Page 23 of All Yours

“It’s possible,” I said, wrapping my sweater tight around me. The glass of wine was untouched on the table. I wished for a warm cider.

“Possible, but I’m tempering my expectations.”

“But ready to leave it all behind,” Eden said.

“More than ready.” Lauren laughed.

“Why are we outside?” I asked Eden. She’d insisted we sit on the patio in mid-October. And a chill had descended in the early afternoon air.

“It was warmer earlier,” Eden said.

“It’s not now,” I complained.

“I needed some air. I’ve been in there all day. We had two call outs.” She poured more wine from the bottle into her glass. “I’m not coming in tomorrow, no matter how much he begs.”

Lauren snorted. “I’ve never known Adrian to beg.”

“There’s always some reason for me to come in,” Eden said, ignoring Lauren. “I’m supposed to be part time, but it’s been full-time hours now for a while.”

“Good money, right?” I asked.

“But there’s no time to unpack my camera, let alone work on setting up my photography business and finding my own place.”

“Does that mean you’re staying in Hart Valley?” Lauren asked.

“Yeah, I think so.” Eden smiled, her red hair pulled into a bun, holding it in place against the wrath of the wind. “Not that your place hasn’t been a perfect place to stay.”

I waved her off. “I offered it to you until you got back on your feet.”

“Did that cop ever contact you?” Lauren asked. The gas station incident loomed in the back of my mind constantly. That could be another PR disaster. What if someone figured it out?

“No, but I haven’t called them, either.”

“It’s not possible to settle anywhere until you get that straightened out,” I said.

“Why are they looking for you?” Lauren asked, leaning forward, elbows on the table.

Eden shifted in her seat. “I’m not sure,” she paused, eyes scanning over the water. “I have an idea, and it has nothing to do with me,” she added.

“Then what is it?” Lauren asked.

“Information they suspect I might have on someone else.”

“Does that put you in danger?” I asked.

“No, no. Not at all,” she answered a bit too quick.

“What about that book?” Lauren asked, turning to me.

I stiffened. “What about it?”

“Have you seen it?”

“No. Have you?”

Lauren shook her head. “I’m not the one in it. If I were, I’d be demanding an advanced copy.”

“Why now? He didn’t write the book right after the breakup. So why now?” Eden asked.

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