Page 103 of Nothing to No One

“You have my number, we’re not losing each other, just putting some miles between us for the sake of the family you love. When the time is right, we’ll figure this out.”

Those three words, again. Not everything had to be done in a day, but it seemed like it could be taken apart that quickly.

Someone came to join them: Roxie.

“Hmm, huh, not to eavesdrop, ‘cause that’s something I don’t believe in,” Roxie said only to be followed by a short burst of laughter from the next room. “Ignore him…” Dismissing him with a wave over her shoulder, she came closer. “Did I hear Wishbone? You’re not going back to backwater cocoon world.” She raised a hand. “Sorry, that was rude. I’m a Chicago girl and if anyone insulted my hometown, well… let’s just say that would be their last act on this earth.”

“Not much worth visiting there!”

Her head snapped to the side. “You’re already in the doghouse, Casanova!”

“Gotta make it worth it, Lo.”

Softening her smile, Roxie came to take her hand. “You’re coming to New York with us.”

“What?”

“You don’t want to go back to Smalltown: Unknown, with all the questions and the gossip. Plus…” When Roxie winced, she glanced at Struan. “Where’s the protection from the paps?”

“She’s right. You’ll be safer there.”

“You can stay at Crimson Palace with us. Tripp has a place there, we’ll all look out for you until your guy’s ready to join you.”

If anything, Struan seemed more confident with this second option. “No one can get to you there.”

Roxie leaned in. “And New York is actually kinda fun,” she whispered.

“Heard that!” Another call from the other room.

Roxie wrinkled her nose, but her expression quickly loosened. “Ignore him, he’s looking for some action. He’ll calm down in a minute. What do you say? Are you in?”

New York. Far from home. Far from Struan. With him in Vancouver or LA, there wasn’t much distance between them if she wanted to get to him fast. New York was…

“You guys want to see this…”

The note of concern in Tripp’s voice was so unusual, it scared her. Struan hooked an arm around her to lead her back to the living room. Everyone crowded around Zairn’s phone.

“…answers here today…” the reporter on screen said. “It’s quite a contrast to Bambi in the big city.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “That’s Wishbone.” Right over the reporter’s shoulder was the lake. “She’s in—why is she in Wishbone?”

“It’s not just her,” Zairn said, minimizing the screen to step away. “There’s a few people there.”

“Why?” she asked, her chest tightening. “Oh, God, I have to talk to my mom.”

“Chances are they’ve already made contact,” Tripp said. “No one called?”

The pile of bags was exactly where they’d been dropped when she and Struan arrived. Rummaging through them to her purse, she pulled out her phone and held it up.

“It’s dead.”

“Always knew you had taste, Struan,” Roxie said, proud. “That’s my kind of girl.”

“Let’s hope this is a one-off and Rox Out isn’t contagious,” Tripp said, relieving her of the phone to take it into the bedroom.

“I can’t go to New York. I can’t abandon my family! Why would the reporters—”

“Because you’re hot, honey,” Roxie explained. “That kiss last night, on the red carpet, was so out there people are talking about it.”

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