“Daddy,” I said as I got out of my car. “Look at you.”

He smiled at me from his rocking chair on the front porch. “Hi there, sunshine.”

“You look so much better today,” I said.

His skin was a healthy color, his lips no longer waxy and bluish. He rocked back and forth, resting his hands on his belly.

“I feel all right,” he said. “And it’s a beautiful day for porch-sittin’.”

“That it is,” I said and joined him, taking a seat on the bench next to his rocking chair.

He leaned a little so he could eye my left hand. “No ring back on that finger?”

“You can stop checking,” I said. “It’s been almost a month. There’s no risk of me getting back together with Kelvin. Trust me.”

He chuckled. “I know, I just like teasing you. Did you ever get him to ship your things to you?”

I sighed. I’d been trying to get Kelvin to send me my stuff—not that I owned a lot. I’d always traveled so much, I’d never accumulated many things of my own. Most of the things in our apartment had been Kelvin’s. But I still wanted my belongings back.

“I resorted to going around him and talking to his assistant,” I said. “I think she’ll get it done even if he wants to keep dragging his feet.”

“Mark my words, sweetheart, he’s trying to get you to come back to him,” he said. “Holding your stuff hostage.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But it won’t work.”

“That’s my girl,” he said with a smile. “So tell me, what’s going on between you and Jameson Bodine?”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “We’re just friends.”

“Is that so?” he asked.

I glanced down at my hands in my lap. Nothing had really changed between me and Jameson since I’d broken up with Kelvin. We both knew I was single. We still spent time together, just like we had before. But if anything, Jameson seemed less interested in me, not more. He certainly never acted like he wanted more than friendship.

It was better than nothing—I loved having Jameson in my life—but also hard. Spending time with him was great, but this unrequited crush I had made my heart ache.

“Yeah, Dad, that’s so,” I said.

I’d spent the last few weeks working on projects around my dad’s house with Betsy. We’d gotten the yard into better shape and fixed a few things inside. Scarlett had come over and replaced the sagging boards on the porch and the steps. Then I’d repainted the whole thing. It looked great.

When I wasn’t with my dad—either keeping him company or helping him around the house—I was with Jameson, or the girls. Scarlett, Cassidy, and even June had welcomed me into their circle. We’d been out for drinks or coffee a bunch of times. Scarlett seemed to be trying to take me under her wing and ease me back into single life—and life in Bootleg.

My phone rang, and I checked to see who was calling. “I’m sorry, I need to take this. It’s Evelyn Peters, my lawyer.”

“That sounds ominous,” he said.

“I hope not. I’ll be right back.”

I’d called Evelyn after breaking up with Kelvin to get her assistance in dealing with my contract. She’d offered to reach out to her contacts in the industry to help me find new representation, so I hoped she’d have good news. I got up and walked out to my car to take the call.

“Hi, Evelyn,” I said when I answered.

“Leah,” she said. “How’s America’s least favorite reality TV star?”

I groaned. “I was fine until you reminded me.”

She laughed. “I guess if you believe that any press is good press, you’re in great shape.”

“Do you believe that?” I asked.

“No.”

I always appreciated Evelyn’s blunt honesty. “Me neither.”

“I have good news and bad news,” she said. “The good news is, Crown Talent Agency is interested in representing you.”

“Wow, that is good news,” I said. “What’s the bad news?”

“You need to come out here,” she said. “Tomorrow, so you can meet with them Friday morning.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack,” she said. “Crown Talent is big league, Leah. You won’t get another shot with them.”

“Yeah, I know. I just wasn’t expecting to have to come out there on such short notice.”

“You busy out there in Radiator Springs?” she asked.

“Bootleg Springs,” I said with a laugh. “And it’s not that. This is just… unexpected.”

“Leah, you broke up with your agent, hence fired your agency, which has left you unrepresented,” she said. “You’re hated in the media, although the show is doing phenomenally thanks to the drama. How much of that is real, by the way? Off the record.”

“It’s all fake,” I said. “I didn’t sleep with Brock Winston. And I know how to catch a freaking fish.”

“I figured. But you never know. I’ve seen a lot of crap over the years.”

“I’m sure you have,” I said. “I’m getting tired of not being able to say anything about it, though. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost posted the truth all over social media.”

