Chapter Twenty-Five

Aspen hugged her sister goodbye and tried not to cry. "I'll text when I get back to New York," she said, her voice tight.

"I wish you didn't have to go." Sierra stared at her with worry. "Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled sadly. "No. But that's the whole point."

"What if there are other options? You love each other. Can't you try?"

Aspen had thought about it endlessly after she left Brick's house. How many times had she jumped in her car, ready to drive over and beg for forgiveness? Forget about the book and deliver an inadequate manuscript, refusing to care? Move to be with the man she'd fallen in love with and her sister?

All those choices flipped through her brain, but it always came down to one decision.

This was her opportunity to write a book that could be even bigger than Fifty Ways . The absolute agony of leaving Brick behind was already stirring and growing inside her, dying to burst out and onto the page. It was a familiar feeling and exactly what she'd experienced with her first book. Her readers deserved the best for this sequel, and so did Mallory.

It was easy to believe that Brick would always be her summer love. The one who'd inspired her and taught her so many new things. But her life was in New York, and no one sold everything to move in with a man she'd dated for two months. That stuff just didn't happen in the real world.

She did better by herself. Always had .

Though the look on Brick's face when she rejected him would haunt her forever.

"Better go. Love you."

"Love you back. Drive safe," Sierra said.

Aspen didn't look in the rearview mirror as she pulled away. She was too afraid she wouldn't be able to keep going.

Kane stood beside Brick, arms crossed over his chest. "You miss her bad."

Brick dropped the book and cursed himself for constantly flipping through its pages, reading what she'd written. He'd fallen apart after Aspen left. It had taken all his strength to show up for the tourists and keep moving forward. He was desperate to call or text or show up at Sierra's house, but his gut told him Aspen had to make the first move. She'd made the final decision. She was the one who'd left.

Brick had been hopeful until he came home and found a package on the porch. When he opened it, a copy of Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover fell out. Signed.

It was real. All of it. Love, Aspen.

He'd read it again, looking for clues. A sign she was coming back. But he didn't find anything. And he knew she was gone for good.

"I'm worried about you, dude. Can I do something? Take you out to get drunk? Hook you up with one of the women dying to get into your pants?"

His laugh held little humor. "Nope. That's how I got in trouble before. Just want to be alone anyway."

"You need time. Summer is behind us, and you've got some exciting projects to focus on." His friend's voice was full of fake enthusiasm. "I'll help you fix up Grandpa Ziggy's house, and you're already booking out for the fall tourists. Plus, I'm putting together a new deal out here you may want to get in on. Some property."

"Is that what you've been working on when you disappear? Thought that mix-up in New York wouldn't let you do any further investments."

"The company went bankrupt, and I had to pay off debtors, but I'm starting something new."

Brick lifted his brow, curious. "You thinking of staying? "

"Yeah. I like it here. It's a different vibe. More relaxed. I needed a change. Plus, I missed you."

"What about what you left behind?" Brick asked. He knew his friend had ties and some family obligations to work out. Kane hadn't confided in him regarding all the details of what had gone down, but Brick knew he'd open up eventually.

"Working on it. But I'll be able to get my own place within the month."

"Great."

Kane studied him. "Hey, you ever think of going to New York and fighting for her?"

His chest squeezed. God, if he'd thought it would work, Brick would try. But she'd made her decision to leave not only OBX behind but also him. Would they be able to move forward once she wrote the book? Seeing their story plastered all over the shelves, in the hands of endless readers, knowing what she'd sacrificed to do it?

No. He couldn't bend that far. It would hurt too much.

"Better to respect her choice and move on."

Even though it seemed impossible. Even though he'd never love anyone like he did Aspen.

Dug whined, sensing his emotion. "Sorry, buddy. I know you miss her, too."

Kane sighed. "Okay. Then I think the three of us need a quiet night in. I'll pick up a six-pack, some Duck Donuts, and we'll watch all three John Wick movies. Sound good?"

Brick looked at Dug, who seemed to like the idea. "Yeah. But I thought you mentioned a date?"

Kane squeezed Brick's shoulder in comfort. "Bros over hos, remember? You're stuck with me tonight."

"Thanks, Kane."

Brick stared at the book and wondered how Aspen was doing in New York.

It was finished.

Aspen stared at The End on her computer screen. A mix of emotions hit her, some familiar, some brand-new .

Elation that she'd gotten to the end.

Pride that she'd written another book.

Sadness that the characters she'd lived with for the past few months were no longer hers.

Grief that she'd given up something real for something imaginary.

Pain that it was all over. Because now that it was, she realized she'd lost everything else that mattered.

She usually wept bitterly after finishing a book. The intense emotions were always too much, and tears helped release and move the energy. But there were no tears inside her. It felt like her body had become a dried-up husk. Whatever was there had been emptied into the sequel, which was still untitled and becoming a hot argument at her publisher.

It had been brutal, but since she'd returned from OBX, the words had flowed endlessly. Days morphed into nights. DoorDash turned into Uber Eats. Pj's became sweats.

And she kept writing.

But now it was done, and she had to deal with the fallout.

God, she missed Brick.

Knowing Nicolette was waiting impatiently for the manuscript, she did a quick look-over and tweaked some minor things. Then texted her agent.

It's done .

The three dots appeared immediately. Send it now!

Aspen attached it to an email and hit send. When her phone rang, she dragged in a breath and answered.

"Did you get it?"

"Yes. I can't wait to read it. Do you like it? Are you happy?"

She smiled as Nic peppered her with the usual questions. "I think it's really good."

"I knew the beach trip would help. Bella's going out of her mind to get her hands on this. The team is ready to launch as soon as we deliver. If it's as good as your first, get ready for your life to explode again. I'm talking TV, book clubs, signings, the whole works. You'll be on the road constantly for this one."

