“Hi, Glenda,” Ava greeted with her naturally warm tone. Everyone in Sunset Ridge loved Ava Monroe, even during the time when she ran around with Kinley. No one believed Ava was capable of doing anything bad. It was why when they were caught setting off fireworks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Kinley shouldered all the blame. “Don’t know if you remember Kinley?”
If Kinley wasn’t mistaken, Glenda was one of the book club members, or at least had been years ago when her mom was part of it.
“Kinley James, wasn’t sure I’d ever see you back in Sunset Ridge.” Glenda’s smile was bright enough, but reservation hung in her eyes. Kinley couldn’t blame her.
“I’m just visiting for a few days,” she mentioned. She looked to Ava. “I need to pick Fiona up from the library. Are you free later?”
“Come back around five-thirty. We’ll grab a bite to eat.”
* * *
Kinley waited by the door later that afternoon while Glenda gently nudged Ava from behind the counter.
“I’ve got everything covered,” Glenda said to Ava. “Go enjoy some time with your friend. I’ll see you when we’re ready to close up.”
“Thank you, Glenda,” Ava responded.
Kinley stopped herself from asking about the store, about how business was going, as they strolled a block over. Worry etched into Ava’s brow, despite her innocenteverything is greatsmile she sported so well. The lack of customers, even so early in the season, seemed an ominous sign. “Do we have to go through downtown?” Kinley asked instead.
“Yes.” Ava latched on to Kinley’s arm. “This hiding-out nonsense has to stop. You’re not the same person you were back then. Give people a chance to realize that.”
From the top of the hill leading into the heart of downtown, Sunset Ridge looked like a postcard image. For all its faults, the town had one of the most spectacular landscapes she’d ever seen. Colorful shops lined the streets. Seagulls flew over pristine blue water that sparkled with intermittent rays of sun. The backdrop of mountains had the slightest splattering of snow at their peaks.
“You know, I’ve been a lot of places,” Kinley said to Ava, giving in to the inevitable stroll that’d lead them right by city hall. “South Carolina, New York, Germany, Georgia . . . but I’ve never seen anywhere quite this beautiful. For all its faults, I get why people never leave.”
“It has a way of sucking you back in. You should move home.”
Kinley let out an awkward laugh. “Don’t go getting any crazy ideas. I saidonenice thing about the town.”
“Could you?” Ava asked. “Move back? You know, if you actually wanted to.”
Though the automatic answer that wanted to leave her lips wasno, Kinley wasn’t being fair. She was at a crossroads with the Army, even if Fiona had all but written her off as a lifer. True, her flight school packet was nearly ready, her goal of becoming an Army pilot within her grasp. But such a move would rope her into service for the full twenty years. Maybe more. “I have a decision to make, actually.”
When the hill flattened, the downtown area branched out at an intersection, forming a plus sign. This central area was where every street dance was held for the various different festivals. Kinley wasalmostsad she’d miss the first one of the year. The Fireweed Festival had always been her favorite.
“Let’s turn here.” Ava pulled Kinley to the left across the street. “I need to ask my brother a favor if he’s around.” They headed down another shop-filled block. “So, what’s this decision?”
“Two days after I get back, I either sign reenlistment paperwork or I lose the option to stay in.”
“I’m confused,” Ava said. “I thought you wanted to be a pilot. I didn’t think you could be enlisted to do that.”
“You can’t. But I’ve haven’t submitted my packet yet. I still need a letter of recommendation from my commander. I don’t even know if they’ll take me. If I don’t reenlist, I’ll likely forfeit my chance to evenapplyto flight school.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Cutting it a little close. So, you came home to get what? A little perspective?”
Ava dragged Kinley around another corner leading to the fire hall. Chase stood outside with folded arms talking to Ryder and one other. Kinley swallowed hard, her heart fluttering the way it used to when she was fourteen. It wasn’t fair. No man should look that attractive. Alaskan beard, muscular arms bulging the sleeves of his T-shirt, and that half smile she knew meant his eyes were laughing. “Something like that,” she said in delayed answer to Ava’s question.
Ryder turned his head as they approached, confirming her suspicions and almost knocking the wind out of her all in a beat. As much as she wanted to deny it, Kinley might be in a bit of trouble when it came to Ryder Grant.
Chapter Six
Ryder
“Ryder, what’re you going to do with all your time off?” Ava asked from the opposite side of the reclaimed wood table at Warren’s Sea Shack. When Ava sprang a dinner invitation that included Kinley and Chase, as well as Ryder, he’d no excuse at the ready to turn it down. Especially since Chase just announced as much to the group.
