Page 17 of Until the End

It’s almost seven by the time I pull up to the gatehouse at Ginny’s. There are far fewer journalists at the gate than there were a few days ago. Hopefully, that means they’re finally backing off.

“Hey, Carson. How are you tonight?” Reggie asks from the window. His blonde hair is pulled back into a bun, and his brown eyes are soft with kindness.

“Doing good. Brought the girls some dinner tonight.” The motor of the gate whirs as it opens.

“Good. I’m sure they’ll appreciate that. Have a good one.”

I wave once my window is rolled up, then I’m driving through the gate. I park my car at the side of the house and head inside, sure Reggie told Ginny of my arrival already.

When I walk through the door, I stop in my tracks. Ginny’s laughter echoes through the living room, and for the first time since she got home, I know without a doubt she’s going to be just fine.

Chapter 10

Ginny

“Ginny!”

My heart jumps at Chelsea’s voice. “What?”

“It’s been four hours! Come back upstairs.”

Four hours?My phone concurs, and at the same time, my stomach growls. I look down at my notebook, where lines of text have filled the pages. It isn’t unusual for me to lose all sense of time while I write, but I’m a little taken aback by what I’ve written. The refrains are filled with longing and desire for a love I’ve never known. They make me want to cry.

I shake my head. “I’ll be up in a second!” Making a quick stop in the bathroom attached to my recording studio, I splash cold water on my face to wake up a bit. It’s been too long since I last wrote like that. I’m a little worn out and simultaneously invigorated.

Upstairs, I find Tanya and Chelsea pulling out snacks from my fridge.

“Girl, do you live like this every day?” Tanya turns with a platter in her hands. “I wouldn’t be able to stop eating if I had snacks like these handy.”

“Trust me, I don’t do this often. I only made these whenyou called to tell me you were on the way.” I settle onto a barstool and watch the two of them make themselves at home. I love that about them. They’ve always treated me like a friend first, not a celebrity.

“You made these?” Chelsea raises her eyebrows.

“Don’t get too impressed. If it’s cold and all I have to do is chop, I can handle it. If it involves a stove or a pan, I’m out.”

Chelsea hands me a plate with a laugh. “Same. Meal delivery services have saved me from starving.”

“Me, too. I can cook,” Tanya says, loading her plate with snacks. “I just don’t have time for it.”

“Knock, knock. I bring sustenance,” Carson shouts from the front door.

I whip around to find my best friend holding two bulging bags labeledLa Mensaon the sides. I squeal. “Are those La Mensa breadsticks?”

Carson flashes me a cocky smile. “You’re damn right they are.”

“Talk about scrumptious,” Tanya murmurs under her breath. I don’t think she’s talking about the food. Carson’s auburn hair is wet, making it look more brown than red. In his tight T-shirt and shorts, he’s stacked with muscle and sexier than my best friend has any right to look. I’ve always thought he was annoyingly attractive. Why did he, of all people, have to be the one who made my heart flutter every time he smiled? It’s not like he’d ever go for me. I was always the shy girl who stayed in the background. There wasn’t a point in telling him how I felt. I knew he’d never feel the same for me.

And as he sends a wink toward us, I know he never will.

Carson moves confidently across the room. “Thought you girls could use some dinner, although it looks like you have the appetizers covered. Seems Ginny has been hard at work.”

“Bring it over, handsome.” Tanya makes grabby hands at Carson.

He sets the bags on the counter next to the platters, then comes over to give me a hug. “Hey, Goose. How was your day?” He pulls away, leaving his hand on the back of my chair.

I tilt my head back to take in his penetrating emerald eyes. “I wrote today.”

His eyebrows rise. “You did? How did it feel?”

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