Mostly a filler chapter, but a few exciting things happen...

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~{Chapter 20}~

"No, dark chocolate is way better," Beth argues.

"Beth, honey, I'll buy you dark chocolate whenever you want it, but it doesn't mean I think it's better. Milk chocolate will always be the best," Sam replies calmly.

"No! Kate, help me out here!" she exclaims as she turns around in her seat to look at me.

I raise my hands as if I am surrendering and say, "No thanks. Please leave me out of this."

She sighs and turns around to continue her "argument" with Sam. We are on our way to Bark, the neighboring town that Beth is dragging me to. Actually, I guess I willingly came, but I did not expect myself to be third wheeling this much.

I mean, they are an adorable couple, but their cuteness sometimes drives me insane. Then again, it is nice to see Beth so happy. Sam is the right guy for her. I mean, he puts up with her ridiculous arguments.

"We're here!" Beth exclaims as Sam parks his car.

I groan at how loud her voice is. "Please keep it down. How can you be this awake? It's only nine o'clock."

She just laughs as she unstraps her seatbelt. "C'mon! This trip is all for you!"

I roll my eyes and step out of the car. "Whatever. I think you just brought me along so you could witness my pain."

They both just laugh, and Sam gives Beth a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you in a couple of hours."

Beth nods, and Sam hurries off to go to his meeting. I roll my eyes at how cheesy they are, and Beth just rolls her eyes at my reaction.

"Don't act like you've never seen anyone kiss someone on the cheek. Now, stop gaping. Let's go inside," Beth says as she opens the door to the bookstore.

I laugh and walk inside. I am immediately drawn to the little bookstore. Not only is the place relaxing and my type of habitat, it is also full of people who are book lovers just like me.

"Welcome to Bark's Bookstore! What can I do for you?" a cheerful woman asks us as we walk inside.

I smile at her and say, "I'm Kate Garner, and I believe we told you I was going to be here today for the book authors event."

The woman smiles and holds her hand out to me. "Yes, of course! Please follow me to the back where the event is happening."

I smile as she leads us to the back. The back is full of authors sitting behind small tables. Many of them look slightly afraid and nervous.

"Are there any authors here who are struggling to get an editor or publisher?" I ask the woman.

"Yes, though I don't know which ones are and which aren't," she replies.

"Thank you very much."

"Of course. Please enjoy yourself!" she replies before quickly walking back to the front desk where she waits to greet a new customer.

I turn to Beth and say, "I know this will probably bore you, so I suggest you go do something you want to do."

She laughs. "You know me so well. Are you sure?"

I nod and gently nudge her away from me. She finally turns and walks away, leaving me alone to go visit with each author. I spend at least an hour visiting with authors before I reach the very last table.

"Hello," I greet the blonde haired woman.

She smiles at me nervously. "Hello. My name is Claire Tyler."

I shake her hand. "Kate Garner. What book are you showing?"

"Unfortunately, the one I'm showing is not in print, but I do have one of my others that is in print," she replies.

"May I see it?"

"Of course!" she excitedly replies before spending a few minutes finding the book. "Here it is."

I examine the book cover and read the back of it. The book cover is intriguing, along with the description. I open it and read a few pages. I gently shut the book, not allowing myself to show any emotion while doing so.

I look back at her and see fear in her eyes. "Do you have any way for me to read the other one?"

"Um, y-yes," she stammers nervously.

"May I do so?"

"Um, of course."

I nod and wait for her to find the book. She soon finds it and hands it to me. This one is just typed on paper. I read through a few pages before handing it back to her.

"D-did you like it?" she asks.

I finally allow myself to break, and I smile at her. "No. I didn't like it." Her face falls. "I loved it!"

"Really?" she asks, shocked.

I laugh and say, "So much so that I have an offer for you that I hope you can't resist."

"I hope not!" she exclaims.

"I work for the Parker Editing and Publishing Company. I assume you've heard of it?" I say.

Her eyes go big, and she says, "Have I ever?! I sent my first book to one of the branches, and they rejected."

It is my turn to be shocked. "They made a mistake because I think you're amazing. My office is in South Hart, the town right over. Here's my card. I hope you'll consider coming over to discuss something."

She nods, and I say goodbye to her before walking out of the bookstore. I smile at how excited she seemed. This is why I love my job.

My phone beeps, and I see a text from Beth telling me where she is. I start looking around for the building where she says she is and find it with almost no difficulty. I quickly hurry to the small bakery she named and spot her when I am inside.

Sam is sitting with her, and I join them. He is telling Beth about his meeting. I immediately feel like I am third wheeling again. He begins to whisper something in Beth's ear, making her laugh. I roll my eyes.

"Kate?" a surprised voice asks from behind me, causing Beth's eyes to go wide and Sam to sit back in his chair dejectedly.

