Page 6 of The Story Between Us

Richard studied her for a long moment. Then, just like that, he nodded. “Good. Do it. If he doesn’t respond, we get our lawyers involved.”

“And if he does?”

Richard’s mouth curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Then you’ve just made yourself useful, Fox. Don’t waste it.”

She nodded, her body hollow.

Somehow, she made it through the rest of the meeting, but the words kept echoing through her brain.

I know him. I can text him.

What? Hello—once upon a time she’d known him.

Wanted to know a lot more of him, frankly.

But that was then. Before.

And this was the over-her-head now. What had she been thinking? She leaned against the wall, the cool surface pressing through her blouse.

What had she done?

Seven years since that summer. Three years since the funeral. Three years since he’d looked right through her like she was made of glass.

She pulled out her phone. His number was still there—she’d never been able to delete it. Her thumb hovered over the screen.

Hey, it’s Livvie. Livvie Fox. I don’t know if you remember me⁠—

Delete.

Nate, I know this is out of the blue, but⁠—

Delete.

I heard about your situation and I want to help⁠—

Delete. Delete. Delete.

She stared at the blank message. The cursor blinked. Waiting.

The taste of smoke and pine ghosted at the back of her throat.

She thought about the fiddle-leaf fig. The cupcake. The list she wasn’t credited for.

And she thought about firelight on his face. The crackle of burning pine. The question she’d never gotten to ask.

Heaven help her, she could do this.

Her thumbs moved.

Livvie

Nate. It’s Livvie. I know it’s been a long time. I’m at Pemberton now, the agency. They’ve asked me to reach out. I don’t know if you want to hear from me, but I wanted you to know: I still believe in those books. I still believe in you. Please give me a call.

She hit Send before she could change her mind.

The message showed delivered.

She waited.