Page 39 of Crazy in Love

“Why wouldn’t there be hope? I mean, I don’t want to date him, but would that really be sooo bad?” She wasn’t about to admit that she might, potentially, be harboring a tiny attraction to Nick.

“I love you, Faith. But you know what I mean.” Tess parked the cart and got out. “Your history with guys isn’t exactly stellar.”

“Ouch.”

“You get really attached, really fast, then sour on things just as quick. When’s the last time you had a serious relationship?”

“It’s not like I’m not looking.” Faith shrugged. “Or that I’mincapableof having one. I just haven’t found anyone worthy yet.”

Tess might have a point, but even so, this conversation was starting to sting a bit. Her friends all thought she was too picky. But really, why waste time on someone who wasn’t her forever man?

“Besides,” she continued without acknowledging Faith’s rebuttal. “Nick is dying to return to Boston. As soon as he’s better, he’s outta here. He loves his job more than anything or anyone. Plus, you guys are total opposites. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Supposedly, opposites attract. And Amara did say I should try dating a man different than my usual ‘type.’ She actually said I should date Denver.”

Tess stopped digging through her clubs and stared at Faith. “Please don’t tell me you are considering that charlatan’s advice.”

“Amara is not a charlatan.” They’d had this conversation before, which was why Faith usually kept Amara’s guidance to herself.

“Anyway, dating Nick is a terrible idea. He’d drive you crazy, he’s leaving soon, and he’s vowed to never come back here. One or both of you would get hurt, and I’d be stuck in the middle.”

“Don’t worry, Tessy. He’s a Capricorn. There’s no way we’d be compatible. Plus, I’m sure I’m the last person in the world your brother wants to get involved with. You’re the only Walker I love.” Tess wasn’t a big hugger, but Faith hugged her anyway.

“All right, now that that’s settled, can we focus on our golf game?”

Around the fifth hole, Faith received a text from Nick stating they needed to talk and asking if he could stop by the bookstore. With the don’t-date-my-brother convo so fresh in the books, she didn’t mention it. And while Tess putted, Faith discreetlyreplied, saying she was golfing but that he could come by after eleven.

When she arrived at the bookstore a little before eleven, Nick was already there, browsing the shelves while waiting for her.

“Morning, Nick,” she said. His curt nod indicated that whatever he wanted to discuss was serious. She couldn’t imagine what was so dire. She greeted Ruby and walked to her office, Nick hot on her heels.

“You’re freakin’ me out. What’s wrong? Is something the matter with Tess?”

Nick closed the door, which upped Faith’s apprehension. “She’s fine. It’s Hope.”

Faith had peeked in on Hope before leaving the house, so she knew she was okay physically. “Does this have something to do with that hooligan she’s been hanging out with?” At his nod, she asked, “What happened?”

“She called last night from the police station and asked me to come pick her up. She’d been detained for vandalism of the high school gym.”

“You? Why would she call you?”

He shrugged. “Said she didn’t want to bother you and didn’t want to stress out your dad.”

“She should have thought of thatbeforeshe vandalized the gym!”

“I’ll let you deal with all that. I wanted to talk to you about what she told me after.”

Faith plopped down into her chair. “That sounds ominous.” She picked up the deck of tarot cards and started shuffling, just to give her hands something to do.

“She thinks she’s responsible for your mom’s death,” Nick said.

Faith froze mid-shuffle, half the cards scattering every which way. “What? Why?” Tiger jumped onto the desk and stared at Nick as if also interested in the answer.

“Apparently, she read online that a late pregnancy can cause cancer and got it in her head that because your mom was forty-five when she had Hope, it’s her fault. I did as much damage control as I could—told her cancer was no one’s fault and all that—but I thought you should know where her head’s at.”

“Yes. No. Of course. Thank you for telling me. I thought she was just taking it hard. I had no idea she blamed herself.”

“Anyway,” he said, standing. “I’ll let you handle it from here.”

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