Page 85
“No.”
“Text?”
“No.”
“Send a carrier pigeon?”
I glare at her.
“Very librarian.”
“He said he’s busy. I don’t want to bother him.”
“He’s an idiot.”
“He’s your brother.”
“Exactly. I have thirty years of supporting evidence.”
“Thirty-five.”
“See? Librarian.”
I throw a bookmark at her. She laughs and walks away to help someone.
The fundraiser fills the town square outside the library. Strings of lights hang between the trees. Kids run between tables. Somebody from Devil’s Peak Fire and Rescue is grilling burgers. Half the town is here.
Including Evan.
I see him near the silent auction tent with Sienna.
He gives me a cautious wave.
I wave back.
That’s it.
No pain.
No jealousy.
No wondering whether she’s prettier or more exciting or more willing to give him everything I couldn’t.
Turns out getting dumped wasn’t the worst thing Evan did to me.
The worst thing was convincing me I needed to become someone else to be worth staying for.
Ryder never asked me to be different.
He just made me want more.
More of myself.
That’s considerably harder to get over.
“Clara!”
I turn as Margie Warner, the owner of Devil’s Peak Lodge, approaches with an armful of books.
