Page 66 of Love on the Byline

“I didn’t realize you were at work,” her mother said,laughing to herself. “Of course, you are. It’s still early in the day outthere. I forget, sometimes. How are things at the paper?”

Weird. “Okay. I’m still finding my way.”

She’d carefully avoided mentioning the type of stories she’dbeen writing for the Gazette. Her parents were already iffy on her careerchoice and her decision to move out West. She didn’t need to give them any moreammunition for their guilt trips.

“Is Daddy home?”

“No, he went to take care of some things. I’ll tell him you’recoming for a visit. Let us know the details when you can.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“And Blake?”

“Yes?”

“No matter where we end up, there will be space for you ifyou decide to come home.”

For a moment, she couldn’t speak around the lump in herthroat. “I know, Mom. Thanks.”

After she hung up, Blake sat down on the couch and stared ather laptop. She had so much to do, so much to work out regarding Diamond Moon,so much to plan regarding her profile of Bran, but she was suddenly exhausted.

Like someone had cut her strings, her limbs felt heavy. Shesank back into the sofa to close her eyes. Just for a moment.

When she opened them again, the sun had moved in the sky andthe light in the room had changed dramatically.

“Shit.” She sat upright and looked at the time on her phone.It was after one o’clock, and she had two emails. One from Gid asking forroughs, and one from Deanna.

Another former student had signed with Diamond Moon.

No one was on the patio when she went outside, and a quick searchof the house found it empty as well.

Had they really left her there alone all day?

She squinted at a figure down on the beach and recognizedOllie’s dark waves blowing in the breeze, so she made her way down to him.

“Bran isn’t back yet?”

He turned, a lopsided smile turning up the corner of his mouth.“Morning, sleepyhead.”

Blake felt herself flush.

“I came by to see if you wanted lunch, but you were outcold.”

“I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.” She walked up tostand beside him at the water’s edge, glad she’d removed her sandals and left themon the bottom step. The sand felt glorious between her toes.

Ollie turned back to the water. “I sleep best when I canhear the ocean,” he said. “Not sure how I ever slept without that sound.”

They were practically shoulder to shoulder, and there was somethingso intimate and familiar about the moment. Like they’d been there a thousandtimes before.

She supposed they had, back at school in their little nookin the library. Heads down, voices hushed.

They were hushed now, too.

“I was on the phone with my Mom, earlier.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him turn his head toher.

“Is Trent okay?”

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