7. Tara

Chapter 7

Tara

J en and I get dressed, and by the time we reach her stairs, all of the candles are still lit, but all of the overhead lighting is also on. "Do you think the door works?"

"Eager to leave so soon?" she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Actually, no. But, I was thinking maybe we could go out? Maybe get a bite to eat?" I pause and quickly correct, "I mean, if you want to. If you don't, I totally understand!"

Jen takes my hand in hers and brings my knuckles to her lips. "It'll make tomorrow harder, but if we can leave, I'd love to have dinner with you. And, if you're up for it, maybe stay the night?"

I'm about to answer when there's a knock at the door. We jump at the sound, and without letting go of my hand, she guides me to it. Jen blows out a long breath, and open the door with ease. On the other side is a tall man, admittedly, very handsome. His arm is wrapped tightly around a woman whose eyes are wide as if she just walked in on us naked.

"Anna!" Jen wraps her in a tight hug. "Fuck, I've missed you. You, too, James." She steps back, letting them inside the shop.

"Who is this?" Anna asks, her shocked expression replaced with a sweet smile.

"This is Tara, my…" Jen looks to me, biting her lip to hide her grin. "Probably my Two of Cups or Four of Wands."

"What the fuck does that mean?" James laughs.

Jen retrieves the book and three tarot cards to explain. Examining one closer she mutters, "Who is Kathryn?" I move beside her to look. There's a "xo, Kathryn" scribbled on one of the cards.

Anna gasps, "Kathryn?" She looks to James. "It couldn't be!" She pulls out her phone, and opens up her book app. After scrolling into tapping for a moment, she pulls up an expert from a title named Undecided Heiress— the very same book Jen told me about. In the book, a woman named Kathryn warns Anna about how things aren't always as they seem.

"Tara is an author, maybe she can help us figure it out," Jen offers.

I let out a defeated sigh. "I think we're all going to need a drink for this."

J en's bookstore opening is a huge success. The whole town came by to support her, and as strange as the last twenty-fours have been, I can see why someone might want to live here. The thought has crossed my mind—I have the flexibility to write from anywhere.

Greta found her happily ever after in an unconventional way. Could Jen be mine? Whether it was a prank, a ghost, or a fictional woman from another book, I was kept here for a reason.

I'm sipping champagne, taking all of it, when two men to my left are laughing loud enough to pull my attention. One of them doesn't double take when he realizes I heard them. "Oh, hi there. Are you new in town? Or here visiting?"

"I'm…" I look over at Jen. "New. Just moved here and looking for a place."

"Is that so?" the other man asks. "We've been trying to find someone to take over Tristan's lease. He has a small apartment down the way, close to shopping and restaurants."

"Well, that's quite the happenstance," I laugh. "The woman I'm seeing also lives around here."

Tristan and his husband, Myles, continue to try to sell me on the apartment, but I was already sold the moment they mentioned it's available.

I spend the remainder of the morning people watching and was able to have my hotel room extended for an extra night. It'll give me time to panic at my impulsive decision and organise a move. Once Jen has a moment to break away from patrons, she makes her way over to me, not stopping until she's cupping my face and kissing me. It knocks me back a step and I laugh against her lips, "Did you hear?"

"That you're moving? Are you sure about it? Myles told me that I need to be nice to you, so you'll stay. I'm sure that's purely selfish on their part so they don't have to break a lease."

I lean in and whisper beside her ear. "It was that or move in with you." She laughs, and I kiss her cheek as I pull back. "I'm not moving in, and we're not getting an SUV, but I'm up for an adventure, if you are… even if this place is haunted."

See more of the Coal's Lake crew in Save a Horse.