Jenna’s heart dropped at his nonchalant comment, crushing what little hope Haylee had ignited. It was foolish to think a stuntman as popular as Cody would give up a lifestyle he loved to stay in a small town for a woman hejustmet. That sort of thing only happened in romance novels.Only in fiction. Jenna nearly laughed out loud thinking if she possessed novel-writing abilities, she’d have another story to start penning tonight.
“I wish I could go with you guys tomorrow,” Haylee said, oblivious to Jenna’s suddenly dampened mood. “The last time I’ve been kayaking was before I was pregnant. But I promised Dad I’d help him with the booth for the festival.”
“What booth?”
“Evans Outfitters does a booth every year at the Harvest Festival,” Cody explained. “A lot of the local vendors have one. It drags the last of the tourists to town and reminds the residents to shop local when they’re getting stocked up for a long winter ahead.”
“Sometimes the road between here and Anchorage gets snowed in,” Haylee added.
Jenna remembered traveling the two-lane highway to Sunset Ridge last week. There was only one route in and out for well over a hundred miles. “So, you get stuck here when that happens?”
Cody reached for another nacho, shaking off a black olive. Jenna smiled at the random thing they had in common. “We have pilots and bush planes in town for emergencies. It’s not like we’re completely cut off from the world. But it does stop any non-essential trips up north for a few days, sometimes a week or more until they get the road cleared.”
“You talk about winter in Alaska like you remember what it’s like,” Haylee said with an eyeroll.
Jenna’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she silently cursed herself for bringing it. She’d hoped the hour she jumped online and handled some of the wedding tasks Whitney doled out would appease her sister, but she’d forgotten about the aftermath. Surely she’d screwedsomethingup.
“Ex-boyfriend or something?” Haylee asked before she bit into a loaded nacho.
“I wish. An ex would be a cakewalk compared to my older sister.” Jenna inhaled deeply as she flipped her phone from vibrate to silent. She’d given Whitney enough of her time for one day. It wasn’t as though she’d hop on a plane and show up in Sunset Ridge because Jenna ignored her until morning. That required too much effort.
“Sounds like Sadie,” Haylee murmured.
“No, she doesn’t.” Cody’s stern tone seemed to catch both Haylee and Jenna off guard. “Sadie has things going on you know nothing about, Haylee,” he added, his tone gentler but still firm enough to warn against further argument.
“I wouldn’t know,” Haylee said. “Not like she responds to me.”
Sensing the sudden discomfort at the table, Jenna felt the urge to slip away. She had enough troublesome thoughts of her own to sort out without inviting more. “I’m sure Graham’s getting anxious by now,” she said, sliding her phone into her jacket pocket. “I better take him for that walk.”
“I’ll join you,” Cody said so suddenly that a secret thrill raced through her. There was no list-related reason for him to come along. Which meant hewantedto spend time with her. Maybe there was a sliver of hope after all. “If you don’t mind? I saved a nacho for Graham.”
“Who am I to deny the dog a treat? Just don’t give him one with cheese or I’m making him share a room withyoutonight.”
“You two are sickeningly adorable,” Haylee said, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her eyes. “Don’t stay out too late, now.”
“You don’t want to join us?” Jenna asked, pretending her heart wasn’t racing at Haylee’s comment. The more she allowed herself to enjoy this time spent with Cody, the more she risked a heartbreak she didn’t want or need.
Haylee held up her phone. “Mom said Melly’s asleep, which means I get to binge The Great British Bake Off in peace. Baby girl’s been extra fussy these past few nights. Probably because she knows she won’t see her uncle forthreeyears.” She slid off her stool and held out her hand for Cody’s keys. “You don’t mind giving him a ride home, do you, Jenna?”
“Not at all.”
“Cool. Don’t get into too much trouble, you two.” With an obnoxious wink, Haylee hurried toward the door. Yes, Jennareallyliked this sister.
“Wanna trade sisters?” she teased Cody as they made their way to the door. “I promise mine willneverleave you alone.”
“Whitney’s older, I take it?” He waited by her truck as she clipped Graham’s leash onto his collar and let him hop out. Cody held out his hand for a shake, but the pup did more of an intense high-five swipe since his attention was fixed on the nacho.
“Older by ten years.” After Graham inhaled the massive nacho chip, the two headed toward the bay walk. “She was in college when my mom died. Had to drop out to take care of me. Grandpa was around too, but he was gone off and on at shoots. He’d just lost Grandma a couple years earlier, and well, we couldn’t deny him the one thing that still brought him joy.”
The last of the daylight sank into the horizon, causing the water to glisten. She tried to focus on the magical qualities, tucking that detail away for later use in a story. It was better than dwelling too heavily on a past she couldn’t change.
“She resents the time she lost,” Cody said thoughtfully, as if solving a puzzle.
“That’s putting it mildly.” Graham darted off the sidewalk, yanking her with him for a rustle in the fallen leaves. She planted her feet at the edge of the pavement and braced to keep him from getting away. “It might be a rabbit or a funny-looking tree branch. His reaction is always the same.”
“Is that why you’re moving to Alaska?” Cody asked, no judgment in his tone. Only curiosity that flattered her whether it was meant to or not. “To get away from your sister?”
Jenna couldn’t remember the last time someone seemed so interested in her mundane life. She’d kept everything close to the vest for so many years. It felt good to trust someone again. Good, but also terrifying. Would they remain long-distance friends once he left?
