Page 22 of Happy Trails & Honey Pots

“What?” I asked, not sure I understood what he was saying. “What does that mean?”

“The only way the movie is going to get made is if you say yes.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I knew that he didn’t have to do that legally. Last year, when I was contacted about contributing to the film, I reached out to a lawyer who said the production company had every legal right to go ahead with the film and did not need my permission.

“Why?” I asked as I shook my head, which was swimming in confusion.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to said that you were Austin’s entire world. That you were his everything. You were his why. How could I ever make a film honoring him if his world, his everything, his why, doesn’t want it made?”

“Are you asking…do you need to know right now?”

“No. I understand if you need time. There are a lot of people working on this, so if you could let me know by the end of the week, I’d appreciate it.”

“Of course.” I nodded. “Yes, I will.”

Miles stared down at me, and I waited for him to say more. I felt like he was going to say more, but he just exhaled. “Goodnight, Zoe.”

“Goodnight, Miles.”

He turned and walked down the steps to the parking lot.

“Thank you!” I called out after him.

He glanced over his shoulder and smiled, and my knees buckled. His full-watt smile should be registered as a lethal weapon. I lowered down onto a bench next to one of the picnic tables, feeling a little lightheaded.

I wasn’t sure if it was due to the smile, or the close encounter of the Miles Ford kind, or the responsibility I’d just been given. He’d left the decision up to me. All this time, it was something that I had no control over, but now, I did.

The only thing I needed to ask myself was, What would Austin want? That was all that mattered.

10

MILES

“Happy birthday to you,happy birthday to you, happy birthday, Zoeeeeee, happy birthday to youuuuuu!” Austin sang loudly to a teenage Zoe, who was trying to hide her face from the camera. Her hair fell across her forehead and cheek as she pushed the lens away playfully while Austin pulled her close to him.

“It’s not my birthday.” Zoe laughed as her head tilted to the side out of the frame of the camera.

“Yes, it is. You were born five thousand and eighty-five days ago. Every day is your birthday! You should be celebrated every day.” Austin pulled Zoe back into view and then kissed her.

“You guys make me sick,” Harlan teased, making a puking sound before the video ended.

I clicked on the next video. The screen filled with a shot of a scary clown next to a werewolf in front of a dilapidated barn. The camera panned, and it showed Austin walking with Zoe beside him and then four other teens. Harlan was one of them, who was with a young Nadia, and then Dawson and a girl I didn’t recognize.

The camera was shaky as the group climbed onto a trailer filled with hay in the back of the truck. They were all going on ahayride and then through a haunted house. The friends were all trying to scare one another, but I noticed how protective Austin was of Zoe. He made sure she was behind him at all times. Her face was buried in his back, and he had both of his arms wrapped around her. He was still having fun with his friends, but his main concern was her well-being.

It was a through-line in every single one of the clips Harlan had sent me. Even though I’d heard everyone talk about what Zoe meant to Austin, seeing the two of them together was giving me so much more insight. I was so thankful that Harlan offered to share these videos with me. I did feel a little guilty watching them without Zoe’s permission.

One thing was absolutely clear after watching these and speaking to everyone who knew the two of them; what Austin and Zoe had was real love. Actually, that word didn’t do justice to what the two of them shared.

A knock sounded at the door. My eyes were blurry as I looked up from my phone. I checked the time on my Apple Watch and realized I’d been watching the videos for hours. “Come in.”

“You’re late,” Braxton stated briskly as she walked in. “You were supposed to be on the call five minutes ago.”

Oh shit. I’d completely lost track of time.

I rubbed my eyes as she set up my computer on the small table in the corner. As I walked over, I knew that the team was not going to like what I was going to say. I hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with the power I’d given Zoe.

When I sat down and looked at the screen, I saw it was dissected into four boxes. In the right-hand corner was my agent, Tyler Katz; his jet-black hair was slicked back and so shiny you could see your reflection in it.

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