“I can’t go back there,” Sadie said between sniffles, panic dancing in her eyes as she practically crawled up the seat and reached for the road behind them. She was definitely the most dramatic Evans sibling, that was for certain. “No one will understand.”
“I might. If you start talking.”
“Will you turn around if I do?”
Cody stared straight ahead, because crocodile tears or not, he couldn’t stand to see them streaming down any woman’s cheeks—especially one of his sisters. He’d have to be coldhearted to do what was best for her right now. “No.”
“Take me to Maui with you,” Sadie begged between sobs. “Please, Cody.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I can’t go back to Sunset Ridge.”
“You can’t keep running from your problems. I’ve allowed you to do it for too long.” Cody’s tone was both calm and firm. Anger fizzled on the surface, but Sadie didn’t seem to notice how upset he truly was. Mostly, he was angry at himself for waiting so long to take drastic measure. All this time, he kept hoping Sadie would grow up on her own. “The longer you keep running from everything instead of facing it, the worse it’ll be.”
“You mean the same way you keep running away?” The snap in her tone might catch most people off guard, but Cody hardly blinked. Her temper and smart mouth were Sadie’s next line of defense. The same things that kept her in the hottest water with the rest of the family because, unlike Cody, they took everything she said personally.
“You have two choices,” Cody said, glancing back at Sadie through the rearview mirror. “I can sneak you into Mom and Dad’s tonight to get a good night’s sleep before you face them in the morning. Or, I can wake up the whole house when we get there and risk giving Mom a heart attack at the way you’re dressed.”
“It was for an office party,” Sadie snapped. Maybe this wasn’t the on-again-off-again boyfriend. Maybe this was something else. “Not that it matters anyway. I got fired.There. Are you happy? You’re dragging me back to the place I hate the most at my absolute lowest.”
“I love you, Sadie,” Cody said as he passed the last stoplight out of Anchorage and headed south. “But if you want me to keep being there for you, it’s time for you to grow up and do the right thing. Thehardthing.”
ChapterThirteen
Jenna
It was well after midnight when Jenna’s phone rang. Groggily, she reached toward the nightstand. It took her three attempts to successfully hit the answer button. “Hello?”
“Hey.” Cody’s gentle tone caused her heart to flutter. Suddenly, she wasn’t so tired. A sleepy Graham perked one ear from his spot on the edge of his bed, and her heart melted. Herdogloved Cody. How was that not a sign? “Sorry it’s so late.”
“Did you make it back?”
“Yeah, we’re home.” The way he said those words warmed her soul, though she knew better than to read into anything after the long day he had. Cody was likely tired and a sliver delirious. Sunset Ridge would likely always feel like home to him, even if it was only a home base.
“Is Sadie—”
“Snuck her inside to get some sleep before the family gets hold of her tomorrow morning. If you want to see the real show, join us for breakfast.” His chuckle was only half-hearted. Sadie’d need an ally and they both knew it. “Can you come outside?”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you were at home.”
“I’m out back. Behind the lodge.”
“Like some creepy stalker?” Jenna teased, slipping on a pair of fuzzy slippers and a hoodie. She glanced at Graham, but all he did was stretch with his eyes closed and roll onto his opposite side. The pup didn’t seem worried about her late-night rendezvous and, if she was being honest, she didn’t mind having Cody all to herself. “Should I be worried?”
“I promise it’ll be worth it. Just hurry up before it’s too late.”
Exhausted or not, Jenna didn’t dare waste what little time she had left with him. Never mind that every memory they created together would only make it that much harder to let him go. Or that every minute spent with him gave her hope that he might change his mind about leaving at all. “This better be nicer than the last surprise.”
“Oh, it is.”
She ended the call and left her cell on the nightstand. Quietly, she crept down the hall, traveling the same route she used to take Graham outside. Cody was waiting for her a few feet from the door, looking completely relaxed and not a bit worn out in his jeans and Carhartt jacket hanging open. “Hurry up, slowpoke.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but the gesture was pointless in the darkness. “What’s so special out here?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest when the frosty breeze cut through her sweatshirt.
