Page 25 of The Forever Formula
“Yes. That’s what I’m talking about.” Megan set a fresh mug of spiked cocoa beside me and leaned in for a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
“For what?” I asked.
“For carpe-freaking-diem, girl. This is a new chapter for you. Take that bull by the horns. Eat, pray, love ...”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, I get it.”
“Good.” She sat beside me and raised her glass. “To new beginnings and good men.”
“To new beginnings,” I said, clinking my mug against hers, which earned me another smile.
11
HITTING THE FAN
Rachel
It was nice having Megan here. She had given me the best gift—a renewed sense of peace, helping me decide to stay indefinitely.
I didn’t know what the future held for me long term, but for now, I wasn’t going to worry anymore. I would stick around for a while. Heal. Have somemetime. Pour some of my care and attention into this old cabin.
Which meant this morning, after dropping Megan off at the airport, I was tending to the bees, giving them their monthly treatment of preventive medicine. Hive sickness was no joke, as Grandpa had always said.
That’s when I noticed Austen striding over with a folder in his hand.
“Heya, neighbor.” I waved enthusiastically. It felt good to say those words.
“Hi, Rachel,” he said in a tone that was way too businesslike to have come from his lips.
I took off my gloves and walked over to meet him. Clearly, he was a man on mission.
“What you got there?” I asked as I pointed at the folder.
“Can we sit down and have a little talk?”
I raised a brow. My curiosity was officially piqued.
“Sure,” I said and led him inside.
I was starting to get a bit worried something had happened.
“Is everything okay?” I asked him as he sat down at my kitchen table.
“The place looks different.” He looked around, clearly avoiding answering me.
I sat across from him, folding my arms, done asking polite questions.
Finally, he took a breath and slid me the folder. I flipped it open. Inside was a printout with details of my property.
Confused, I frowned. “What’s this?”
“An offer.” He smiled then, as if that would make this all okay, but my blood was already boiling at the audacity.
“For what?” I asked carefully.
“To buy your property.”
“Why?” I kept my tone businesslike to avoid blurting out something harsher. My mind was reeling right now.
