Page 51 of Long Story Short

The giddy smile on my lips as I unlock the front door and head inside is all because of him and the morning we shared.

TWENTY-EIGHT

JOSIE

I don’t know how much time has passed since Tyson dropped me back off at my house after our morning together. It could be an hour, it could be five. I’ve been so deep in writing that I’m not even sure.

The only thing that pulls me out of my writing spell is my desperate need to pee. As soon as I leave the bathroom, I grab my phone from where I left it in the kitchen and check the time.

I’ve been writing for almost four hours. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so locked in before. As soon as Tyson dropped me off, I was rushing to my room to get into comfier clothing before grabbing my laptop and getting started. The words poured out of me. Instead of trying to make something out of the chapters I was focusing on rewriting today, I scrapped them and started over. I haven’t had the chance to read over them yet, but I know these new chapters are so much better.

I’m confident the tension and passion everyone said was nonexistent before is pretty much dripping off the page now.

And the reason for that?

My kiss with Tyson.

Tyson in general.

Because of him, something inside me has woken up. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so inspired. I hadn’t realized there was a part of me that had lost its spark. I don’t know if it was because of time, because of my ex, or because of something else entirely, but the part of me that was lit by passion and desire had all but disappeared. My words were lackluster because that side of me was lackluster. But now that I’m here, and now that I’ve met Tyson, it’s coming back to life.

And I haven’t been this excited about telling a story since my debut novel.

I’m taking a small snack break of pretzels and water as I allow myself to feel the rush of excitement knowing my words are good again.

I’m busy scrolling on one of my social media platforms when Scarlett’s face pops up on my phone. I consider ignoring it, but she’ll just keep calling. In fact, now that I think about it, she might’ve already called me a few times. I think I remember seeing it in my notifications as I opened my phone, but I forgot to look at it.

I swipe to answer, finding myself wanting to open up to my best friend.

“You’ve got some explaining to do!” Scarlett lightheartedly declares the moment the video call begins.

I cock my head to the side as I take in my best friend. She looks like she’s in the back of a car. A pair of corded headphones lead to her ears as buildings rush by in the window behind her.

“Good afternoon to you too, Scar.”

“No, we aren’t doing any greetings. We’re getting straight to the point.”

“And what is that?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were dating Tyson Bishop?”

I swallow, because of all the things I could be in trouble with her for, I wasn’t expecting her to be upset that I spent one morning with Tyson. Things are new and fun, and I didn’t think it was something I had to tell Scarlett about yet, beyond what I’d already told her.

Scarlett raises her eyebrows. “Yeah. You’re busted,” she declares, her tone playful.

I laugh because she’s making it seem like I got married without telling her. “There’s nothing really to tell. You already know that Tyson’s my neighbor and that we’re spending time together. It’s nothing, really.”

“Then why are you blushing because I brought him up?”

My mouth snaps shut. Without even thinking about it, I press my hand to my cheek, wondering if I really am blushing. Even if I am—which…I don’t think so, but who knows these days; I find myself flushed because of Tyson so much more than I’m used to—there’s no way Scarlett can see it through the screen of the phone.

“I’m not blushing.”

“Tell me about hanging out at Pembroke with Tyson.”

“How do you even know about it?”

“People talk. You forget how much time I used to spend at Pembroke. I know people. And according to my sources, you were all googly eyes over Tyson Bishop today.”