Page 95 of Book and Ladder
His brows raise.
“There’s this woman online. She’s a fan of the show. She sent me an email a while back. We started messaging about books. Then it turned into talking about life, sharing our days with one another. We’ve developed a friendship—a genuine connection. But I made it clear we’d never meet—because of the importance of my anonymity as the host of my show. I don’t want to risk being found out.”
Cody doesn’t say anything, so I spill it all.
“She wants to meet up. It turns out—you’re going to love this—she lives here in Waterford.”
I told myself I’d never let my worlds collide—bookish host and local firefighter. Now I’m days away from tearing down the divide. First Daisy, now this. What is happening to me?
“And you’re sure she didn’t already know who you were when she reached out?”
“Huh.” It never occurred to me that M&M could have known who I was. I think through our interactions.
“No. I think it’s random, a freak serendipitous coincidence—as unlikely as that is. We only found out we’re both locals last week when she asked to meet up.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I want to meet her. But I feel like I’m pursuing two women at once, and that’s not something I’d ever do. And yet, I’m actually not pursuing either of them.”
Cody chuckles. “Man.”
“What would you do?” My voice sounds as desperate as I feel.
“You ought to meet this online friend. You’re not in a committed relationship. If a woman you enjoy wants to meet you and the woman who hates you still isn’t giving you the time of day outside of one passionate kiss that she put a stop to … Well, the answer’s obvious.” He nods as if he’s solved the dilemma. “Pick the woman who’s holding the door open.”
“Picking women?” Dustin barges out through the door leading into the bay. “Patrick’s picking women? Are we talking fictional women, or real women here?”
“We’re not talking at all,” I say with a little more finality than I intended. “I was talking to Cody.”
Dustin looks dejected. He’s literally a puppy in every sense of the word. His face resembles a golden retriever caught chewing his master’s shoe.
“I’ll keep you posted if there’s ever anything worth actually sharing,” I assure Dustin.
He instantly smiles. “Okay, Mr. September.”
It’s not that Dustin can’t keep a secret. Despite his chronic enthusiasm, he’d do his best. But his girlfriend is close friends with Daisy. That stuff gets tricky around here. I don’t want to put him in the position where he’d have to hide something so intriguing from Emberleigh—especially if my feelings aren’t going to lead to anything but confusion and me playing an adult game of hide-and-seek around town.
Cody’s silence speaks volumes. I glance at him. He doesn’t even look up from his task.
My secrets are safe with him.
I’ve effectively evaded Daisy for three days since the kiss. This morning I left the station with twenty-four unstructured hours before I return. I recorded the next podcast episode first thing when I got home. Thoughts of the fictional kingdoms of Florin and Guilder, Westley, Buttercup and rodents of unusual size are still running through my mind as I pull onto the property where our annual Fall Festival will be held.
I’ve been voluntold to be here to help with setup today.
I’d do it anyway, but Captain insisted each one of us help in some significant role before, during or after the festival.
It doesn’t escape me that this will be the site of my first meeting with M&M.
I pull my car onto the gravel next to a number of other vehicles—including my neighbor’s car. My eyes rove across the grassy expanse, the cornfield in the distance, the barn, and all the townspeople milling around.
I didn’t know Daisy would be here.
With both hands poised on my steering wheel, I consider my options. I could back my car out of this spot, call Captain and tell him I don’t feel well. I don’t now—that’s a fact. Or, I could man up and admit I’m going to have to face her at some point.
Blowing out a long breath, I decide to face my fate sooner than later.
People are scattered around the property, erecting booths, arranging hay bales, setting up the bandstand, decorating the massive whitewashed barn on the property. I look around for Clementine, eager to get busy doing something with the nervous energy coursing through me.
