Page 32 of Yours, Always
“Annabelle told me you’re going to have a cider stand at the hay bale maze next week.” Prudence leaned over the counter, trying to covertly smell the plate of blueberry scones.
Devlin smiled and poured out the black coffee. “I am! I’m excited to be a part of the Fall Festival.”
“We’re lucky to have you, I hope you know that?” Prudence said sincerely, once again glad that their friend group had expanded to include Devlin. “And don’t forget ladies’ night on Saturday. Annabelle is getting the wine.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Devlin handed Prudence the drink carrier and put a scone in a bag. “On the house, friend. I’ll see you later, Pru.”
“You know me so well.” Prudence grabbed the coffee and scone off the counter. She headed the few blocks to the Bee, mentally crossing her fingers that she could slip in and out unnoticed by Sebastian.
Prudence backed up to push open the door of the editor’s office when she reached it but stopped at the sound of raised voices, leaving the door slightly ajar. She turned her head toward a large mirror on the wall and saw the reflection of Sebastian as he stood from his desk and Annabelle looking ready for a fight.Oh, shit.
“What the fuck is on my front page, Winters?” Sebastian shouted, slamming a copy of the Amber Falls Bee on his desk.
Annabelle narrowed her eyes, stood slowly and seethed, “The Fall Festival, Mr. Locke.”
“It’s not for another week, why is it on my front pagenow?”
“Let’s skip the part where I tell you that you should be approving each copy before it prints, shall we?” Annabelle took a step forward. “You live in Amber Falls, and the Fall Festival is the biggest thing to happen each year. It’s bigger than Christmas, it’s bigger than the fourth of July, and every step leading up to it is on the front page. Every pumpkin spice concoction, every new cookie recipe, every float design rumor. Every detail, every year—”
Sebastian curled his lip and all but snarled, interrupting Annabelle. “Everything is a damn celebration. It’s enough that we have a monthly two page spread on baby births.”
Annabelle continued, undeterred by Sebastian’s interjection, moving forward so she was leaning over the desk “—you will have weeks of Winter Wonderland, days of the Summer Solstice and everyone will be chomping at the bit for details of the Spring Fling after months of bitter cold.”
Sebastian blinked rapidly, his eyes darting from Annabelle’s eyes to her lips and back again. “No, I refuse.”
“You won’t refuse. If you refuse, the Beeloses readers. You don’t want the Bee to lose readers.”
“I can’t justify putting this on the front page over press that’s actually newsworthy!”
“What are you not understanding here, Mr. Locke? You’re not in Atlanta anymore, you’re in small town America. This is what people here want to see, they want to know that the Fall Festival is starting. They want to know that Bubba Johnson was arrested for doing doughnuts in the 7-Eleven parking lot. They want to know every time Mrs. Crenshaw’s cat ends up in a tree and to see pictures of the handsome firemen who rescued it.” She stopped to take a breath, moving backward, appearing slightly surprised that they were now only scant inches from each other. “You want to know why? They’re lucky enough to not live in a major city, where murder and crime is all that’s newsworthy. If you took a second to think about that, you might just know how lucky you are to live here, too.”
Sebastian turned to the window, throwing his hands in the air. Then, Annabelle caught Prudence’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes widening, seeing the coffees in her hand. Annabelle slowly backed toward the door, her hands reaching behind her. Prudence transferred the coffee to Annabelle’s outstretched hands and backed out of view hearing Sebastian mutter, “Maybe I do know.”
Turning back toward Annabelle, obviously surprised to see the coffees in her hand, Sebastian asked, “Where the hell did those come from?”
Annabelle smirked. “Ask and you shall receive, sir.”
Sebastian slowly raised his gaze to meet Annabelle’s. “Say that again.”
Annabelle’s smirk faltered. “Ask and you shall receive, sir.” Her voice turned slightly demure.
“Get out of my office.” Sebastian turned back to his desk.
Annabelle exited the office, almost running into Prudence.
“I owe you one,” Annabelle winked.
Chapter Sixteen
Greyson paced the floor of his bedroom. What was he going to do? He’d finally kissed Prudence like he’d always wanted to. It had been so good that he’d been instantly aroused, wanting nothing more than to take her right there. It had been an epic battle of wills not to push her panties aside and take her, make her his in every sense.
His initial plan to just win Prudence over seemed so easy now, but that was before he had Chuck to deal with. If she hadn’t been with Chuck, last night would’ve been so different. Even now, just thinking about it, he wanted her. But Chuck. He had to tell Prudence how he felt and give her a choice.Chuck or me. And what, Greyson? What if she doesn’t want you?His mind was whirling inside his head.Then I’ll be happy for my best friend, I’ll go back to L.A., shoot my next film, and try to find my own happiness. He shook his head and ran his hands through his hair.Be realistic, Greyson, she is your bliss.
Greyson, shower and dressed. He knew he should be in bed, but he was much better, just tired, even though he’d slept through the morning and most of the afternoon. As far as on-set injuries went, he’d had worse. Popping a few Tylenols and downing them with water, he put on his watch, grabbed his phone off his bedside table, his wallet and keys off the dresser from his closet then headed over to Finnegan’s to talk with Gabe.
The walk to downtown gave Greyson a chance to appreciate being home. He missed this more than he had realized. Being able to walk to where he needed to go, the lush trees, actually being able to see the changing of the seasons. Seeing his brother, his friends. It was time to make a change.
Acting was fun but it was not where his heart was anymore. It was here in this place with these people. With Prudence. He didn’t think he could come home and not be with Prudence, to watch her with another man, but he needed to do something. He could talk a big game about being okay with going back to L.A. and resuming his life, but he knew he’d be miserable. A swing and a miss, close but no cigar, back to the drawing board and whatever other idioms fit.