Sophie:Then maybe it’s time he does.
Denver:Good point. Thx :)
Back then, she was certain he liked her. Respectful that she wasn’t emotionally available, he’d been okay with it. But now . . . she was sure he’d moved on from that little crush and settled into a comfortable friendship. Which was just as well. He deserved a woman who wasn’t broken. One who wouldn’t bring a daughter into the mix.
What would happen if theydidget together, then broke up? Caroline would be devastated. Sophie’d never allow that to happen.
Denver:Would you believe that Kat and Malcom are getting along?
Sophie:Gasp! You’re kidding?!
Denver:It’s surprising me too. There may even be a little flirtatious banter happening.
Sophie:Really??? Do I get to read any of this?
Denver:You know the rules, Soph ;)
Around another bend, Sophie lost signal. Denver never let her read his books until he wroteThe End. And even then, he did a round of edits first. Despite her begging and pleading to see it sooner, Denver never relented.
“Who do you think the flowers are from?” Rilee asked, pulling Sophie from her phone.
“No clue.”
Rilee turned in her seat, the farthest she could with her seat belt strapping her in. “You really havenoidea?”
“I have a few,” Cadence said.
“Who?” Sophie demanded. “Tell me who in that little town would ever be interested in a single divorced mom? I’m damaged goods, and every available man should know to run far, far away.”
“Who all knows you like stargazer lilies?” Rilee probed.
“Everyone in town,” Cadence answered for her.
“What?” Sophie shook her head. “No, they don’t.”
“Are you kidding? You wear pink lily leggings when you run, Sophie. Your purse has that pattern. Your planner. And every time you see one, you act like a kid set loose in a candy store.”
Rilee propped her elbow on the center console, dropping her chin into her hand. Her expression promised she wasn’t going to let this mystery rest. “That doesn’t really rule anyone out, does it?”
“I think Mr. Andrews likes her,” Cadence said.
“The kindergarten teacher?”
“Yep.”
“No way,” Sophie interjected. “He’s friendly to everyone.”
“He’s soextrafriendly to you that even Caroline talks about it,” Cadence countered.
“What about Jeffrey the postmaster?” Rilee added. “Isn’t he super into marathons?”
Sophie couldn’t deny that she’d spent more than a few minutes talking to Jeffrey about running and strategy nearly every trip to the post office since she decided to run her first marathon. Had the postmaster read more into those conversations than she realized?
“What about Herman, at the pharmacy?” Cadence suggested.
“Oh, please,” said Sophie, finally finding the amusement in this game. At least the outskirts of Anchorage were visible in the distance. They’d grab lunch, drop Rilee off at the airport, and then, with any luck, Cadence would let this silly discussion go by the time they stopped for school clothes.
“Herman is pretty sweet on you,” Rilee agreed.
“Sweet, yes. But he’s seventy-five!”
The list of suspects continued to grow as they entered the city limits, but neither Cadence nor Rilee suggested Denver. Sophie didn’t like how that made her frown. Of course the flowers weren’t from Denver. He didn’t have many romantic bones in his body, if the scenes he wrote about Malcom on dates were any indication.
Despite what could never come of it, a small part of her had hoped Denver was her secret admirer.
