“Of everything you’ve said over this lunch, that one is the most unbelievable. Unless you’re watching a pond on a flatscreen from the comfort of his couch. Or, like, a TV showaboutfishing. Maybe then I’d believe it.” Haylee handed her card to Willamina. “You? Fishing?”
“It’s part of this turning a new leaf thing.”
“No, I’m pretty sure this is part of a falling in love thing.”
Because denying it just might be a lie, she didn’t.
12
CONNER
“Areyou sure you don’t want to borrow my fishing poles?” Edith insisted from her side of the backyard fence as Boomer ran zoomies. She’d already handed over a picnic basket filled with goodies for his date tonight. Chicken salad sandwiches, the best chips on the planet—Edith’s words—and homemade caramel brownies. And that was just what he’d seen before she closed the lid on him. “I have everything you need except fresh bait. Well, and the licenses. Suppose you’ll have to stop by Evans’ Outfitters for those.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“Honestly, my old poles need some love. They don’t get out much anymore.”
He liked the idea of having their own poles, but it might be wise to make sure they actually enjoyed the activity before investing a bunch of money in it. “Okay, you twisted my arm.”
“Thought you might say that. Everything you need’s outside my front door.” She reached over the fence to rub Boomer behind the ears when he assumed the position. She looked the pup in his big brown puppy-dog eyes and said, “Now, don’t capsize the boat.” A sparkle danced in her eyes. “Or do. That can be romantic too.”
Conner thanked her once more before she went inside, promising she’d make their Sunday evening walk. He hadn’t felt this good in . . . well, ever if he was being honest. Though he had some pleasant enough memories with Veronica if he fought not to let her true character taint them, he’d never felt this way with her. Hadn’t realized hecouldfeel this way until he finally let his walls drop with Sadie. It was like having the world at his fingertips, even if he still felt like a nervous schoolkid getting ready to pick up his crush for the prom.
“Let’s get loaded, buddy.”
Boomer bolted to the door, whining as if Conner wasn’t moving fast enough.
* * *
Sadie agreedto meet him at Evans’ Outfitters so they could get fishing licenses. It was only through a Google search and a quick conversation with Edith that he had any ideawhatthey could fish for tonight. Edith mentioned sockeye salmon, right before she hinted that they might not get all that much fishing in.
He thought it was because of it being so late.
Now, he knew better.
When he spotted Sadie behind the front counter, helping a customer check out, his entire body hummed with happiness. Or was it . . . more? It seemed too early to have fallen in love with her. Unless the feeling had been building all these months during Evans family dinners and run-ins in town that no longer felt so coincidental when he thought about it.
“Hey,” she greeted with a cute wave as the customer walked off. “You ready to get some fishing licenses?”
“Sign us up.”
She pulled out a binder. “I have to be honest about something,” Sadie said as they each filled out their information on separate cards.
“What’s that?”
“I haven’t been fishing since I was eleven. And I was terrible at it. So terrible in fact that my dad refused to ever take me again.”
“That’s not true,” Jerry Evans said, approaching them from behind the counter and dropping a hand on Sadie’s shoulder. Conner stiffened, wondering if he should’ve approached this date differently. Was Jerry old fashioned when it came to these things? Would he disapprove simply because Sadie and Marc had their differences? “You refused to come out again because the fish were too slimy.”
“Okay, that’s probably true,” Sadie admitted. She looked at Conner, her eyes still sparkling. Not a trace of worry about her dad being in audience. “I can’t promise I won’t have a repeat experience tonight.”
“You can count on it,” Jerry teased.
“Thanks, Dad!”
“Got everything you need?” Jerry asked Conner.
“Everything but bait.”
