I pause to think about just how much I want to share. What Sutton and I share feels private, and there’s a big part of me that wants to keep it that way–at least since it’s still early days. Without the pressure from other people, we can just be ourselves without worrying about what other people are thinking.Maybe that’s why Sutton and I clicked so soon after I arrived.
Every talk, every date, every text conversation we have brings new understanding about the man, and I’d hope he feels the same. I’ve confessed things to him that I haven’t told anyone before. I already know he won’t judge me, and I think that’s because he has been so upfront and honest about his college crush.
He didn’t hide it, and honesty like that is hard to come by. A lot of people say what they think you want to hear, not what they truly believe. Sutton’s openness has me feeling some sort of way that I can’t put into words. One thing I cannot deny is that there’s something growing between us, something I’ve never felt before.Chemistry.Connection.Curiosity.
Isla practically bounces in her seat as she anxiously waits for me to spill all the details. Even though I’m keeping it close to my chest, I know I’ve got to give hersomethingto tide her over.
“We went on a hike to Hidden Lake,” I say, deciding to keep it simple for now.
She nods, looking impressed. “Nice. That place is so beautiful. I’ve only been there a few times in my life but it’s the perfect place to escape the world and justbe, right?”
“When we stopped at the top of the hill and looked down over it, it took my breath away...” I trail off, remembering the way the sunlight danced off the water.
Isla’s eyes flash with curiosity. “And? What else happened on this secret date y’all didn’t want us to know about?” I can’t help but snicker at her sing-song tone.
“We talked, had some lunch, and went for a dip in the lake. It was nice.” I don’t say how I stripped down to my underwear though. “Just a normal date, you know?”
“No, I don’t know because by all accounts, Sutton doesn’t date. Case can’t even remember hearin’ him talk about seein’ anyone in forever. This is all new territory for his brothers. I’m not surprised he wants to keep you all to himself though.”
I lift a brow. “What do you mean?”
“Case is the same,” she says. “Growin’ up with an identical twin, let alone three other siblin’s, it meant they had to share everythin’.”
“I know the feeling.”
“You have a big family too?” she asks.
“Two brothers and a sister. And a lot of farmhands, neighbors, townsfolk. You know how it is.”
She nods. “I do. Especially the nosy townsfolk. Mom was the town florist, so she knew all the comin’s and goin’s. It was nice, but it also meant everyone knew whatIwas up to growin’ up. Birdie too. Anyway, when Case and I met and then reunited, I knew it was just as special to me as it was to him because he was all in from the start. He made it clear that I was his and only his.”
Something she said sticks in my mind. “Hold that thought. What do you mean met and reunited?”
“Oh, I forgot you’re new to town and missed the whole story. Maybe you should just read the book when it comes out,” she says.
“There’s abook?” I gasp.
Isla opens her mouth and slams it shut again, her face turning a little pale as her mind works a mile a minute. “Forget that. It–uh–came out wrong. I just meant that there’s this big, long story, that’s all.”
I get the impression she’s covering up for something. The problem is, I don’t knowwhat.
“I’ll give you the Cliff Notes version. Case and I randomly met one night in Anchorage and had the most intense, platonic, non-sexual one night stand. Literally.” My eyes widen. “The problem was, we didn’t exchange names or numbers before I left the next mornin’. I figured there was no point. He was from North Cali and I was movin’ back here to look after Mom. I didn’t think we’d ever see each other again.”
“She’s got MS, is that right?”
She nods. “Yeah. She’s got a treatment team now so she’s doin’ a lot better than expected.”
“I’m glad,” I say softly. “OK, so help me out here. How did you go from strangers with a connection who didn’t swap numbers to gettingmarriednext weekend?”
A smile curves her lips. “Fate had plans that we didn’t know about. You see, the very next day I moved back to Timber Falls. That just happened to be when Case and his brothers decided to move here to fulfil their grandfather’s final wishes. Although it took us months to realize my best friend and his big brother had fallen head over heels in love with one another. We saw each other again the night Will proposed to Birdie.”
“Nooo…” I say, staring at her in shock. “That’s like–”
“Fate,” she says. “I told you. Never believed in it before. I do wholeheartedly now.”
I’ve never really put much weight in the idea of fate and destiny. Then again, moving to the Alaskan mountains for six months wasn’t even on the list of possibilities until Uncle George called me.
“That story sounds straight off the pages of a romance novel. No wonder you said I could read the book. It’s like soulmates reunited.”
