Page 91 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“Truth?”
I nod, already fearing his answer.
“You looked like the loneliest man I’d ever met, and then I learned to read your signs.”
“But you’ve said yourself, I’ve never been a particularly good friend. Why stick around?”
“Let’s just say I’ve always believed in your potential. And now that you’ve acknowledged your dickheadedness, I fully expect you to step up your game in the friend department.”
When words fail me, I swallow and nod once.
I may not know how to be a friend, but I’ve never tried before either.
I have a feeling I’ll be doing nothing but trying for the rest of my life. And as terrifying as that would have been to me a year ago, now it’s become a challenge.
And I never back down from a challenge.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
LOTTIE
I’m sittingin the do-it-yourself café located in the corner of the library with Hercules in my lap. She’s a good dog, but she’s so attached to Thane that she’s becoming a pain in the ass, so I thought maybe some socializing would do her good.
I’ve already stuffed a twenty into the payment box, but as I make my third cappuccino with Hercules tucked under my arm so she doesn’t disturb the book club, I slip in another ten.
Sharky shouldn’t be the only one funding the café and the programs here.
Today I told Thane that I’d take Kara in for her book club while Rafe was in New York, giving his report to the judge. It’s the only way for me to get a little bit of privacy. My house has never felt small, but Thane takes up all the oxygen in every room he enters, and I need to talk to my friend privately.
When I was in North Carolina, I asked Rowan if she wanted to take over the European expansion of the hotline. It feeds her nomad tendencies while also allowing her to help families without actually having to face them.
My friend is a complicated character. She simultaneously craves connection and fears it. Our relationship, in a lot of ways, mirrors Thane and Rafe’s. I’ve spent years trying to get Rowan to let me in, and she’s spent just as much energy to keep me on the periphery.
But I trust her more than I trust anyone else. We’ve both kept secrets, but I know if push came to shove, she’d have my back.
A video call pops up on my computer screen. Glancing around, I stick my Air Pods in my ears, then accept the call.
Rowan’s beautiful face fills the screen. Her hair’s wild, her smile bright.
“Hey.” I say, allowing the calmness that comes from years of friendship to soak into my bones.
“Hey.” She’s distracted. She’s been this way the last couple of times I’ve spoken with her, but it’s also not out of character for her since she’s always searching for her next adventure.
“How’s it going in Sailport Bay?” I ask.
Her gaze flicks away from the screen.
“Row?”
“No, it’s good. There’s just history with Sebastian and me, you know?”
Sebastian was her childhood friend and the grandson of the only other person she speaks to on a semi-regular basis.
“But it’s good. I’m really connecting with his daughter. We…” She twists her bracelets around her wrist. “We share a lot of similar traumas.”
“I did say that you were the perfect fit for them.”
“Maybe,” she mumbles. “What’s going on with you?”
