“Because I live in Idaho. I can’t just move to Wyoming,” I say.
“Why not? You said yourself that Idaho doesn’t feel like your permanent home. Your only family there moved away, and you can work from home. Plus, it’s only like, three hours away,” she shrugs. Presenting me with an option to move away like it’s not life-changing.
I don’t want to admit it, but what she’s sayingdoesmake a lot of sense. After Aunt Millie moved away, there’s really not a lot left for me in Juniper Ridge. Hazel is busier now than ever with her family’s dude ranch, and I don’t really have anyone else. I can visit her whenever I want to, we don’t have to be neighbors. We’ll always be best friends.
I’ve been thinking about moving somewhere new. Starting fresh. I’m just not sure where I’d go. It’d have to be somewhere I could still do my job. I’m not willing to let that go. But I always thought it’d be a place MacPherson Enterprises sent me to live in, or somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.
I’d never move back east near my family. That ship sailed far, far away when they sent me away. I love the west way too much now.
Even so, staying here after one job in Wyoming seems like too much of a leap. I don’t even know the first thing about living here. Bed and breakfast laws? I’ve got those down. The history of Jackson Hole? I could write a book. What to do for tourists in every season? I can give a hundred suggestions based on my research. But staying? Living in Wyoming? It seems too far-fetched.
“I can’t move here,” I laugh.
“I think you can,” she sing-songs. “And I know a cowboy that could keep you company.”
“Stop it,” I laugh, nudging her shoulder. “Cowboys aren’t my type. Besides, I’m not a relationship girl. Never will be.”
“I’m just saying, I think it’s worth a shot. What do you have to lose?”
My dignity if it doesn’t work out here. My confidence in moving anywhere else. Juniper Ridge, the only place I’ve ever felt even a little bit comfortable.
Miles presents a whole other set of problems. He can never be more than a crush. We had our one night together. It can never be more than that. I’m not built for relationships. Not with my upbringing. We’d both get hurt, and my living here would only make that infinitely more complicated.
“Either way, I don’t think you should let Miles push you away. From what I’ve observed, he’s the type to retreat. I think you should go for it. The worst that could happen is you go back to being grumpy towards each other again,” Codie raises her eyebrows at me, driving her point home.
“I don’t have any extra time to invest in figuring out the jigsaw puzzle that is Miles Autry,” I scoff. I lift the cold glass to my lips, tossing back the rest of my drink before taking Codie’s hand and pulling her towards the dartboards in the back corner of the bar. The light is lower back here, glowing orange from an old stained glass pendant light that’s probably older than I am. “Come on, I want to kick your ass in darts.”
“Good luck,” she laughs.
Chapter 24
Summer Storms
The buzz from myone drink tonight has worn off halfway through our second game of darts. But after my drunken performance at the cabin, I’m sticking to one drink only. I gulp down a glass of ice water while Codie’s dart flies right to the number nine on the board, exactly the number she was aiming for.
“I’m on eight,” she cheers, turning towards me with a mocking smile. “What are you still shooting for, twelve?” I won our first round of Around The World, but just barely. This time we are counting down from twenty, and it’s not going as well for me.
“Might I remind you, I didwinour last round. So technically, I’m just defending my title as the current darts champion,” I tease.
“What are we playing ladies,” a low, flirtatious voice drawls from behind Codie and I. Strong arms wrap around each of our shoulders, as I turn to see Parker’s jean jacket pushed up against me.
“Oh shit, the party’s here,” I holler snaking my arm around his side giving him a squeeze before pulling away. “You can join our game if you want, but you’ll be a bit behind.”
“I’ll hop on the next round if it’s alright with y’all.” Parker flashes a grin our way, sitting at the stool I’ve been leaning against in between turns. “Codie,” he nods, tipping his hat to her.
“Always a pleasure to see you, Parker,” she laughs.
“Did you know Codie once knocked books out of my hands at the bookstore like a bully from a really bad teen movie?” Parker winks at Codie from behind his drink.
“Oh, shut up, you’re making it sound like it was my fault,” Codie scoffs. She turns towards me and crosses her arms. “What he neglects to mention is the gigantic wolf spider crawling around on his books I saved him from. Yes, they were knocked down in the process, but it could have been much worse had I not intervened.”
Parker laughs, “Oh right, there was that little detail. All I knew is my books were knocked right onto the ground by Codie Raisanan, of all people. Prom queen of western Wyoming.”
I gasp, “You were prom queen?”
Codie waves me off, throwing her last dart at the board. It lands perfectly even though she’s barely looking. “It was one year. It’s not exactly impressive when your high school class is 80 people.”
“Well, I’m impressed,” I say.
