Jenna took the presentation clicker from Sadie with shaky hands and darted down the hall. She didn’t need the rest spelled out. She and Cody would be happy for a short time before resentment took over. He’d always wonder if he should’ve gone to Maui and what he gave up because he didn’t. She wasn’t going to stand in someone else’s way of their dreams and live with that guilt. Not ever again.
“I thought you got lost!” Haylee said, yanking the clicker from Jenna’s hand in the kitchen upstairs. “The movie was about to start, but the alarm went off at the store and Dad had to go check it out. Now we have to wait until he gets back.”
“Sorry I took—”
“It’s fine, seriously.” Haylee’s reassuring smile gave Jenna hope that she might still have allies in the Evans clan after what she was about to do.Maybe.
“I’ll meet you outside,” Jenna said, waving Haylee on.
She waited until she heard the creaking on the stairs warning her Sadie was following her before she forced herself outside.
Jenna wove her way through the crowd, but didn’t know where she was going. She felt sick to her stomach. All day long, she’d gotten the distinct impression that Cody wanted to stay in Sunset Ridge, even though he never came out and said it. It was in the half-hearted ways he talked about packing and being on the set. In the way his eyes lit up talking about his new nephew he couldn’t wait to take fishing. In the way he kept sending his booking agent to voicemail.
But what if Sadie was right?
What if he onlythoughthe’d be happy here when in reality he’d be miserable two months down the road? Could she live with that guilt, knowing she was the reason he forfeited not just a chance at a boatload of money, but his entire career? She knew enough about the entertainment industry from her grandpa’s stories to know that one unpopular decision could blacklist you from future work. If he gave up this gig to stay with her, he’d give up everything he loved without the possibility of getting it back.
“Ms. Kingsley, lovely to see you here tonight.” Jenna looked up to find Mr. Jenkins standing directly in front of her. Another couple of steps and she’d have plowed right into him and spilled his drink all over his suit.
“Mr. Jenkins, hey.”
“How are you and Cody coming on that list? I’ve been combing the document for loopholes, but—”
“We just finished it tonight.”This feels like a sign.
“You did?”
“I have some of the pictures, but Cody has the rest on his phone.” As if speaking his name had summoned him, Cody appeared beside her. Her heart thundered in her chest, as if angered at what she was about to do.You’re doing this because you love him. Love is about sacrifice. That’s what Grandpa always said.
“Mr. Jenkins, just the man I was hoping to run into tonight. Jenna’s ready for those cabin keys as soon as you can squeeze us in.”
“Considering you’re leaving tomorrow, why don’t we meet down there tonight? Shouldn’t take long if you two have all the photos?”
“There’s no need to rush—”
“Tonight would be great. The sooner the better.” It took everything she had to shove down her true feelings and mask them with the same icy demeanor she’d used as armor when she first arrived in Sunset Ridge. But it was a necessary evil if she wanted Cody to believe she didn’t care about him.
“I thought the beds at the lodge were crazy comfortable,” Cody teased.
They were. “This has always been about me getting my grandpa’s cabin, Cody. Nothing more.” It was only because she’d spent years steeling her emotions with Whitney that she could pull it off now as hurt and confusion swam in those sea-green eyes. “I appreciate your help. I’m not going to waste another minute of your time. Let’s get this over with so you can go to Maui, and I can get into my grandpa’s cabin.”
“Jenna, can we talk?” Cody asked, reaching for her elbow.
She pulled it away because his touch would make her lose her nerve. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Actually, thereis.”
Jenna sensed curious eavesdroppers. As much as she yearned to do this in private, a public declaration would be more believable. It might be the only reason he got on that plane tomorrow. “We both knew what this was, Cody. It was never going to be anything. You were always leaving—”
“What if I stayed?”
“I don’t want you to stay.” Her raised voice turned the heads she needed. It took every ounce of willpower to pretend her heart wasn’t shattering to do it. “I never wanted you to stay, don’t you get that? This was only ever about the list.”
Finally, Cody stood mute.
“Please come with me to the lawyer’s office so we can be done with this prison sentence and both move on with our lives.” She marched off, hardly able to keep up her icy façade. In the truck, she nearly broke down. But the tears would have to wait until she had those keys in hand. Once their task was legally complete, she could run and hide away in that cabin until he left Sunset Ridge. Maybe longer.
ChapterSixteen
