The Trouble With Us

her glass back, letting the crisp white liquid cool the fire still burning inside her. Across from her, Sadie twirl

ce of their shared annoyance. "Like, apocalypse-level bad. Wo

own with a bit more force than nec

. "Then why do you look lik

's temples, though she wasn't sure if it was from Desmond's unexpected reapp

e. No warning. No nothing. And then he drops that on me? That he o

re answering. "You're supposed to rage,

ery's lips. "You're really s

d stink bomb in his fancy car

oth knew it. Emery had spent too long carving out her place in Willow Bay, prov

ment, carrying the scent of salt and sea. She let it fill her lungs,

choked on her

sn't it? He said he doesn

urself right now? "Right, and I'm sure he just magical

een a bad person. But that was the problem, wasn'

mitted. "People like him don't just buy prope

s gleaming with determina

oot. If Desmond wanted to play games, fine. But she wasn't going to

re the sun had fully risen over the sleepy town. The café smelled like home-fresh coffee,

t of her mind. It worked for exactly ten minutes before the bell above

a dark button-up and jeans that somehow still made him look like

gerated care. "If you keep showing up like this, peopl

cross his lips. "

, artisanal coffee that tastes

ly, too familiar. "I'm wil

ling him with a look. "Wh

y. I want to find a way to ma

s in his polished exterior. "And what

te the building, but I also want to keep the café intact. We m

n her mind, sharp and dangerous. "An

on't have much

ared. "E

this building now. And whether you like it or not, changes are coming. But

spent too many years picking up the pieces of her life after Desmond

altz in here, throw around words like p

ed into a thin

are you ev

owe you t

ment, neither of them spoke, the weight of th

t me to consider this? Fine. Bu

readable flickering in his g

hesitated. "And for the reco

rself. "Then prove it. Try something other

le spread across hi

staring after him, heart poundin

ealized she was holding. A partnership? The idea should have sent her into

out of here. Should I call an e

the counter, arms crossed, her sharp gaze

ered, grabbing a rag and aggressively

elbows on the surface. "So? What did

rds tasted foreign, like something

choking sou

heard

ok her head. "I think the hea

ad

who we're talking about? Bec

ounter, irritation bubbling to

"Then why aren't you

y before answering. "Because he owns the building, and if I

And you think listening to

s the worst part. Emery was

of her regulars. The elderly woman beamed at them as she shuffled to

ight floral scarf around her neck. "I hope you've got

action. "Of course, Grace. One large vanilla

hands together.

die slid off the stool, muttering

had just died down when the last person Emer

me. Instead, he slid into the seat across from

thinking abou

. "That's not

n't need

"What do you really want, Desmond? An

d and leaned forward, resting his arms on t

but they knocked the ai

. I know I left without giving you the answers you deserved. And I'm not here to pretend that d

ed that part of her wanted to believe him. But bel

y." Her voice was quieter now, edged with something t

d before adding, "But

ed around the ed

g new. And that was even more terrifying. Silence stretched between t

hink ab

sion in his shoulders easing just

r