“Seven.” Willow gets that smile on her face that tells me she’s up to something.
“We’ll have one of each!” she blurts out before she looks over at me. “Doesn't that sound fun? We can try them all and judge which one we like the best.” I swear her face lights up as though this is her greatest idea to date.
“I’m down,” I agree. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Being around her always makes me feel better.
“I’ll be back with some more water for you, Glory.” Caroline closes her pad.
“Nah. Hit me with a cherry Coke too.” Willow is always about trying new things. I guess almost dying will do that to you. It’s why she left Syn City. Her parents want to keep her in a bubble. Almost losing her scared the shit out of them.
I get it. I didn't know Willow when she was sick, but it’s hard for me to picture her that way. She’s always filled with a happiness that is contagious. She came here to spread her wings and live her life the way she wants to.
“So let's talk about the uber famous hot guy that is hiding out.” Willow swings it right back to me. Why does everyone keep bringing him up to me? The disappointed look on my mom’s face the other night when I got back so fast is now etched into my brain.
“I don’t know.” I toy with the edge of my paper. “I think he was only looking to get lucky.” It didn't stop me from digging around about him. The man really is a mystery to the rest of the world. If I could score an interview with him, it would no doubt get my name out there. More so if I could get him to tell me about his next release.
“You know when I left Syn City I was sure I was going to find me a sweet country boy.”
“Let me guess. With a side of alpha? How's that working out for you?” I laugh, knowing from personal experience how that is going. Everyone has the same idea when they move to a small town.
“It’s the worst. I was thinking about getting on one of those dating apps. I want to fall in love.” She lets out a dreamy sigh. Yes, Willow wants to try and experience as many things as possible. She has a second chance at life, and she wants to experience it all.
“You should do it. I’m gonna write about your experience.” This actually might be fun.
“Only if you get on the app with me.” I cringe. Willow doesn't back down, and I know if I want the story I’m going to have to do it with her.
“Fine.” I’ll do about anything at this point for a good story. Also I’ll do anything right now if it gets my mind off Corby. It seems that I’m the one who is turning into a stalker. Luckily I get to hide my stalker ways behind my reporter badge.
Chapter Eleven
Corby
In my books, the characters that do the least get killed off the earliest, which is why I’m on my way into town to kidnap Glory. It’s been three days since she came to my house. I waited patiently for her to return, but since she hasn’t found her way back, I’m going to help her out. Since Cherry Falls is not a large town, it doesn’t take me long to track her down sitting in a booth at the Virgin Street Diner with another woman. Willow somebody, if I recall correctly. She, like me, is new around here. I can’t remember where she came from or what she does, but she seems harmless. My boots stomp over the black and white checked floor, but Glory and her friend are too absorbed with something on their phones to notice me.
I slide into the booth next to Glory and tap the back of the device with my finger. “I thought this was broken?”
Glory’s head jerks up so fast that she might have clipped my jaw with her skull if I hadn’t moved fast enough.
“Corby?” She squeaks and fumbles with the phone, turning it face down.
My eyebrows come together in suspicion. Why is she hiding her screen from me? I reach for it, but she slides it to her other side.
“Um, who is this?” Willow asks curiously.
I abandon the phone momentarily to introduce myself. “Corby O’Neal.”
“Corby O’Neal? Like the author?”
I nod and don’t bother to clarify that I am the author. “What are you two up to?” I have more important information to unearth.
“Nothing,” says Glory.
“We’re signing up for a dating app,” Willow reveals at the exact same moment. She yelps and scowls at Glory. “What’d you kick me for?”
Glory wrinkles her nose and tries to send a silent message. I’m not liking this turn of events. I gave her three days of grace, and she’s already looking for a new man? She hasn’t even kicked my tires yet.