She remembered how the thought used to excite her. Finally feeling like a real, successful writer had fed her ego and soul. It had been everything she'd ever wanted or needed.

Funny, she'd worked so hard to get to this moment. Sacrificed so much. Yet she felt…

Nothing .

Her agent rushed on, not waiting for an answer. What author wouldn't want the dream? "Just tell me one thing. Does it have a happy ending?" Nicolette asked.

She half-closed her eyes, and her insides seemed to shatter. "No. The best stories usually don't."

Silence hummed over the line. "Okay. Well, I'm not sure how they'll feel about the sequel not giving Mallory the happiness she deserves, but I'll read it and get right back to you. I'm so proud of you, Aspen. I know this wasn't easy, but I think it's the best choice you could have made for your career. Your fans have been begging for this for a long time."

Why did nausea turn her gut at the idea of sharing her inner heart for the world's entertainment? This was exactly what she'd wanted. What she'd paid Brick for. She'd fallen in love, gotten her heart broken, and wrote a fabulous book. Hell, the emotions practically dripped onto the page because she cried many times as she wrote a scene, imagining herself back with Brick. How did everything get so confusing and messed up?

But honestly, what were her options? Return to OBX and beg for his forgiveness? Tell him she wanted to try for a real relationship even as her book was released, and she dealt with press and signings and lies about how the story came to be?

Would Brick always wonder if things were real when there was a bestseller between them?

The questions made her head hurt. "Let me know when you're done reading. I'd better go, Nic."

She disconnected. Prowled her apartment. She ordered her favorite Chinese takeout with the television blasting a popular new Hulu series. She drank wine in her comfy pj's, safe in her familiar cocoon and happy place. But nothing was the same.

Tears stung her eyes as she looked around. She missed her sister. She missed stepping out to walk the beach and being soothed by the rush of the waves and the sand between her toes. She missed helping Marco and the guys at the souvenir shop. She missed Brick and Dug so badly her entire body throbbed with pain.

Maybe she'd been wrong, and the book hadn't hit the mark.

Maybe Nic would hate it and cancel the contract. Then Aspen could run back and throw her arms around Brick and force him to take her back.

Maybe her publisher would insist on changes, and she'd refuse, rendering the contract null and void.

Maybe …

The next day, Nic called and told her the book was brilliant. She was making minor corrections and would send it straight to her editor. They'd argued about the ending, but Nic gave in, conceding to Aspen's stubborn refusal to change it. A happy ending wasn't in Mallory's fate.

Or Aspen's.

She thought about what would happen next. Her editor would give the final approval, finalize a title, and begin cover talks. The book would be rushed to copyediting and put up for preorder.

The blurb and teasers would be sent out. Marketing and PR conferences would begin around the long, shiny table, Zooming in staff who worked from home. A fat lunch with her agent and editor would be reserved at a five-star restaurant while they drank champagne. Endless interviews and podcasts would be scheduled, as well as a signing tour. Usually, that was a year out, but Aspen knew with this type of press for a spring launch, it would be twice as intense. She'd be back on top in a competitive industry that rewarded you as long as you were as perfect as your last book.

She had everything she'd ever wanted.

Aspen sat in her empty apartment and began to cry. Hopelessness curled within her. She wished Dug would come over and lick her face and Brick would gather her in his arms. She'd feel more complete than she did right now after her supposed great achievement.

Blinking through the tears, her gaze fastened on the notebooks on the coffee table. She got up and picked them up. Flipped through them. Began to laugh as the characters sucked her into their madcap adventures. Brick's words echoed through her mind, asking the question over and over.

Why don't you just write something you truly love?

Because it wouldn't work.

Because Zany Zoo wasn't the stuff she usually wrote.

Because it was too late. The real book had been written. The contract had been signed. And the editor was waiting on the final copy.

Because…

The excuses were endless and made all the sense in the world.

Still, Aspen wondered what would happen if she blew up the rules of the game and did what her heart wanted. She'd never have the strength, though. Better to return to her safe life, lean into her success, and try to enjoy it. Because if she did blow it all up…

She'd lose her advance, her contract, and her publisher.

She'd lose her agent .

She'd lose her niche in the industry and slide into oblivion.

She'd lose the respect of her peers, her fans, and the world.

But…she'd get Brick. She'd get a new life where she got to create new rules. She'd get her sister and friends. She'd get…

Everything.

The truth slammed into her. Aspen's heart pounded crazily in her chest, sweat dampened her palms, and goose bumps broke out on her skin. She began to shake from the inside out, seeing her future in a way she'd never imagined.

And then she began to laugh a bit hysterically as joy flooded her.

She needed to talk to her sister.

Sierra answered immediately. It took a while to try and make sense of her jumbled thoughts, but her sister calmly heard her out until Aspen collapsed in silence, awaiting her sister's opinion.

Sierra spoke carefully. "Having you here would be a dream for me, Aspen. But it's not really about that. You need to know if you blow it all up, Brick may not take you back. It wasn't about a book for him. It was his heart."

Aspen closed her eyes as the familiar pain battered her insides. "I know. I treated him like all the other women in his past because I couldn't see my own story. It was never the book. It was always Brick. He deserves to hear that, at least."

"If he can't forgive you, do you still want to move here?"

The raw truth of Sierra's words ripped through her. Could she settle in OBX knowing Brick would never be hers? It would be torturous, but her intuition screamed this was her new path. She may not know the twists and turns ahead, but Aspen needed to take a chance. "Yes."

A sigh spilled over the receiver. "Then do what you need and get your ass back home."

She laughed and hung up. Then called her agent and began the fight of her life.