Page 93 of Blue Norther
“They want their advance back, Callie. And I think that’s a fair trade. The rights to the book would revert to you, so if in the future you want to publish it yourself, then you could.”
I nodded. It was fair.
“What did he just call you?” Beau choked out as his eyes went wide. He’d seen Hayes make the mistake of calling me that the first time I visited the ranch. God, we were all just babies back then. But that didn’t matter. Because I’d kicked him in the shin and Colt had howled with laughter while Hayes took off limping back to the barn.
“It’s my pen name—Callie Ford. I don’t use Violet Murphy for my writing.”
“He doesn’t know that?” Beau asked.
“Of course Ryan knows my real name, but we just keep it all the same so he doesn't give out my legal name to anyone by accident.”
“Mm.” Beau went back to his phone.
“I get that this puts you in a tough spot, but I just had Connor a few weeks ago. It was traumatic, and I’m still getting my footing?—”
Ryan held up his hand, making me choke on my excuses.
“I know, and I understand. Really, I do. I get it. And that’s why I’m going to tell you I want you to do what’s right for you. I’ve already told Lucy I was pretty sure this was the way you’d feel. That we wouldn’t be looking to try and negotiate.”
My head swam as I took another sip of the rose hip tea. Swirling the liquid in the cup, I realized it didn’t look quite the same as all those cups I had at the small cafe by my apartment.
“You said you picked this up at Kathy’s?”
“Yep. Right on the corner of Jefferson. That’s the one you like, right? The girl behind the counter mentioned missing you the last few weeks.”
“That’s the one. This just…I don’t know. Doesn’t taste the same.”
“Probably the change in atmosphere. Like having lobster ravioli out on the range.”
I laughed. “No one says ‘out on the range’ here. It’s not the eighteen hundreds.”
He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. “I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I passed a chuck wagon advertising passage on the Oregon Trail.”
There was no way I could hold back the colossal eye roll I had after hearing that. “I love Texas. I’m happy this is going to be home.”
Ryan coughed. “What do you mean? Aren’t you coming back to New York?”
“No. Colt and I have talked about coming up to clear out my apartment, but I want to be here. This is where my family is. This is where I want to raise my son.”
“Callie…just don’t…don’t make any crazy decisions now. I know it might feel like you need to because of the baby and this contract dissolving, but we’ll find another home for your book if that's why you don't want to go back. It’ll sell, and you’ll be able to keep things going in New York.”
“Hey, Ryan?” Beau called from the couch.
Ryan turned his head towards Beau as I stood up and checked on Connor who was still fast asleep in the bassinet. Gosh, I was feeling so exhausted, I might need to take a nap before Colt got back. After the meeting. Once Ryan was safely back on his way to the airport, I’d take the baby and head to our room.
“What flight did you say you came in on?” Beau asked.
“Avalon 216, out of Newark. Don’t tell me they’re canceling flights. I swear I never book through them, but they were the only ones with a red eye I could snag back to New York on short notice.”
“No. They haven’t started canceling flights yet, but the storms coming in aren’t going to be a joke.”
“Colt said they wouldn’t hit until later. Why are you asking him about his flight?” I asked.
Beau was acting weird. He tucked his phone back in his pocket, standing before taking two steps towards me.
“Because, there wasn’t a flight in from Newark through Avalon today.”
My eyebrows pulled together.
