LAKE: I know. I love her too.
WREN: You guys are so adorable it’s gross
I snort,tossing my phone in the passenger seat, as I let my mind wander the entire drive home. I love it here, the trees and fields and the mountain air—there’s no place like it.
It’s even better now that Pen’s here.
The thought settles something inside me, as I turn down the driveway, resolved to talk to her.
It seems like every light in the cabin is on when I pull up, and it has a smile stretching across my face.
Finally.
I’ll probably need to buy my sister something really nice for Christmas for getting Pen to come out of hiding. Now all I need to do is make sure she talks to me.
With renewed enthusiasm, I climb from the truck and suck in a deep breath, my boots moving me closer toward the door.
And my girl.
Steps heavy on the porch, I pause with my hand on the doorknob, gathering myself, before pushing it open and walking inside.
“Hey,” Pen says with spoon in hand and three different pots on the stove.
“Hey, yourself.” I grin, taking off my jacket and knocking the snow from my boots. “Smells good.”
“I went to see Oma today after Wren came by.” She stares at me pointedly before adding, “Oma gave me an easy recipe to try considering I didn’t have a lot of time.”
Eyeing the stove again, I smirk. “Three pots doesn’t look like an easy recipe.”
“It’s manageable.”
Setting the spoon down, she closes the distance between us and wraps her arms around my waist and sighs.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” I admit because there’s nothing I hate more than fighting with the girl holding me like a lifeline.
“You were right though. I was projecting a lot onto you, and while you could have been alittlenicer,”—she tilts her head back to look at me—“I needed to hear it.”
“Your whole life was just upended.”
“It was and it wasn’t. I think everything just became clearer being back in Wintervale.”
“Are you staying?” I ask, not bothering to make a sound as she returns to the stove and resumes stirring something that smells garlicky and delicious.
“I have to go back to Bozeman and talk to Carter,” she says slowly, like she’s still working it out herself. “I need to pack up my stuff and put in my resignation.” My eyes are wide when she meets my gaze. “Typical Wednesday stuff.”
“That’s a lot,” I confess, completely unable to come up with something more creative in this moment.
“It is. And I’m sure Carter will want to make this as painful as possible.” She snorts. “His mother definitely will. But then coming back here, I have no job, no place to live, and no ideawhat I’m gonna do.” She clicks the dial on the stove to off and beams at me. “And I’mreallyhappy, Lake. I feel so relieved it’s like I forgot how to breathe.”
“I think that’s pretty damn awesome. And you’re welcome to stay here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“And what about us?” Her sweatshirt rides up as she reaches for a couple of plates, a sliver of skin peeking out between the hem and the top of her leggings.
