Chapter 27
T he deck at Whispering Pines glowed in the soft golden light, the hum of crickets beginning to pick up as dusk crept closer.
Alex, Will, and Tori had taken up their usual spots around the outdoor table, the scent of pine lingering in the air like nature’s own afterparty to a long day of Founder’s Day prep.
Alex leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh and said with a grin, “We finished. I didn’t think we’d get to this point. Just waiting on the new Grand Marshal to confirm.”
“And just in time for the festivities to begin,” Will replied, his smile as easy as the breeze drifting through the trees.
Alex raised her glass toward them both. “Thanks to you. And you, too, Tori.”
Tori gave an exaggerated curtsy from her seat and beamed. “Right. So, Will, are you excited for the big release?”
Will hesitated, his expression somewhere between excitement and disbelief. “It feels...”
“Crazy?” Tori jumped in eagerly, her words tumbling out like a freight train of bookish enthusiasm. “Knowing it’s the final chapter of what’s likely the most epic series of our time? Is the new series the same genre? Tropes? How many books are in the new series?”
Alex shot her a playful look. “Oh wow, Tori. I knew you were excited, but...”
“Excited doesn’t begin to explain it,” Tori admitted with a sheepish smile. Then she caught herself and groaned. “Oh no, I’m doing it, aren’t I?”
Will raised an amused eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“Fan-girling,” she confessed, dragging a hand down her face. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be,” Will said with a kind chuckle. “I’m honored to know such a well-read bibliophile holds my work in such high regard.”
Tori, fully leaning into the moment now, rested her elbow on the chair’s arm, cupped her face in both hands, and stared at him like he’d just walked off the page of her favorite book. “Wow. You’re just like all the male leads in your books…”
Will laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “I don’t know if I’d go that far. But I suppose, as a writer, you sprinkle a bit of yourself within the pages.”
“How so?” Tori asked, fully engaged.
“Well,” he said, thoughtful, “when you’re writing a scene and you want it to resonate, you think about how you’d react or what you’d do in that situation. It adds authenticity.”
Tori fanned herself with one hand, completely smitten. “Wow. That’s… incredible.”
Alex shot her a look and tapped her wrist. “Wow, look at the time.”
Tori glanced down and gasped. “Goodness, you’re right. I still need to get ready for tomorrow’s book club meeting and prep for your release party, Wylder Hart.”
Will chuckled at the formality. “You have a book club?”
“Tori’s book club is incredible,” Alex chimed in. “Readers come from all over for it—and you can also join online.”
Will looked impressed. “A virtual book club. How clever.”
“Anything for the bibliophiles,” Tori said, gathering her things.
“The wordsmiths surely thank you for creating a space for bibliophiles,” Will added, giving her a grateful nod.
Tori turned to Alex and stage-whispered, “He means writers and bookworms.”
Alex laughed and gave a nod of agreement, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched Tori practically levitate with excitement. She leaned back in her chair, savoring the rare moment of calm, and shot Will a look that said, “ Welcome to life with Tori.”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll see you two around,” Tori said as she slung her bag over her shoulder. “Are you staying long, Will?”
Will turned toward Alex, a thoughtful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I think so, as long as Alex has a room available. I’m finding it... quite inspiring here.”
Tori glanced between the two of them, and her smile widened into something distinctly mischievous. “Oh, she’ll make room if she has to.”
With a wink toward her best friend, she added, “I’ll let you know when I hear from the new Grand Marshal. See ya.”
Once Tori disappeared through the doorway, Alex exhaled a quiet laugh. “And that’s my best friend, Tori, who is clearly your biggest fan.”
“She’s fun,” Will said, settling deeper into his chair.
Alex hesitated for half a beat before offering, “She’s right. I do have room, if you’d like to stay. A while.”
Will didn’t even pause. “Absolutely.”