“Is that a list item?” Haylee asked, instantly perking.
“Does that matter?”
She rolled her eyes. “I should’ve just asked if Jenna was going to be there.”
Cody realized his mistake too late. His act of kindness would offer his incredibly insightful little sister time to observe things he didn’t need anyone observing. He couldn’t deny the attraction he felt to Jenna. Or that it wasn’t one-sided. But whatever was happening between them would have to stay on the surface. Haylee would want to dig. “Don’t make me take back my invitation.”
Haylee smiled victoriously. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“Wanna bet?”
“What are you two bickering about?” Mom set her purse on the far kitchen counter and thumbed through the mail in her hands. Cody often left town before it was too chilly to leave the windows cracked, which would’ve alerted them to a car pulling into the driveway.
“Mom, would you like some quality time with your favorite granddaughter?” Haylee asked with extra sweetness in her tone. It was so ridiculous it almost always worked.
“I invited her to Warren’s for halibut tacos.”
“WithJenna.” Haylee flashed an obnoxious smile.
“You don’t want to be alone for your date?” Mom asked Cody. The complete innocence in her tone made Haylee laugh, which in turn made Melly giggle too. “What did I say?”
“It’s not a date, Mom,” Cody corrected. “Especially if I’m bringing my little sister as a chaperone.”
“Sure seems like a date,” Mom said.
Cody realized he wasn’t about to win this debate, so he stopped contributing to it. “Jenna’s supposed to text me when—” His phone buzzed on cue.
Jenna:I’m starving.
Jenna:Is this place dog-friendly?
Cody shot back a quick reply to let her know to meet him in ten minutes and to warn him Haylee was tagging along. Warren’s was only dog-friendly in warmer weather, but he suggested a walk along the bay after they ate to appease the bored pup.
Jenna:Oh good! I like Haylee.
Jenna:Is she bringing that super cute niece of yours too? :)
Cody couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at his lips. Seemed Jenna meeting her favorite author—or perhaps her number-one fan—had finally warmed her up. Maybe now he could get a better read on her going forward.
“I mean, look at him, Mom. Is he not the definition of smitten right now?” Haylee teased. “Don’t ask me why he’s letting me crash the date, but it’stotallya date. I’m just going for the free halibut tacos.”
“Who said anything about free?” Cody teased after shooting a reply back to Jenna, promising that she could get in some Melly snuggles another time if she wanted.
“Cody,” Mom said before they made it to the door. “Don’t plan anything for Friday evening, okay?”
Though he put the pieces together earlier when Haylee and Sadie were using him as a middleman for their immature not-talking-to-each-other conversation, now he knew for certain. Mom was using his extra time in town to plan the going-away party he insisted he didn’t want. “It’s the Harvest Festival Friday. I’m supposed to spend the whole day there with Jenna. It’s number three on the list.”
“You two can stop by after you’re done at the festival.”
Cody hurried out the door before he said something snide that Mom didn’t deserve. She was one of the first to graciously accept he’d be gone for three whole years. That she’d only get to see her youngest son if she flew to him or something tragic happened. He could suck it up and act surprised to let her have one evening before he left.
“What’s Jenna been doing all day anyway?” Haylee asked when she met him in his car. A car that would quickly become impractical if he really chose to stay in Alaska permanently, whether now or in three years. The decade-old Toyota Camry spent its winters in heated storage and had never seen a set of snow tires.
“Writing, I think.”
“Wait, she’s an author?”
“Yeah, she writes children’s books. Illustrates them too.”
