Page 2 of Between the Lines

The woman tapped at the treadmill controls, then started walking at an easy pace. She glanced sideways.

Paige kept her gaze straight ahead. In the mirror across the space, she saw the other woman still looking at her and, now, smiling.

“You’re Paige Wheeler.”

It wasn’t a question.

Paige turned her head, giving the woman a polite look. It wasn’t the first time Paige had been recognized, but she had to wonder if this was because of something someone else had said or because her TikTok channel had recently blown up. “Yes,” Paige said, taking out one of her earbuds. “And who you are?”

The woman’s smile widened. “Darcy Lane.”

Paige waited. People usually added something after that. Like, I’m on Poinciana. Or, I’m friends with so-and-so. Or, I’m going to water aerobics after this. Something that identified them or gave them context.

Darcy didn’t. She just kept walking, posture upright, hands lightly resting on the rails like there was nothing odd about not explaining yourself.

Paige tucked Darcy’s name away. Lane. Not a name Paige had heard. Not yet. Paige gave a little nod, acknowledging the woman. “Are you a new resident?”

Darcy’s eyes flicked toward Paige’s face with an expression that seemed smug. “You could say that.”

Paige gave a little smile, matching Darcy’s tone, but trying to keep things light. “So is that a yes or a no?”

Darcy laughed softly. “Oh, I like you.”

Paige didn’t respond to that. Compliments from strangers were rarely free. Especially one this snarky.

Darcy lifted a hand, gesturing vaguely around the fitness center. “This place is impressive. I toured a couple of other communities before choosing the Colony. None of them had a setup like this.”

Paige’s gaze stayed on Darcy. “They have great amenities here.”

“They certainly do.” Darcy’s voice turned almost admiring. “This place is a whole lifestyle.”

“It is.” Paige returned her eyes forward, done with this conversation. “We stay busy.” She put her earbud back in.

That didn’t stop her from hearing Darcy’s treadmill make a small whir as she nudged the incline up. “And you help keep everyone busy.”

Paige’s jaw tightened the tiniest amount. What was that supposed to mean? She pulled the earbud out again. “Excuse me?”

Darcy gave her a bright, innocent look. “With your videos. Your little tips. Your tours. The way you show the community. People love that.”

Paige held her expression steady. She’d learned to do that to survive her marriage. And her divorce. She’d learned to do that the first time she realized people in the Colony talked about her like she was some kind of public figure.

“Thank you,” Paige said, because it was the appropriate response. “But it’s not all I talk about on my channel.”

“No, of course not.” Darcy’s assessing gaze swept over Paige again. “I have to say, you make it all look effortless.”

Paige almost laughed.

Nothing was effortless. Not recovering from a huge betrayal. Not rebuilding your life. Not living in a place where everyone was friendly but also deeply, aggressively curious. The Colony was essentially a small town filled with residents who had a lot of free time on their hands. Gossip was a form of currency in this place.

“It’s not easy,” Paige said. “It takes practice.”

Darcy’s smile lost some wattage. “Practice. Yes. That’s one word for it.”

Paige’s hand tightened around her earbud at the subtle shift in Darcy’s tone. Her sentence sounded normal on the surface but it carried something underneath. A second meaning.

Something more between the lines.

Paige didn’t let the thought show in her expression or change her pace. She kept walking like she hadn’t noticed what Darcy had said. Or how she’d said it. But now Paige was curious. She changed the subject. “What brings you to the Colony?”