Page 18 of Three Months Yesterday

My wince is answer enough.

“Wow,” Reid mutters. “Even I know who Beckett Stone is.”

“Do we have to keep saying his full name? He’s just a guy,” I grumble.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Sadie soothes. “Beckett Stone is not just a guy.”

“All right.” I straighten my spine, dropping the empty glass to the counter next to me. “I’m well aware he’s famous, but he is still just a guy. Being famous doesn’t make him God or better than the rest of us. He’s a human being just like everyone else.”

“That’s a passionate speech there.” Sadie tries to hide the smirk behind her mug, but fails miserably.

With nothing to say, it takes serious effort to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I have no idea where the emotion came from, but she’s not wrong. For having just met the man I sure jumped at the chance to defend him.

“I’m sorry. So, you’re all discombobulated because a paying guest showed up expecting something and you had to turn him away?” Sadie asks, bringing us back to the reason I’m here.

“Sort of,” I murmur, shuffling my feet slightly. “I didn’t actually turn him away, at least not entirely.”

“Right, you said you’re renting out Millie’s Cottage.”

“Yeah…”

“What’s the problem then?” Reid asks when I don’t continue.

What’s the problem? The problem is that I’m insanely attracted to the celebrity living next door! Those aren’t the words I let fall from my lips though. I go with the much safer answer. “That cottage was never meant for paying guests.”

“Okay.” Sadie steps forward, leaning her elbows against the kitchen island. “Let’s be honest. Who was that cottage meant for? Everyone you know either lives in town or close enough that they don’t need a place to crash when they come to visit.”

“That’s not true.” I frown.

“Mads, I love you, but it is. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” she rushes to add. “Stonebridge Hollow and that inn are what’s important to you. It makes sense that the people you care about most are all close enough that you don’t have to leave either for long.”

I could lie to myself and say I never realized how small I keep my corner of the world, but how does that help?

It’s not like I never left home. I went away to college, but even then I knew once those four years were up I’d be right back here, building up the inn to everything I imagined it could be. But I’m getting closer and closer to achieving all the goals I set out for myself, and when that happens, what will I do?

There’s only so much I can do at the inn and with the cabins around the land. The last big obstacle to tackle is the old farmhouse, but that won’t take nearly as long as my house and the cottages took.

I haven’t let myself think about it in months, but did my focus on the inn and the family land play a bigger part in my break-up with Mark? At the time I didn’t think it did, but if I allow myself truly to analyze my choices over the last ten years, will it change my understanding of all the relationships I have around me?

“I see you going down a rabbit hole, and that wasn’t my intention with any of this.” Sadie reaches for me, her hand covering mine. “I was simply pointing out that fixing up the cottage wasn’t because you wanted a place for people to stay when they come to visit you. You fixed it up for this exact purpose. You wanted another place where guests could come to enjoy that beautiful land around you.”

“I don’t…” My words trail off as my eyes meet hers. Sadie and I don’t lie to each other, and we try our hardest not to let the other lie to themselves either. I’m not gonna start now. “Maybe you’re right, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I thought I’d have time to get used to the idea of sharing my space.”

“Okay, but are you really sharing your space?”

I shrug, not really having an answer.

To an extent I’m sharing space. This morning being a prime example. I know Beckett called out to me, and yet, I completely ignored him.

Then again, would I have done the same thing if I wasn’t attracted to him? If I wasn’t having these confusing thoughts and feelings coursing through me?

Objectively, attractive men have stayed at the inn before, and I’ve never had a problem interacting with them. So what’s so different about this one?

“I’m gonna go,” Reid whispers.

“No, you don’t have to go.” I stand straight, upset with myself for making Reid feel like he needs to leave. “I’m the one who barged in.”

“You’re fine. I have a shift at the station back in Ashford Falls. I need to get going anyway.” Reid offers a smile, leaning down to press another kiss to Sadie’s cheek.