Page 91 of Stormswept Colorado

“This guy isn’t in LA, and he’s not in the industry. I feel like I can be myself with him.”

Hayleigh nodded along. “That’s the dream, right there.”

“But I don’t even know when I’ll see him in person again. Kinda hard to date someone I never see.” I was aware that people dated long distance, but it didn’t seem realistic for me.

“You’re Ayla effing Maxwell,” Ricky said. “He should be moving heaven and earth for the mere chance to grovel at your feet.”

I smirked. “That line has potential as a song lyric.”

Ricky winked. “It’s all yours.”

After Ricky finished testing makeup looks and we decided which were my favorites, I asked him and Hayleigh to stick around for dinner. We had takeout on my balcony. After my usual bedtime call with Maisie, my friends and I snuggled into my oversized couch with microwave popcorn and fuzzy blankets to watch a movie.

The time I’d spent with Teller in Hart County made me realize how lonely my everyday routine in LA had gotten. I’d told myself that my music, my frequent calls with Maisie, and theoccasional hang-out with my few trusted friends kept me fulfilled. But that wasn’t enough for me anymore.

I wanted tolive.

And I wasAyla effing Maxwell, right? Didn’t I deserve that?

After Ricky and Hayleigh left for the night, I found myself glancing over Teller’s text messages again. Then I opened that photo taken at the wedding reception of the Lonely Harts club. I zoomed in on me and Teller, and my body recalled with a rush of goosebumps how he’d been touching me while this photo was taken.

Which had been very exciting, don’t get me wrong.

But tonight, I missed the emotional closeness we’d shared. Having someone to confess my innermost thoughts to. I had shared more with Teller about myself, mypast, than anyone before.

I’d avoided having a real conversation with him since leaving Colorado because I’d thought it would just make this harder. I was supposed to move on.

But he’d said he missed me too.

I went back to our messages and was about to start typing when a text popped up from him, beating me to the punch.

Teller

Just heard from River. He has an update on the stalker investigation. Any chance you’re free to talk with us?

I’m free now.

A couple minutes later, a video call came in. I quickly ran my fingers through my hair, feeling silly about my self-consciousness, then accepted it on my iPad. Good thing I’d washed off all my crazy makeup hours ago.

Teller was in his office at the station. Hair neat, handsome in his uniform. He lookedsodamn good.

“Ayla,” he said softly. “It’s great to see you.”

Meanwhile, I could hardly breathe. I was nervous, and it wasn’t so much about the stalker.

This man. Did he have any idea what he did to me?

“You too. It’s almost midnight in Colorado, isn’t it? You’re working late.”

“Busy day at the station.”

I frowned. “Anything bad?” Silver Ridge was a small town, but terrible things could still happen there. It made me dizzy to think of him being in danger.

He glanced to the side, and I could tell he was holding something back. “It doesn’t involve anyone you know. I’m sure you’re anxious to know what River found. I’ll add him to the call.”

“Okay.”

Actually, I would’ve preferred to talk with Teller for a while longer before we got to the stalker updates. It was the first time I’d seen his face in weeks. But I didn’t want to keep him up later than necessary if he’d had a difficult day. Teller had so much responsibility on his shoulders.

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