“I bet you’re eager to get the keys to your grandpa’s cabin.”
“I am ready to unpack the trailer,” she admitted, still swaying with him as she watched the magical display overhead. He was right. It was fading. Soon, she suspected the lights would be gone. Maybe for an hour. Maybe for the night.
“I think they’re about done,” Cody said, noticing the dimming lights as well. “You better get some sleep.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead that made her skin tingle with delight. “Festival starts at nine. We have alotto see.”
“Do we really have to spendallday there?”
“There’s not another festival until spring. So, yes.” He cupped her cheek and drew her in for a gentle, sensual kiss that made her toes curl and her heart soar. She shouldn’t let it fill her with hope, but it did just the same.
“Cody?”
“C’mon. Let’s get you back. I’m fading fast.” He draped an arm over her shoulder and steered her down the path toward the lodge. “I’m going to need all my energy for the morning when my family discovers I brought Sadie home unannounced.”
It was late and they were both tired, so she forced herself to practice patience and didn’t press. Grandpa always told herlove will find a way when it’s true. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to work this out.
ChapterFourteen
Cody
“If Mr. Jenkins isn’t satisfied by the three thousand pictures we took at the Harvest Festival, I give up,” Jenna said with an easy laugh from the passenger seat of her truck. Cody was getting used to driving it, making him consider getting his own.
“The only thing we could’ve done to make it more convincing was to invite him to tag along.” Cody glanced in the rearview mirror at a happy-go-lucky Graham darting from one half-open window to another. The pup who was accustomed to riding shotgun now happily hopped in the back seat when he rode with both Jenna and Cody. He’d always loved dogs, but with his lifestyle, owning one wasn’t a possibility. Now, he couldn’t imagine hanging out in Maui without getting sneak-licked by the pup. “We hiteverybooth. Sampled every food vendor. Played all the games—twice.”
“Thank you for the stuffed moose, by the way—even if heisgreen.”
“Better than hot pink.”
Staying had never weighed heavier on his mind than it had today.
First, there was the family breakfast that could’ve aired as a pilot episode of a new reality show.Everyonehad an opinion about Sadie’s unexpected appearance at the table. For once, she resisted the typical urge to snap back at everyone. Well, everyone except Haylee. Those two might never see eye to eye.
But would Sadie’s path to maturity stay on course if he left? She struggled to commit to hard things, and he wouldn’t be around to guide her back on course should she stray.
Then there was Melly. Oh, his heart, that baby girl knew how to get him hook, line, and sinker. She had only to lock those sparkling eyes on him and giggle to melt his heart. He couldn’t stop thinking about missing her first steps. Could he teach her to sayCodyvia FaceTime?
Laurel and Chase had finally gotten to meet the little boy they hoped to adopt by Christmas. His sister was so excited to tell him all about his nephew who loved all things outdoors. But Cody didn’t want to wait three years to make good on his promise to take the kid fishing.
Then there was still the matter of Dad selling the store in the spring that bothered him. Never mind that Cody wasn’t interested in owning a store that’d anchor him in Sunset Ridge for certain. But maybe if he stuck around, he could help buy more time to figure out a family-oriented solution.
“A lot on your mind?” Jenna asked, her tone lighthearted enough toalmostfool him. But he was figuring her out better with each day they spent together. She was searching for answers about their future. Answers he would give her soon.
“Still have to pack up a few things,” he said, careful not to meet her assessing gaze. He wasn’t lying, but he wasn’t being completely forthcoming either. “Get a few things ready so my parents can mail them to me once I’m settled.” Though most of his things sat in his room ready to go, he’d put packing that final box to the last minute, blaming the bucket list. But deep down, he suspected he’d sensed the truth days ago. He didn’t want to leave. Not this time.
“How much time do we still have to kill?” Jenna asked when he hung out at a stop sign several moments longer than necessary.
“Fifteen minutes. Unless Haylee gives me the signal sooner.” He couldn’t have convinced Mom to abandon her surprise going-away party plans if he tried. The closer the event got, the more a radical idea tempted him. With everyone gathered in one place, he could announce he was staying.
His career would be over—Haylee would post about it on Instagram before he had a chance to call Holden with the news. His days traveling the globe for months at a time would be through. He’d have to stop running.
But he’d be home.
Home with his family.
Home with the woman he loved.
“Is that Haylee?” Jenna asked, pointing to his phone. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard the ping.
“Yep, that’s our cue.” He reached for her hand, squeezing it. All day, he’d been tempted to tell her the news. Tell her they had all the time in the world to finally spot Ed together and finish out the list. But he had to be one hundred percent sure before he breathed a word. It might be fun if Jenna was as surprised as everyone else.
