Page 31 of Meet Me in the Valley
I dry off, refusing to look at myself in the mirror because I’m punishing my mind for its dirty, dirty thinking. With my towel slung low on my hips, I flop back onto the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Tiny rainbows scatter across the walls, cast through the window by the afternoon sun.
Funny. I feel like the opposite of rainbows.
The ceiling fan hums in a steady rhythm, matching the loop in my head that keeps whispering the same thing:You’re a piece of shit.
Then my phone pings from the nightstand, snapping me out of the spiral. I reach for it, not expecting anything worth seeing—until I read the name.
Peter Decker. Private Investigator.
My stomach flips. My heart stutters. I sit up fast and scan the email, a grin spreading before I even hit the second paragraph.
“Fuck yes.”
Finally. Good news. And I can’t wait to tell Tia.
Chapter Nine
TIA
After texting Audrey a million different selfies in what felt like thirty different outfits, I settled on the first outfit I tried on—the one I second-guessed in the first place.Of course.
Audrey
You’re panicking. Tell me why you’re panicking.
Tia
I’m not! It’s just one of those days where nothing looks good on me.
Audrey
Okay, first of all, everything looks good on you. Have you seen you lately? And are you sure you aren’t freaking out because of your secret feelings for you know who? ;)
My mouth drops open, and my cheeks heat instantly. Seriously? Am Ithatfucking obvious?
I don’t respond right away—I just stare at my phone, stunned. I thought I had my poker face locked down. Apparently not.
I must’ve made a complete ass of myself that night we went skinny dipping. IfAudreynoticed, others probably did, too. And this is the first time she’s actually said something. She’s definitely going to use tonight to poke at it, dig deeper—and I’m not about to let that happen.
I’m not giving her that. There’s too much happening. Too much spinning in my head.
And Logan? He’s a whole different kind of problem. One I can’t name without my chest tightening and my heart acting like it doesn’t know how to beat right.
I don’t even know what thisis, or when it started. All I know is that it’s messing with me. And if I can’t explain it to myself, I sure as hell won’t be explaining it to Audrey. Not tonight.
Not when just hearing his name makes my defenses shoot up.
Tia
You know, I don’t have to come to this thing. I can just fly back to Austin without saying goodbye.
I bite back a grin.
Audrey
You wouldn’t dare.
Tia
