I think back to my younger years when I first started reading romance. That feeling of giddiness that comes with watching two characters fall in love, the familiar tropes found in each love story coming to life on the page. A distant memory of a conversation with Ronin when we were teenagers pops into my head, one I had forgotten about until now. A book about fated mates I had been reading had led to a discussion about fate and how it had brought me across the country to him. I never would have become the person I am today if I hadn’t come here. So much of who I am entwined with who Ronin is.
Maybe the same could be said about my characters now. Maybethisis a story about fate that mirrors my own.
I’d said as much to Ronin weeks ago, sitting at Double Shot while I brainstormed. Somewhere along the way, getting caught up in my own head, I had forgotten what was at the heart of my story. Fate playing her hand and setting two people on a course for true love.
Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, I jot down some notes for myself to go over later, satisfied with the progress I’ve made. As I finish my lunch, my thoughts remain on me andRonin’s relationship and what it took to get us here. Moving away and returning home… It has the sense of something preordained, like it was always meant to happen this way. These new feelings with him feel natural. The timing never felt right before, not for me, but now—we fit.
Nowhefeels like the true reason I returned to Blue Fields.
Chapter Thirty
MELLIE
It’s been a week since Julian’s accident, and Ronin and I still haven’t had our date. We’ve both been busy with work, but he’s managed to send me multiple texts throughout the week detailing all of the ways he plans to make it up to me.
My story is due in a week, and I’ve been in writer-mode for days. Ronin has spent most of his free time with his grandparents, making sure Julian is recovering and Nora doesn’t need any extra help around the house. Thankfully his grandfather is doing well and nothing was seriously injured during his fall. I make a mental note to stop by and check in on them both.
Leaving The Reading Nook, I walk down the block to the clothing boutique Bree manages. The little bell on the door chimes as I push it open and call out for her.
Her pink head of hair pops up from behind a shelf of clothes, arms laden with garments. “Mellie!”
I help her with her armload, taking half of the pile while she continues to put away the rest on the shelves. “What’s new? I haven’t seen you all week.”
“Not much. At least, not as much as you,” Bree replies, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
I shake my head, laughing. “You want to grab dinnertonight? Sydney is about to close the store. If you want to call Brooke, we can all meet at the diner.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call her as soon as I’m done with these.” Bree reaches for the pile of clothes in my arms. “Is Ronin working tonight?”
“He is.” My stomach does a flip just thinking about seeing him.
Bree sees right through me. “God, this is going to be nauseating, isn’t it?”
“Hey, you wanted this,” I tease, tossing over my shoulder as I head for the door, “I’ll meet you there!”
“I’m happy for you, Mellie,” Bree calls after me. “Just don’t make out all over my dinner, okay?”
The four of us sit around one of the corner booths in Double Shot, our finished meals cluttering the table.
“So, I want to plan something for Ronin’s birthday,” I tell them. “Any ideas?” I sip my glass of red wine. “He’s turning thirty and I want to do something special for him.”
Sydney shoots out a multitude of ridiculous and crude ideas, one of which involves me cooking dinner for Ronin in nothing but my birthday suit.
“What about a walk down memory lane?” Brooklyn suggests after we’ve all had a good laugh. “You two have known each other since you were teenagers, right? So what about highlighting some of your favorite moments together, somehow?”
I think about this, and a small kernel of an idea starts to form. “You know, that might actually be a really good idea. Thanks, Brooklyn.” I shoot her a grateful smile.
“No problem.” She smiles back, leaning an arm across the back of our booth behind Bree.
Ronin appears next to me, a pitcher of water in hand. He’s been working the bar tonight, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him sincewe came in to eat.
I smile up at him as he refills our glasses. “Thank you. How’s your night been?”
Ronin pulls a chair from a nearby table over to sit at the booth with us, flipping it around to sit with his arms propped on the back. “Exhausting. It’s officially tourist season, friends. We’ve been swamped.”
He leans in closer to me as the conversation continues around us, everyone lamenting the busy season. “I miss you.”
“I’m right here,” I tease.
