Riley laughed. “Why am I not surprised? You’re always chasing an adventure.”
“Always,” he said. “And our best one together is yet to come.”
Riley’s heart beat a little faster as she remembered the adrenalin rush she’d get when spending time with Brendan. She’d loved that feeling, and she’d missed it over the years.
While Brendan and Colin were smiling, Tyler didn’t look so pleased. He raked his fingers through his hair.
“Riley, are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “You don’t have to go through all this. I know you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but shouldn’t you be focusing on your Christmas Camp and writing your next novel? You always told me your work had to come first.”
“You’re right, Tyler. I always did say that,” Riley agreed, “because I thought it had to, but a lot has changed in the past few years and now I’m not so sure. I broke up with you to concentrate on my writing, but then I couldn’t write and my next book crashed and burned. Everyone said it was missing its heart. I’m realizing that I’ve spent so much time writing other people’s love stories that I haven’t been living my own life, and that’s showing up in my writing.”
Tyler arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying . . .”
Brendan smiled and jumped in. “I think she’s saying she’s down for these dates, aren’t you, Riley? Because maybe they’ll help you with your writing, give you some new inspiration.”
All three guys waited for her answer.
“So what do you say?” Colin asked hopefully.
“Honestly,” Riley said, “I don’t know. This is all a lot to take in. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I just know I don’t want to have any regrets, any ‘what ifs.’”
“Exactly,” Colin said. “Neither do I.”
“None of us do,” Tyler said.
“Okay, then it’s settled,” Riley said. “Colin, I have to make a quick call first, then I’ll meet you in your room. Brendan, I’ll see you in the morning, and Tyler, we’ll have our date tomorrow night. I hope you all understand that the rest of the time, I really need to concentrate on my guests. They have to come first.”
“We understand,” Colin said. “We can stay out of the way, right, guys?”
“Sure,” Brendan said.
“Not a problem,” Tyler agreed.
“Great, then it’s a plan,” Riley said. She quickly hugged each of them. “I’ll see you later.”
Riley was still trying to wrap her head around everything that had happened when she got back to her room, but before she could do anything, she needed to make an important call.
She called Mike on FaceTime because she wanted him to see her face-to-face and know how serious she was. The call didn’t take long.
From the moment Mike answered, she had been in charge. She’d told Mike that while she couldn’t control what was already out there in social media, she could control what her own publicist covered, a publicist she paid. And if he wanted to keep his job, he would pass everything by her from now on, no matter how small, before ever posting a picture or facts about her personal life again.
Mike had pushed back at first but had finally backed down when she promised that when Christmas Camp was all over, if there was something relevant to share about her personal life, like if she got back together with one of her old boyfriends, then she would talk about it, but only in the way she saw fit. When he’d asked if she thought that was really possible, for her to get back together with one of her exes, she told him the truth. She honestly didn’t know. But she should have an answer by the end of Christmas Camp.
She had only just hung up with Mike when Margo popped up on FaceTime. Before she could even say hello, Margo started in.
“Riley, is this true that all three of your exes showed up at Christmas Camp?” Margo asked, looking excited.
“You saw the picture,” Riley said. It was statement not a question.
“Yes, but I also know Mike, so I didn’t know exactly what I was seeing,” Margo said. “That’s why I’m calling. Tell me this is true because it would be amazing.”
“Amazing for me,” Riley asked, “or for publicity?”
“They’re one in the same,” Margo said quickly. “So it’s true?”
Riley took a deep breath. “Yes, it’s true.”
Margo’s smile lit up the screen. “Riley, why aren’t you more excited about this?”
“Because this is my life we’re talking about, not just some publicity stunt,” Riley responded.
“Hey, you did this,” Margo shot back. “Mike said these guys heard you talking on the news and all thought you were talking about them as being your one true love. I think this is going to be the best thing that’s happened to you yet. You’ve been running on empty. That’s why your books are falling flat. This way you can refuel your tank.”
Riley leaned in closer to her computer screen and gave Margo a confused look. “What are you talking about, running on empty, refueling? I’m not a car.”
“Okay, and I’m not the one who’s good with words, you are. What I’m trying to say is that when you started writing romance novels, they were inspired by your travels with Brendan. Then you used him and your college boyfriend as inspiration for your next novels, and then eventually Tyler. But lately the love hasn’t been in your love stories. You’re running empty on love, and you need to refuel that tank to move forward. Like a car needs gas, you need love. There, did I explain it better this time?”
Riley cringed. “So now I’m an empty gas tank? Lovely visual.”
“You know what I mean,” Margo said.
Riley sat up straighter. “Yes, I know what you’re trying to say. All this could be good for my writing.”
“Exactly,” Margo said, sounding pleased. “I just want what’s best for you, professionally and personally.”
“I gotta go,” Riley said. “I have a
