Page 43 of Dreaming About Forever

The man lifted his chin in greeting. “Jordan!”

Well, Jordan was the small-town celebrity in this case. The long-lost neighbor returning home after years away.

If only Alicia could figure out what happened to Jordan in those years.

“Not Jordan. Alicia Carver!” the woman said.

The man she was with leaned in and asked, “Did we go to school with her?”

The woman rolled her eyes and gave the man a friendly grin. “Hey, Jordan. We’re so glad to have you back, but could you please introduce us to your lady friend?” she sweetly asked.

“Alicia, this is Levi Thompson and Ruby–”

“Thompson,” Ruby finished, holding up her left hand and shining her ring.

“Congrats,” Jordan said before turning to Alicia. “This is Alicia Carver. She’s spending some time in Redemption Ridge.”

“Does this have anything to do with thestuffhappening to you?” Ruby asked.

Her question didn’t sound like she was prying, and Alicia let out a small sigh. “Yes.”

“She’s looking for privacy,” Jordan explained. “I’m her security agent.”

“Oh! We won’t say a word,” Ruby promised.

“I don’t understand who we would tell,” Levi said.

Jordan slapped a hand on Levi’s shoulder. “She’s a singer.”

Levi’s mouth opened into a big O. “Gotcha. The pieces are coming together.”

Ruby glanced back and forth between Alicia and Jordan. “Are the two of you…”

“No. Our relationship is professional,” Jordan interrupted.

The happy balloon in Alicia’s chest burst. Of course they weren’t together, but it hurt that Jordan was so quick to squash the idea.

“Right.” Ruby turned to Alicia. “You’re better than that scumbag. You’ll find someone else soon and forget all about him.”

“I hope you’re right,” Alicia said, unwilling to openly badmouth Ashton in public, knowing that the things she said always made their way back to the tabloids.

“Do you know her?” Levi asked.

Ruby rolled her eyes. “No, but pretty much everything about her life is on display in the checkout line at the grocery store.”

Levi shook his head. “It’s nice to meet you. And it’s good to have you back. How long are you staying?” he asked Jordan.

“Until after Christmas.”

Ruby gasped. “We should do something together while you two are here. There are tons of Christmas events coming up.”

“I’d like that,” Alicia said before stopping to think about what she was agreeing to.

But she would like to hang out with people. Levi and Ruby seemed like Jordan’s friends. If he trusted them, she could too.

“How’s the leg?” Levi asked Jordan.

Alicia stiffened, trying not to sound incredibly interested in Jordan’s response.

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