Page 73 of Forever Endeavor

“He may be a bold-faced liar, but he’s handsome. Older than I imagined. Is he the one with the sparkle dick?”

Billie recoiled. “Um, no, that would be his nephew. And Cal’s not a liar.”

“Ah, didn’t think it was a May-December thing, but who am I to judge? So, care to explain what’s going on?”

Billie launched into the messy details of her involvement, the interwoven storylines taking a time to untangle. “So, now you know everything, Carmen. Cal is the inspiration behind my new book. And although his story didn’t get the happy ending I’d hoped for, I think maybe I can still spin things differently in the fictionalized version.”

“Whoa, whoa…pump the brakes, Billie. The story has already been here, there, everywhere, and the public clearly knows that things don’t end well.”

Billie’s knees buckled, causing her to grip the desk for support. “Maybe I should’ve clarified. It’s doesn’t exactly mirror Cal’s story. I’ve taken a lot of creative liberty with—”

“It’s close enough where people will recognize the parallels and draw their own conclusions. It will look like we stole this plot.”

“No, it won’t, because it’ll be a romantic, reimagined portrayal of the characters. Sort of a ripped-from-the headlines version like Dick Wolf does onLaw & Order.”

“I’m afraid you can’t just Dick Wolf your way out of this, Billie.”Chung-chung.

“B-but I’m in the final stretch of my rough draft. I’ve nearly reached the climax.”

“Then take a cold shower because I’m pulling the plug on it.”

“Maybe if I just go back and disguise more of the details, I could just—”

“You have to go back to the drawing board, Billie. Changing things up did you a world of good last time, so get off of Gilligan’s Island and rebook that Caribbean vacation. You can still enjoy a few weeks’ worth of sun and overpriced room service while you write.”

“B-but I’m not ready to go just yet,” Billie said. “I mean…it’s all so sudden. I have things to do, people to—”

“Ah, I see, it’s Mister Mustache. Did he ask you to stay in Mayberry?”

“No, not in so many words.”Or any words, really.

“Then maybe you’ve got your answer as to whether it was a fling or the real thing. At least you can title this chapter How Billie Got Her Groove Back.”

She and Sonny had clicked hard. So why hadn’t he asked her to stay? He’d certainly made her feel desired, was it too much to ask to be wanted as well? Her heart sank. “I’ve got to say goodbye to Sonny, don’t I?”

“You’ve got to say goodbye,” Carmen echoed. “My advice? Make it one that neither of you will ever forget.”

While they both knew this train was pulling into the station soon, going their separate ways would not be easy. Maybe it would soften the blow if she invited him to come with her to Punta Cana. With two tickets to paradise, she could write, he could get a much-needed vacation, and they could both indulge in some all-inclusive decadence and debauchery. An unforgettable farewell to end an unforgettable fling. A last hurrah. One long, slow, beautiful goodbye.

Sonny

Must’ve been a pretty intense call. Billie had been stowed away in the back office for so long that she missed seeing the news crews pull up stakes and leave Janus Lake in the dust. Once the coast was clear, an exhausted Cal agreed to let Stan and Bernice take him back to the farm for a home-cooked meal and much-needed shut eye.

The door opened and Billie finally emerged, looking around the empty shop. “Where is everyone? Did they leave already?”

“Yeah, Cal was beat. It’s been a long day for us all.” Sonny began unsnapping his coveralls. “Feels like you were gone a month.”

She smiled sweetly. “I missed you too.”

“I have some stuff to tell you, but give me ten minutes to change and lock up. Then we can grab a bite and head back to the house or stay at the cabin tonight. Your choice.”

“Mind if we take a stroll on the pier first? I’ve been driving all day, and I could really use the stretch and some fresh air.”

He winked. “You got it.”

Sonny was eager to tell Billie about reaching a settlement with Melissa, and what he planned to do with the cash. For her. For them. But it would have to wait a little longer. He could tell by her silence as they walked that she was still processing what had happened with Cal and wanted to give her the space to vent it out if she needed.

He reached down and laced his fingers through hers. “You doing okay? You must’ve taken the disappointment in Madison pretty hard.”

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