Whatever this is?
It’s just the beginning.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Hilary
So it’s been a couple of days.
And I’m trying really hard not to lose my mind.
David is in L.A. He’s busy doing whatever it is international, stupidly talented, ridiculously attractive rockstars do when they’re launching a new single tied to a national sporting event.
Interviews.
Meetings.
Photoshoots.
Probably standing on rooftops looking broody while someone films it in slow motion.
Meanwhile, I’m back at The Book Shop.
Back behind the counter.
Back to ringing up paperbacks and recommending morally gray book boyfriends to my regulars like my life didn’t completely derail in a marble bathroom in Manhattan.
Bella’s back home too.
With Adrianna and Nathan.
Back in school.
Back to being a normal teenager—except now she’s also the girl who casually drops “oh yeah, I recorded in NYC with DJ Mars this weekend” into conversation like it’s no big deal.
Which—good for her.
She was going to pop over to L.A., but everyone thought she’d be more comfortable being interviewed closer to home, so they’ve arranged for that to happen here.
Which honestly, I’m glad.
She deserves that.
As for me?
I’m not normal. Not even a little.
Because things with David?
They’re weird.
Not bad weird.
Not ghosting, vanishing, you-were-just-a-moment weird.
No. He’s present.
Constantly.