Page 106 of Secrets in the Deep

Asmall smile curved Emily’s lips as she folded a shirt and tucked it into her suitcase. She hadn’t been able to wipe the smile from her face all morning.

For the first time in her life, she felt free. The kind of freedom that could only come from making all her own decisions and knowing that no one would dictate what she could and couldn’t do ever again.

Ryan would arrive in an hour to take her to his house, and she already felt a dizzying sense of excitement. Because she planned to stay there. Not for a night or a week…she was moving in with him. He’d asked when he’d dropped her off last night, and her yes had been immediate. Like a reflex.

And it washerchoice. To most, that was such a normal thing. Not to her. This was new. And it was far overdue.

She grabbed another shirt from the laundry basket.

And the second-best part of her morning…she wasn’t being sued.

The producer of her next movie had called. He’d heard about what was happening in Deep River. The attacks. The injurythat had landed her in the hospital. And he’d agreed that she wouldn’t be in the right head space to complete the film.

It all just felt so easy. But maybe after all the hard she’d been through, she deserved a bit of easy.

“Knock knock.”

She looked up to see Polly leaning against the doorframe. “Hey.”

“You look happy.” Polly stepped into the room, scanning the suitcase and clothes.

“I’m staying. That makes me happy.”

Polly’s smile softened. “I mean, we love having you here.Ryanloves having you here.”

“Maybe you should pinch me just to make sure I’m not dreaming. Because in what world did he and I actually find each other again and make this thing between us work?”

“In this world.”

She looked at the keys in Polly’s hand. “Going out?”

“Yeah, we need to feed Saint before we both head to work. We can wait until Ryan gets here if you want.”

She shook her head. “No, go. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay. Everything’s locked up. Food and coffee’s in the kitchen.” She took a step toward the door.

“Polly.”

She turned toward her again. “Yeah?”

“Thank you. For letting me stay, I meanhide out, here.”

“That’s what friends do.” Polly winked before heading off.

Friends…because she had friends now. Not the kind who smiled to her face and spoke to reporters behind her back. The real, genuine type.

A text came through on her phone.

Ryan: Sorry, running late, only just getting back from my run. I’ll jump in the shower and be there in thirty.

Emily: You know, I really thought you’d be breaking a few speed limits to get me to yours. At least rushing a little.

Ryan: Thirty minutes to shower and get to you isn’t rushing?