“That’s definitely a perk,” she admitted. “But I’m not foolish enough to think Whitney would leave me alone just because I moved a few thousand miles away. Not unless I tossed my cell phone into the ocean for good.”
“I imagine your editor wouldn’t care for that.”
“Not really.”
Their hands grazed as they walked, causing Jenna’s breath to hitch. The attraction between them was undeniable. But Jenna didn’t want to be some woman Cody flirted with for only a few days. She widened the gap between them so the accidental brush wouldn’t happen again. He’d have his pick of women in Maui, and she’d be nothing more than a forgotten memory.
“Did I tell you Whitney’s getting married?” Jenna said to draw attention away from the physical contact that was still making her hand tingle minutes later.
“When?”
“In two months.” Jenna didn’t have to feel buzzing in her pocket to sense the incoming text messages. Or maybe Whitney had switched to calling since she was likely off work now. Either way, she wasn’t answering tonight. “I’m not going.” She expected him to ask why or tell her that was an extreme decision she might later regret. But when Cody said nothing, she went on. “The guy she’s marrying is a jerk, to put it lightly. She’s settling for good looks and money. She cares more about what other people think than her own long-term happiness. If I ever get married, it’ll be for love.”
“If?”
Jenna shrugged, though Cody probably didn’t notice in the darkness between light poles. “Grandpa used to tell me stories about how he met Grandma. How he knew she was the one the moment he laid eyes on her. How every day they spent together confirmed they were soulmates. He never remarried, you know.” The night chill disappeared as the warmth of those memories filled her. “I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t settle down unless I found what they had.”
Cody’s silence made her heart pound. She hoped he hadn’t read into what she said the wrong way. He was attractive, certainly. But she already knew he wasn’t marriage material.
“Anyway, the guy Whitney’s marrying . . .” She let out a defeated sigh. “He made a pass at me during their engagement party.”
“You’re kidding?”
“You’re the only person I’ve told. Other than my sister.” Jenna stopped while Graham watered a tree with enthusiasm. “She didn’t believe me, of course. That’s when I decided I didn’t want to go to the wedding. Also the same point in time she decided I didn’t need to live in her basement anymore.” Jenna typed up her two-week notice that night after her tossing and turning made it impossible to sleep.
“Why do you let her treat you the way she does?” Cody asked as they arrived at the junction to the pier. Graham made a hard left, insisting they travel down it. “You are allowed to cut toxic people out of your life, even if they’re family.”
“Aside from raising me after my mom died, Whitney let me live with her rent-free for two years while I attended a special school for illustrating. While I was attending, I made a connection that later landed me my first publishing deal.” Jenna slowed as they reached the end of the deserted pier. The chilly ocean breeze cut right through her jacket, so she folded her arms tighter around her chest. “Had I been working full time during that school, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t have been able to juggle all that. I’m grateful for what she did for me. It allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream.”
“You’re cold.” Cody stood beside her in the perfect spot to block the worst of the wind. It was a sweet gesture, though what she really craved was his arm around her, hugging him against his warm chest.
Graham let out a bark when something jumped in the water just off the pier. She focused on his pointed ears because it kept her from gazing into Cody’s eyes. Had she ever yearned for someone to gather her into their arms and kiss herthismuch before?
“Are those—” She pointed to the dark sky, where she swore she saw a swish of green. Cody watched with her for several moments, but if the northern lights had made an appearance earlier, they weren’t eager to return.
“Number four waits for another night,” Cody said, lifting one corner of his mouth in a half smile that activated the butterflies every time. Her gaze dropped to his lips and she found it nearly impossible to look away.
“Maybe we should head back,” Jenna said to save herself from making a foolish move she couldn’t take back. They still had seven list items to complete, and she didn’t want to make things awkward between them.
Cody slipped both hands into his sweatshirt pockets as they turned toward shore. “When are you going to tell your sister you’re not going back?”
“I could tell her right now and she wouldn’t believe me.” Jenna shook her head at the impossibility of telling her sister anything she actually listened to. “She didn’t believe I was driving to Alaska until she saw my name on the PTO calendar at work. She tried to talk me out of it, of course. Thinks that coming here so soon after Grandpa died isn’t healthy.”
“She wasn’t as close with him as you were, was she?” he guessed as they reached the sidewalk and turned back toward the truck.
“No.” Jenna hadn’t talked to anyone this honestly about her sister . . . ever. Not even Grandpa when he was alive because she didn’t want to put him in the middle. It felt therapeutic to get everything off her chest, but she realized how it all sounded. “I love my sister. I just don’t necessarily . . .”
“Like her?”
“Does that make me a terrible person?” She laughed to lighten the heavy moment, but her heart raced in anticipation of his answer. She’d stopped letting opinions of others affect her a long time ago, but suddenly Cody’s opinion mattered a whole lot.
“No, it doesn’t.”
Relief flooded her body at his words. “Really?”
“I think it makes you an incredibly mature woman. Sadie could take a few lessons from you.” Cody scrubbed a hand over his face, messing up his windblown hair in a way that made Jenna want to fix it. Or maybe she really just wanted to run her fingers through his disheveled blond hair. “Your happiness or worth shouldn’t come from your sister. And it shouldn’t be robbed because of her, either.”
His profound words resonated in her soul. “Wow, you’re good at this advice thing, aren’t you?”
