Page 12 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
“You don’t need to do anything you don’t want to, Asher.” Her voice is soft, melodic. I hang on every word. “I hate that your reputation has taken a blow because of someone’s lies. You’re a kindhearted, generous man. Anyone who’s ever met you says so. You’ve been known as the kindest man in Hollywood for as long as you’ve been a celebrity. That’s the sort of reputation people would kill for.” She sighs on a frown, removes her hand from mine, leaving my skin cold. “And, unfortunately, it’s the kind of reputation people envy and would lie to ruin. As you well know.”
Insightful young woman. She’s not even a part of the Hollywood zeitgeist and seems to understand it quite well. Or, maybe it’s simply people she understands.
“Are you still with that streamer?”
There. It may not have been eloquent, but I asked the question burning in my gut all this time.
Her kind expression falters, changes to something darker, sad.
“No,” she says quietly. “We… broke up a while ago.”
Hm. I want to ask if there’s anyone new in her life, but the sad energy coming off her in waves is a pretty clear indication that she’s not over the Alpha gamer she’d been with when we’d met. Chances are, she isn’t with anyone new.
Izzy pulls up the sleeve of her coat and checks her watch. “I actually need to get back to where I’m staying. I have a few things to take care of.” She sounds perhaps a bit disappointed. “Would you maybe exchange numbers with me? We could do this again while we’re both here.”
My grin threatens to crack my face as I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone. She AirDrops her contact information, which I save, then text her a quick response so she has my number, too.
And not at all because I don’t know how to AirDrop. Not. At. All.
“May I walk you to your place?” I ask, hopeful.
Her smile turns a tad crooked, a little glint forms in her eye. “I mean, sure? I won’t turn down a handsome escort.”
Handsome. She thinks I’m handsome.
With a youthful pep in my step, I bring my empty tea cup and carafe to the drop-off spot, toss my used tea bag in the bin, and turn back to Izzy, who’s waiting by the door.
The outside air feels even cooler now than it had when I’d walked here, even though not much time had passed. It’s strangehow the seasons are so different only seven hours north or south in the same state.
I’m used to a damp chill from when I was growing up. After I’d graduated from uni, Mum returned to Leicestershire, so when I visit her outside of summer, it’s a weather shock.
I admit, I prefer the weather in Southern California, but you just can’t beat the views of the North.
“How long are you staying here?”
I turn my head to peer at Izzy. “I’ve been here for about a year now, actually. I haven’t decided if I’ll go back to Los Angeles or not.”
Her eyes widen a bit. “I hadn’t realized you’ve been living here that long.”
And that was by design. I didn’t make my move public, and I’ve gone out of my way to keep my head down. Although it doesn’t seem I need to in this small town. No one who’s recognized me has made a deal of it, nor has anyone posted pictures of me online.
This town has my respect for that.
We travel a familiar path west of Main Street, then turn to our left at the bottom of a tall hill.
The tall hill that I have been living at the top of for the past year. With my newly-discovered pack brother and owner of the Bed and Breakfast, Will Thomas.
When we reach the walkway that leads to The Cozy Crescent, Izzy turns to me with a smile.
“This is me,” she says, gesturing to the beautiful cottage that I know all too well.
And I’m back to gaping at her.
Chapter Six
“Ican’t believe we’re staying in the same place!”
Izzy’s laughter travels from the front door into the kitchen, drawing me out to find her with a wide-eyed and quiet Asher.
