“That bird is crazy. He roams around the cabin like he owns it and swears constantly, but it’s like he’s time traveled from the 1800s. Last night he called me a scurvy mate.”
“Love that bird.” Faith sighed.
“What’s his deal?”
“He arrived one day when Macy was cleaning the cabin and never left.”
“This town is weird; you know that, right?”
“Know it and embrace it.”
“So, you like Talon?” Ryan asked.
“They’re okay.”
“You weren’t singing our latest release in the bath that day I walked in on you?”
Faith ran a few more paces before answering. “I likesomeof your songs.” She emphasized “some.”
“That’s fair enough. We can’t expect everyone to love all our songs.”
“I like the ones that don’t have a commercial feel and sound to them.” He asked, so she’d be honest.
“The ones that sell more than others, do you mean?” he said dryly.
He wasn’t puffing, and while she wasn’t either, she would be soon. His stride was longer than hers, so he ran faster, but no way in hell was she telling him to slow down.
“I didn’t say other people didn’t like them. I said I didn’t.”
“Right, my bad.”
She huffed out a breath. “Look, Ryan. You may get universal adoration outside of Lake Howling, but here we keep it real, and if that upsets your fragile ego, then I’m sorry.”
They ran on in silence, and she could see the beginnings of town, thankfully.
“I know you think I’m this hot musician, Faith, and that unnerves you.”
“What?”
“You’ve made that obvious since I arrived. That plus what was between us—”
“I don’t think you’re hot!”
“The way I see it is, we call a truce. You stay away from me—”
“Me?”
“And I’ll try not to get in your way so you don’t get all emotional and off balance like the Texan, but worse.”
“I do not think you’re a hot musician. I don’t even think about you,” she hissed, speeding up to catch him.
“We’re all good then? No more snark from you, and I’ll stop teasing you?”
She saw his knowing smile and knew she’d been outmaneuvered.
“Yes.” It came out like a hiss. “Sorry, okay? I’m usually quite a nice person. Really,” she added when he scoffed. “I promise to play nice from now on. I just….”
“Struggle to get those emotions under control?”