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"Damn, I missed out on some real entertainment."
"You did," Lexi smirked, bumping her mug gently against mine. "To adventures and saving each other's butts."
"To that," I toasted back, my heart swelling with affection for my friend.
The soft clinks of our mugs faded, and the room was filled with a comfortable silence for a moment. Lexi leaned forward, her attention fully on me. "Mandy, you mentioned a book tour when you got here. Tell us about it."
I tucked a stray hair behind my ear and sipped my tea, trying to figure out where to start. "Right out of college, I somehow snagged a job with Davis & Pierce, that major publishing firm? And almost immediately, I signed this monumental client. Guy was up for a Nobel Peace Prize. The whole thing was... I don’t even have words."
Luke raised his eyebrows, impressed. "Sounds like a whirlwind."
Jake nodded, his curiosity evident, "A Nobel nominee? That's pretty high stakes."
"It was," I admitted, the memory of the chaos still fresh. "We went everywhere for that book tour."
Lexi's eyes were wide with interest. "Like where?"
"Paris was our first stop. Imagine doing a book signing by the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower lit up in the backdrop. It felt like something out of a dream."
Luke let out a low whistle. "Never been farther than Denver myself."
I chuckled, "Well, from Paris, we shot off to Tokyo. I've never seen a place with such contrast. Ancient temples, then just streets over you, have the most modern tech and those neon lights. The sushi, though?" I paused for emphasis. "Divine."
Jake laughed, "I bet it's a tad different from what we get here."
"Just a tad," I teased back. "And then there was Cape Town. Ever seen two oceans meet from the top of a mountain? It's breathtaking."
"Sounds like something out of National Geographic," Lexi murmured, clearly picturing it.
"The parties must've been wild," Jake speculated with a smirk.
I grinned, thinking back. "You've no idea. Istanbul? Their rooftop parties are like something out of a movie. The energy, the city lights, dancing without a care? Absolutely surreal."
The group was silent for a moment, taking it all in.
Lexi finally broke the silence, "It's been years, Mand. Why now?"
I looked at her. "The tour was incredible, Lex. But it was also draining. When it ended, I realized there were things, people, I had lost touch with. I wanted to reconnect." The room grew quiet for a moment, and I could feel tension thickening the air. Lexi shifted in her seat, glancing at Luke before clearing her throat.
"Mandy, I'm so glad you're here. Seriously. But the timing’s just...we're in the middle of this massive house renovation, and...we don't really have a proper place for you to stay."
I felt a slight pang in my chest. Spending months living out of hotels and airports, I had imagined my return to Silver Creek to be a warm one, staying in a familiar place. But understanding the situation, I just nodded. "Oh, that's okay. The inn in town might have a room available."
There was a brief pause. It was Luke who finally broke the silence. "Jake, man, you've got that guest room, right? Why doesn't Mandy stay with you?"
Jake looked taken aback, almost like he hadn't expected to be pulled into the conversation. His hazel eyes met mine, slightly widened, but then that kind, heartwarming smile spread across his face. "Yeah, sure. I've got plenty of space if you're okay with it."
I gave him a once-over. I mean, I'd heard about Jake from Lexi's stories, but up close? Damn, the man was a sight. Tall, broad-shouldered, with this rugged charm. And that smile? Felt like it was lighting up the entire room.
Without giving away too much of my inner excitement, I smiled back. "Sounds good to me."
Luke chuckled, "Well, that settles it then."
Lexi, seeming relieved, leaned over and hugged me. "Thanks for understanding, Mandy. It's just a mess here right now."
"I get it," I assured her, wrapping my arm around her. "And thank you, Jake. It'll be nice to stay somewhere... homier."
Jake gave a little nod, his gaze lingering on me for a split second longer than necessary, "Not a problem. We can head over whenever you're ready."
