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“When do you have time off again?”

“I don’t really,” I said. “But I guess a couple months in the fall.”

“Come visit me.”

Shock registered and I lifted my head, looking up at her. “What?”

“Come back to Citrus Cove,” Alice whispered. “Take off a couple months. Get some fresh air. You can call it a writer retreat or whatever. Who knows, maybe you can write another song about us that will go viral.”

Guilt and shame made me start to get up, but she held me in place.

“Stop,” she sighed. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, tears filling my eyes. “I’m sorry every fucking day.”

“The only thing I’m sorry about is that we didn’t hang on.”

“Me too.”

Alice’s expression softened. “This is why we weren’t supposed to talk about the past tonight.”

“It’s hard not to.”

She gave me a dry smile. I relaxed against her again, letting out a long breath that left me deflated.

The thought of having two months with her later this year was possibly the only thing that would get me through the next few. “Are you sure? About me visiting. I don’t want to overstep or …”

“I’m sure,” she said.

I was silent for a moment and then nodded. “Okay. I’ll let my agent know. We’ll make sure I’m here. I’ll need to keep a low profile, though.”

She snorted. “Baby, this town issmall. I doubt anyone will bother you here.”

“Haven’t there been like killers here or something?”

Alice grimaced. “Well, yeah, there’s been some weird shit. But I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.”

“Are you going to protect me?” I teased.

She wrinkled her nose, but smirked. “Protect. Praise. Fuck. You know, the important things.”

All my tension melted away as I giggled. “Deal.”

Alice glanced up at the clock on the side table. “Oh good. We still have a few hours left.”

I raised a brow. “Does that mean we’re doing more?”

“I did promise all night, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did.”

She cupped my face, tipping my chin. “Then get back down on your knees, baby girl.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

about clio evans

A lover of myths, legends, BDSM, and queer joy in media–Clio Evans is the author of the Citrus Cove Series, Creature Cafe Series, Warts & Claws Series, and more.