“That was a very fast and loud no.” Hope frowned. “I need you to know that Newman and I think you two would be perfect for each other.”
“You and Newman discussed this?” Faith was horrified.
“You talk about a lot of things at 3:00 a.m. That was just one of them.”
“Well, scrub that conversation from your memory banks, because there is no ‘we’ for Ryan and me and never will be.”
“You have Gussie Neeps’s plate against your chest like it’s a protective vest,” Hope said calmly.
Faith wanted to place her hand over her friend’s mouth to shut her up. Instead, she lowered the plate to the bench.
“We are not having this conversation again because there is nothing between your brother, the rock star who lives in LA, and me. End of story. Finito. Now, I’ll see you later. Say goodbye for me; I don’t want to interrupt any bonding,” Faith said.
Letting herself out, she didn’t exactly run to her car, but it was a close thing.
People were connecting her and Ryan, and that was not good. She needed to keep her distance, or he needed to leave Lake Howling. The latter made her heart hurt.
“Back away, girl,” she muttered, pulling into her parking spot behind The Howler minutes later. Hurrying up to her room, she changed, then went to work.
Three hours later, her head felt clearer. Distance was all she needed to get through this. Changing again, she pulled on her running shoes and tracked down her brother in the kitchen.
“I’m going to see Mom now, Noah. I’ll be back for my shift.”
“Okay. I saw her earlier. She’s having a good day, and the doctor said she’s doing as well as can be expected.” His handsome face softened.
“That’s good, then. We’ll take however long we have and make the best of it, right?”
“Exactly.” He kissed her forehead. “See you later.”
Carrying a box with cupcakes, her mother’s favorites from Mrs. C, she headed to the rest home on foot. The breeze was cool but nice on her face. She smelled the earthy autumn air and felt the tightness in her chest ease.
“Hey, Faith.”
Ryan’s friend Shay appeared before her on the track.
“I was just going for a walk. This place is magic, and nearly as impressive as my homeland.”
“Nearly?”
“Nothing is like Ireland.”
“Fair enough, but you won’t mind if I disagree.”
“Where are you heading?”
“To visit my mom in the rest home. She loves these cupcakes.”
“Need company?”
“Sure.”
“They look very nice. I particularly like the purple roses on top.”
Faith opened the container and held it out. He took one.
They walked in silence, and it was comfortable. A skill, Faith thought. She’d never mastered the ability to be silent—or comfortable, if it came to that.
“So you and Ryan have been friends a long time?”