Super cool.”
Sawyer nodded as she chewed the last bite of her sandwich. “It’s definitely doing well. I got about a dozen review requests in my inbox, so I’ve got some reading to do. I’m behind on about three reviews, so I need to get those done and posted.”
“And what was with that slam of the romance shop?” Courtney popped a crumb from the empty plate into her mouth. “Not your usual genre.”
Sawyer chuckled. “Yeah, I got some shit for that, too.”
“I saw.” Courtney arched an eyebrow at her.
“What, you’re gonna side with them? Come on, Court. You know those books are lame and unrealistic. How many women get swept off their feet by the local hockey player they dated when they werefourteen? Or the firefighter who shows up during a call? Please.” She gave a scoff.