“God, Leah, don’t do that,” she said. “Trust me, you do not want to go up against Verity Studios in a breach of contract suit. They’ll bury you alive.”

“My reputation is shot,” I said. “The country basically hates me.”

“Is your pride worth your life savings? That’s what we’re talking about here. They’ll ruin you. Keep your mouth shut and your fingers off those keys. Once you’re signed with Crown, they’ll get PR going on damage control. In the long run, you’ll probably be okay.”

I knew she was right, but I still didn’t like it. “Yeah, I understand.”

“Good. I took the liberty of booking you a flight out tomorrow,” she said. “It’s early, and out of Washington Dulles. You might want to drive out tonight and stay in a hotel.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said.

“Technically, my assistant did it. But I figured I’d make it easier for you, considering you’re going it alone at the moment.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have bristled at that, but I didn’t like the idea that she thought I was helpless without Kelvin. “I do appreciate your help, but just because I don’t have an agent doesn’t mean I can’t make a flight reservation.”

“Okay, Leah Larkin has her big girl panties on,” she said, and I relaxed at the note of humor in her voice. “Noted, and good for you. On a personal note, how are you?”

“I’m okay, I think. Honestly, I haven’t watched the show since the supposed blow job incident. And I’ve been trying to ignore all the talk online.”

“Don’t read any of it,” she said. “It’ll go away eventually, and in the meantime, you’ll just torture yourself.”

“I know,” I said. “And I realize breaking up with Kelvin leaves me in a bind, but I was just done.”

“Honey, you don’t have to justify yourself to me,” she said. “I never liked Kelvin. I’m glad you’re not marrying that cheap son of a bitch.”

I laughed. Blunt honesty. “Thanks, I think?”

“I just wish my son would take a page from your book and get his head out of his ass,” she said. Her son was my age, and she was forever lamenting his bad relationship choices. “I swear, Leah, I don’t care that he’s gay, but he has worse taste in men than you. It’s too bad he’s not straight. The two of you would be great together.”

I laughed again. “Too bad. But thanks.”

“My assistant will email your flight details,” she said.

“Okay. Thanks, Evelyn.”

“You’re welcome.”

I hung up and let out a long breath. Back to L.A. I’d known that was coming. Evelyn was right, I did need new representation, and Crown Talent Agency was one of the best. I was shocked they were willing to meet with me, although Evelyn had a lot of contacts. She’d obviously pulled some strings.

A last-minute trip to L.A. wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I’d meet with the agency, make sure any legal loose ends with my contract with Kelvin were handled, and then…

And then, what? Come back to Bootleg?

It would depend on my work schedule, if there was any work to be had. Landing another agency wouldn’t guarantee they could get me any gigs—modeling, acting or otherwise. Everything was up in the air. I didn’t have a permanent place to live, or a long-term plan. I’d have to figure out everything, and I didn’t know how Bootleg Springs fit into any of it.

I didn’t know how Jameson fit into any of it.

Jameson. The thought of leaving him made me slightly ill. I wouldn’t be able to swing by his shop to see how his piece was coming. Meet him for sandwiches and take them down to the lake. Go out scrap hunting or help him pull apart that old car he’d found.

I could still keep in touch, and I certainly would. I wasn’t going to let our friendship fade away like I had when we were younger. But I hated the idea of not being able to see him all the time.

I brought up his number and sent him a text.

Me: I have to go back to L.A. Flight leaves in the morning. I’m going to Washington tonight and getting a hotel.

There was a long pause before he replied.

Jameson: Sorry to hear that. Will you be gone long?

Me: Not sure. Depends on a lot of things.

Another long pause.

Jameson: Do you need a ride?

Me: Thanks, but I have to return this rental car anyway.

Jameson: OK, just thought I’d offer.

I chewed on my lower lip, wondering what else I should say.

Me: I’ll text you when I get there.

Jameson: Please do.

Me: Thanks for everything. I had fun.

Jameson: Me too. We’ll talk soon.

Me: OK

There were a million other things I wanted to say, but I didn’t. I put my phone down and got out of the car to go tell my dad the news. I needed to find a hotel room. Go back to the cabin and pack. Let Scarlett know I was leaving. And I had a long day of travel tomorrow.