“I didn’t tell Fiona which book you wanted to read,” Cody said, stopping and waiting for her to catch up. He offered his arm, most likely to keep her from running off. But he had her dog. She wasn’t going anywhere without Graham, even into hiding to avoid public speaking.
Jenna had turned down multiple requests to read her books in front of an audience. She loved kids and appreciated that they devoured her stories. She loved what libraries did for young readers. But she fit so easily into an introverted role in accounts receivable because it didn’t require her to get up in front of anyone. Her palms were sweaty and she hadn’t even seen the inside of the library. There might be a hundred people packed inside or maybe just one. Her panic was the same.
“Oh, you made it!” a woman in a long, flowing skirt decorated with sprinkles of sequins greeted. “I’m Fiona James, head librarian.” Jenna offered her a weak smile that somehow resulted in Fiona clasping one of Jenna’s hands in both of hers. “We’re so excited to have you for story hour. We rarely get a celebrity in town. We do have Denver Grant, but his murder mysteries aren’t quite appropriate for second graders.”
Cody followed behind as Jenna was pulled into the open area of the library. Bookshelves lined the walls and were displayed across the floor in diagonal patterns. Jenna heard the chatter of a crowd before she spotted the mob in the back of the room where the bookshelves tapered off.
“We have an event room, but we got a slightly bigger turnout than expected.”
Jenna whipped her head over shoulder, pointing a narrowed glare at Cody. Dropping by unannounced for a surprise reading at story hour would’ve been challenging enough for her anxiety. But now that half the town was crammed into the back of the library, it felt like an impossible feat. She’d likely freeze up there in front of all those people and die of mortification.
“If I survive this,” she said through gritted teeth, “I’m going to kill you.”
“I’m just following the list.” His nonchalant tone really grated on her nerves in moments like this one. If Cody ended up staying—which Jenna knew was a one-percent chance at best—they might end up driving each other mad.
Graham looked up at her from Cody’s side, offering her encouragement with his big brown doe eyes and wagging tail. He thought Jenna’s celebrity status was exciting. She scratched him behind the ears, mostly to calm her nerves. Partially to stand a little closer to Cody. Too close and she might actually strangle him.
“Cody didn’t tell me what book you wanted to read, so I pulled every one we had on the shelf.” Fiona pointed toward a table beside a podium. “Some are checked out, but we have most of them right now.”
For the briefest of moments, Jenna wished she’d dug into her trailer and pulled out the couple boxes of books she’d packed. But the idea of sitting through an in-person signing was more terrifying than reading one of her books out loud. She only kept the personal stash to mail signed copies to fans she never had to meet in person. “I’ll pick one of those,” she said because Fiona was looking at her expectantly.
“How aboutIpick one?” Cody suggested, not the least bit bothered by the gathering crowd, even with the handful of waves he got from the audience. Jenna had never lived in a town small enough to be recognized by so many people. It would take some getting used to.
Cody sifted through the pile and handed one over, but Jenna was too nervous to even glimpse the title.
“Attention, everyone,” Fiona’s voice squeaked through the microphone. She made a couple of adjustments and spoke again without the feedback. “We’re so thrilled to have such a huge turnout for story hour. We don’t want to keep you waiting, so without further ado, let me introduce J.A. Kingsley.” As the crowd clapped, Fiona looked back at Jenna. “You’ll have to forgive me. All I know about you I found on your website.” She looked back at her podium and adjusted a pair of reading glasses. “J.A Kingsley is the author of more than twenty-five picture books. She writesandillustrates all her own titles.”
Jenna could recite her bio by memory. Her website, provided by her publisher, was one of the few places she could loiter and feel good without Whitney crushing her spirit about it. She’d discovered early in her publishing career that sharing her accomplishments on social media did nothing more than make her an open target where her sister and their work friends were concerned. None of them took seriously what Jenna didon the side.
They were never friends at all.
All too soon, a hush fell over the room. Dozens of young eyes gathered on the carpet in front of the rows of chairs stared up at her expectantly. She didn’t even see which book she grabbed before she dropped into her chair, her hands shakier than ever.
Cody and Graham sat off to the side, both their zealous smiles calming her rattled nerves. Jenna felt a sense of calm wash over her, as if the duo were somehow sending her the steadying energy she needed. She remembered Grandpa describing a scenario just like this one, where he was forced to confront a fear and Grandma helped him through it with no more than an encouraging smile from the sidelines.
With a deep breath, Jenna held up the book and smiled at the eager crowd as she opened it.
ChapterEleven
Cody
“Is this not the best caribou chili you’ve ever had?” Cody asked, moaning in delight between spoonfuls. He’d definitely miss Willamina’s specialty soups over the next three years. He wondered if he could lay on the charm thick enough to get her to send him some.
“Considering I’ve nevertriedcaribou until this moment, it’s the best one I’ve had, yes.” Jenna sprinkled a few soup crackers along the top, as she’d done a few bites ago. “What?” she asked when she caught him staring. “I like my crackers to crunch with every bite.”
Cody’s gaze lingered longer than he should let it, but he wasn’t thinking so clearly anymore. Not after yesterday’s kiss that still buzzed on his lips or watching Jenna crush that story hour. He had no idea she had such stage fright, but once she got into her element, she was dynamite. It was incredibly attractive to watch her come alive and share her passion with so many eager faces, young and old alike. Which was why he pulled out the folded paper from his pocket. His eyes needed something to distract them besides the stunning woman in the booth across from him before he did something rash like slide in beside her and steal another kiss for half the town to witness. “We only have three things left.”
“We’ve really done ten already?”
“Do you remember the first day, how you dreaded spending time with me?” He was sure to add an extra cheesy edge to his tone because it always made her smile wider.
She let out a soft, easy laugh. “You mean the day I caught you trespassing?”
“Well, there was that.” He recalled how inconvenient this whole bucket list business felt when it’d caught him off guard. He’d agreed to it for Eddie’s sake—and Jenna’s. But he wondered if the old man realized that Cody needed it, too. Or if he’d get a good chuckle to know how much Cody now wished they had twenty more things to do before he traveled south. “Admit it. You’ve enjoyed yourself.”
“Maybe a little.”
Cody dropped his spoon and it clattered against his nearly empty bowl. It turned a couple of heads, but he didn’t pay them any mind because his attention was solely reserved for Jenna. “You know Grandpa Eddie’s watching,” he said, pointing up. “I bet he’d say you’ve enjoyed yourself more than a little.”
