Chapter 168

The time away from him, from my New York life, does me a world of good. Granny Lucille is her usual delightful self, and the weather is a hell of a lot nicer in Charleston. The physical distance gives me the break I need, and the feeling that I’m living in a pressure cooker starts to fade. Elijah has stayed in touch but has been true to his word and behaved like a gentleman. We have talked and messaged and shared stories about our days, but we have not flirted. I kind of miss it. Perhaps he’s playing a very canny game. By being the perfect gentleman, he has made me wish for the deliciously dirty-mouthed monster I know he can be. Still, it has been nice to take sex out of the equation. To simply talk and allow ourselves to take a beat. Today is New Year’s Eve, and Lucille is hosting a party. Her house is crammed full of interesting people—musicians, writers, academics, artists. They come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Someone is playing a fiddle, and an impromptu dance floor has been c