Love Song(137)

“Yeah, I did.” I shrug. “But I don’t think Darlie would want me to ruin the legend.”

“No,” her sister agrees. “She would not.”

“Which is why I’m going to keep this visit to myself. I don’t even plan on telling my podcasting partner. So…no. No follow-up. Let Darlie keep haunting Tahoe to her heart’s content.”

We say goodbye at the door, and I’m already pulling up a ride app as I descend the porch steps. I’m so focused on ordering the car and locking in the pickup spot that I don’t even notice him approaching.

Then I hear a mystified, “Blake?”

And I turn to find Wyatt standing there.





Chapter 56


BLAKE





WE STARE AT EACH OTHER, each of us shocked to see the other standing on this sidewalk. Wyatt is the last person I’d expect to find on a random residential street in Trenton, New Jersey, and it suddenly occurs to me that the only way he can be here is if he followed me.

I narrow my eyes at him. “How did you get this address?”

He looks confused, shaking his head. I notice he’s dressed nicer than usual, wearing a pair of dark pants and a hunter-green sweater that complements his eyes. And his hair is longer than the last time I saw him. The night he cried in my arms about our baby and— I shove the thought aside, because nope. I can’t go there right now.

“How did you get this address?” he counters.

“From the Mercer County records office.”

“What the fuck? They just gave you Lorraine’s address? That seems unethical.”

“What?” I rub my temples. “Who’s Lorraine?”

“Lorraine Tanner. Cole’s mom?” Wyatt nods toward a house two doors down from Dolly and Raymond’s.

“I’m sorry—Cole Tanner’s mother lives here?”

“Yes. Isn’t that why you’re here? You tracked me down?”

I gape at him. Then I point to the house behind me. “That is Dolly and Raymond’s house.”

Wyatt’s jaw falls open. “Are you kidding me?”

“No. I tracked them from Tahoe to Albany to this house.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.”

I’m feeling rather amazed myself, because this is the mother of all coincidences. “So your friend, Cole Tanner, the country star—that’s his mom’s house over there?”

“Yeah. He bought it for her about a year ago after his album went platinum. Lorraine wanted to leave the south to live near her sister.”

“And why are you here?”

“Cole’s kicking off his tour tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. His mom wanted to meet me. We just finished dinner, and we’re about to head back to our hotel.” Wyatt stares at me for a moment, as if trying to convince himself I’m actually here. “I can’t fucking believe this.”

Then he moans. A low, miserable sound.

A groove digs into my forehead. “Why do you look so upset?”

“Because I don’t want to give them the satisfaction,” he grinds out.

“Who?” I ask blankly.

“The Spencers.”

“What do they have to do with this?” My head is spinning.

“No. You’re right.” Wyatt nods decisively, only confusing me further. “This doesn’t have to be a ghost. It could just be fate.”

It clicks in my mind. “Wait. You think this is about Darlie?”

“Remember how much they gloated in Tahoe after they learned we were together? They said Darlie played matchmaker. You and I haven’t spoken in a month, and now you’re standing here, visiting Darlie’s sister—” He jabs a finger toward Dolly’s house. “And I’m two doors down, visiting my best friend’s mom—” He jabs his finger at Lorraine’s house. “That isn’t a coincidence, freckles.”

I want to argue, but part of me thinks he’s right.

“We might need to apologize to the Spencers,” I say solemnly, and for a moment, it’s like old times and we’re back in Tahoe. For one beautiful moment, he’s flashing that lazy smile and I’m smiling back, and my heart feels lighter than air.

Until I remember we’re not in Tahoe, and we’re not together anymore.

“Hey, so listen…” He bites the side of his lip, shifting awkwardly on his feet.

My good mood plummets.

Oh God. No. I know where this is going. Damage control. He must know I saw the pictures of him and Mollie May, and now he’s trying to get ahead of that.

“I have some news.”

Now I feel queasy. News? What the hell is this? Is he going to tell me he’s dating her? Is it an official thing?

“Mollie May asked me to come on tour with her. As her opening act.”

I blink in surprise. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, the original opener was Stylo Lewis, but he just got charged with that DUI, and her team thinks it’s bad PR if he stays on the tour. So…” Wyatt laughs nervously. “She asked me.”

“Wow, that’s huge.”

“I know.” He looks amazed. “Honestly can’t believe it.”

“Have you given her an answer yet?”