I turn around and see Josh Tucker, of all people, staring at Beth. I quickly stand up and get him to look at me so I can speak.

"Josh Tucker, what are you doing here?" I ask.

He lets out an awkward laugh and says, "Well, I happen to live here."

I raise my eyebrows. "Here? In Bark? The town right next to South Hart?"

"Um, well, yeah," he says.

"Hi, my name is Sam Williams. I remember seeing you at Beth's, but I don't remember officially meeting you," Sam interrupts.

I turn around and move out of the way so Josh can shake Sam's hand. Beth also stands up. I take a look at her face and see her blushing uncontrollably.

"Josh Tucker, a friend of Kate," Josh says, ignoring Beth.

Beth jumps in and says, "I thought I wouldn't have to see you again. Why did you stay?"

Sam looks back and forth between the two and asks, "Are you alright, Beth?"

She just nods and says, "Let's go, Sam. I need some fresh air."

Sam stops her and looks Josh over. I looks at the two men and notice that Josh is taller than Sam, but they both seem to have the same build and the same determined looks on their faces.

"Hold on. I need someone to tell me who this guy is and why I feel a sudden chill over the room," Sam tells Beth determinedly.

Beth sighs. "My past relationship. He's my ex-fiancé."

It takes Sam only a few minutes to decide what he wants to do. Next thing we know, Josh is holding his jaw from Sam's punch. Sam grabs Beth's hand and basically drag her out, glaring at Josh.

"I guess I deserved that," Josh says to me.

I give him a small smile. "It's better than what I did."

He laughs. "I guess, and look, I know it looks bad, but I'm really staying here for the right reasons. I haven't even bothered Beth since that day. Texas is my home, especially this part of it."

I nod. "I get it, Josh, but you'll have to convince Beth and Sam."

"Yeah. I'm going to do it right now," he says as he begins to walk to the exit.

"Woah, hold on. Are you sure that's a smart idea?" I ask him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Now or never, right?" he says before walking out the door.

I grab my purse and follow after him. I get outside just in time to see Sam stiffen and get ready to throw another punch.

I approach and call out, "Sam, hear him out."

Beth says something to him, and he lowers his arm. I stand beside Josh and wait for him to say what he has to say.

"Look," he begins. "I screwed up; I really screwed up. I've already made my peace with Kate, my mom, and I've tried with Beth. I'm not here to win her back. Texas is my home, and I need to stay close to my mom to help her out when she needs it. I deserved that punch, and I understand how these things work. Please believe me when I say I have no intentions of winning her back or coming in between you two. Beth, once again, I'm apologizing with all of my heart. I hurt you, and I caused you pain. I'm not happy that I did that. Please, forgive me and believe me when I say I'm really happy for you and Sam. From what I can tell, he's a great guy."

The air is filled with silence after Josh finishes his speech. Nobody moves. Just when I thought the silence could not get worse, Beth moves toward Josh and gives him a hug. We are all taken aback by her actions. Josh awkwardly pats her on the back before she pulls away.

"Josh, thank you. You've proved you're truly sincere by coming out here and admitting your wrongs. Thank you for being happy for us. I hope when I see you again, we'll have a chance to try to be friends," she explains to him in a kind and soft voice.

Sam walks up beside her and just says, "Thank you."

Beth gives Josh one last smile before walking off with Sam to his car, leaving me behind with Josh. Josh turns to me with shock written all over his face.

"Did that really just happen?" he asks me.

I smile. "You were just given grace. Take it and don't question it."

He smiles. "Thank you. I'll see you around."

I nod and walk over to Sam's car. We all get inside and start our way back to South Hart. None of us mention our encounter with Josh because it seems like one of those things that shouldn't be discussed. They drop me off at my house, and I give them a wave goodbye.

When I walk inside, I set my purse down and flop down on my couch, turning the TV on. I somehow wind up on E! News. Do not ask me why. I am about to switch the channel when I see Matt's picture on the screen.

"Well, it looks like actress Harper Wilson has found a new man for her life. The actress from one of TV's most well-known shows has apparently found love in up-and-coming musician, Matthew Parker," one of the hosts say.

The other one says, "It was recently reported that they began dating after Harper visited a recording studio where she was going to listen to her co-star's new song. It was there she met Matthew, and they've been hitting it off ever since."

They go on for a little while more before moving on to a different a story. I quickly turn the TV off and hurry to get my phone from my purse.

I get the phone out and text: I just saw a story about you. Please text me when you can. Btw: how's your music going?

I set the phone down and try to concentrate on anything but the story I just heard. Why would he not tell me about this? I mean, I do not have to know everything about his life, but I thought it was kind of the friendly thing to do to inform your friend if you are thinking about something like that. Heck, he called me with advice for his music and was there while I was in the city for James' death anniversary.

I wait and wait for a text. It never comes.