AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Evidence is showing that itdoesmatter,” Junie said. “You deserve another chance at love. At happiness. Maybe the radio knows that.”
“It’s aradio.”
The longer we spoke, the more irritated I grew. I didn’t like this side of myself. I didn’t realize how quickly anger had become my natural reaction until that moment.
I shouldn’t be upset at Junie. She was only trying to help.
That didn’t convince my emotions, however, which burbled beneath my skin like heated tar.
“I had my shot,” I said softly.
The sadness in Junie’s eyes was unbearable. “Boone. I don’t think we only get one.”
Tears welled in my eyes. I blinked hard, willing them away.
“We need to put that thing in the attic until Christmas is over,” I said.
Then we could go on having normal lives without this accursed holiday interfering.
I cradled the radio in my arms once more. Junie didn’t protest as I thought she would.
She only said, “I’m sorry.”
The apology seemed like it was trying to cover so much. It said so much without specifying.
Junie knew how much my heart hurt without Amy. I wasn’t sure whether to be reassured by that or bothered that my pain was so transparent.
Either way, I paused at the door long enough to speak over my shoulder. “Me, too,” I said before exiting and placing the radio up in the darkest corner of the attic.
Where it would stay. Because if anything was going to happen in my life, it would be because I wanted it to. Not because a magical, absentee figure like Santa Claus thought something should.
If only I’d known more about the jolly man in red, I would have realized that that thought came across more like a challenge than a reassurance.
GRACE
I was unsettled.Boone had been the one to charm that little girl the day I’d met him with stories about the radio. Why did hearing it play bother him as much as it had? He’d spoken like the radio and its curious origin story were something to be proud of—so why remove it from the room altogether?
It was more than that. There was more at play here. This wasn’t only about the radio.
I couldn’t figure out what it was aboutmethat he didn’t like. Every interaction the handsome cowboy and I had had thus far had only earned me glares and scowls. And I was pretty sure I hadn’t done anything to deserve a single one of them.
Shaking it off, I sat up against the mound of pillows behind my back and stared at the suggested itinerary Junie had given me. I’d never been one for doing much yoga or for spending money on spa treatments like massages and pedicures that were offered, but I fully intended to yoga and spa it up while I was here.
Relaxation and exercise were often the best instigators of my muse. I always got the top ideas and the most interesting character conversations and plot twist ideas while either showering or running.
Harper’s Inn was going to be a source of pure inspiration. I could feel it.
Just as long as these fantasies about Boone Harper would stop interfering with my creativity.
Before now, he’d been an inspiration for the love interest, but since last night, it was like all of my ideas were jammed and I thought only of him. Of the riddles in his eyes and the pained mask he’d tried hiding behind as I’d shown him that necklace.
Sighing, I pushed up from the bed and strode to the window. The sight of snow spreading on all sides was too engrossing. It was like being on a cruise completely surrounded by ocean, except this was no rocking boat, and I could leave to explore the surroundings.
And boy, did I want to go a-roving.
Part of my Christmas present from my parents had been an online shopping spree. Dad was even gracious enough not to give me a hard time for spending so much on items I’d probably never wear again.
At least not in Scottsdale.
