Contents
Chapter 6
Overview
Nora literally runs into Charlie at Poppa Squat and learns he’s from Sunshine Falls. Over beers, they read and argue about Dusty’s pages that mirror Nora, sparring into open flirtation. Charlie hints at past ties to the bartender and distaste for small-town mythmaking, then calls Nora out for hiding her true motives for visiting.
Summary
Nora stumbles at Poppa Squat and is caught by Charlie, who’s shocked to see her. When she insists she isn’t stalking him, he reveals he’s from near Sunshine Falls. Their barbed banter turns to local quirks and the restaurant’s infamy, immediately reframing Charlie as a local rather than a Manhattan interloper.
Charlie notices Dusty Fielding’s new pages on Nora’s phone, speed-reads, and deems them exceptional. Nora is mortified that Dusty modeled a ruthless agent on her. He suggests a beer, and Libby suddenly departs by cab, not-so-subtly urging Nora to pursue her list. Nora worries but stays, and the two keep talking.
Over beers, they volley about the “Shark” character, Nora’s reputation, and Charlie’s deadpan defenses of the work. He notes Nora’s worth as an agent and downplays the idea that Dusty’s depiction defines her. Their chemistry spikes as they tease about eye colors and Nadine Winters, with Charlie calling Nadine his “fictional crush.”
They debate Sunshine Falls: Nora calls it peaceful; Charlie mocks small-town idylls and admits he dislikes “everything is better in small towns” narratives. He hints at a rough day and, startlingly, mentions he almost married the bartender. He reads Nora’s tells, catching her “lying divot,” and accurately names her homesickness for New York.
Pressing one another for truths, Nora accuses Charlie of bias against Dusty’s book due to his hometown; he counters that Dusty hasn’t researched the town in decades. The standoff softens into mutual recognition. Finally, Charlie labels Nora a liar about being “just on vacation” and orders two more beers, intensifying their charged truce and budding intimacy.
Who Appears
- Nora StephensNYC literary agent; mortified by Dusty’s ‘Shark’ character, spars and flirts with Charlie, admits homesickness, stays for beers despite Libby leaving.
- Charlie LastraEditor from Sunshine Falls; praises Dusty’s pages, dislikes small-town tropes, reveals near-engagement to the bartender, calls out Nora’s hidden motives.
- LibbyNora’s pregnant sister; fakes an early exit via cab to nudge Nora toward her checklist and possible romance.
- BartenderLocal bartender with history with Charlie; he hints they almost married, briefly shifting the bar’s social dynamic.
- Dusty FieldingBestselling author; her new pages feature a ruthless agent resembling Nora, sparking Nora’s insecurity and debate.