After they’d left her grandparents, Krista spent a bit of time with Joe, showing him around the campground, detailing the various jobs around the place like registering guests, splitting firewood, building maintenance, and general guest services. Joe caught on to everything as if he’d been a park ranger his whole life, fitting in more than perhaps she ever really had.
Kit turned, one hand on her hip, the other snapping a pair of tongs. “Okay, answer this truthfully. If he were staying—if he actually lived in Maple Falls—would you hook up with him?”
Krista hesitated, then sighed. “Probably not.”
“Exactly.” Kit clicked the tongs again for emphasis. “You’d say you’re too busy with the Hideaway, or your grandparents, or whatever else you pile onto that to-do list of yours. So, consider this a blessing. You’ve got a gorgeous man in your orbit and no long-term consequences. So, you had a hot kiss in your grandma’s attic? Great. Live a little.”
Krista smiled despite herself. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is simple.” Kit tasted the sauce, then nodded approvingly. “Look at me and Rebecca. Did it work out? Nope. But it got me out of my rut, and the sex was amazing.”
“Kit!”
“What?” she said innocently, tossing in the asparagus. “I’m just saying—it reminded me I’m still alive. You could use some of that. You’ve been carrying the world on your shoulders lately.”
Krista took a slow sip of wine. “It’s not like I’m a nun. I just…” She trailed off, searching for words. “It’s been a long time since I even thought about letting someone in.” It had been two years since she’d even casually dated someone. Krista thought that couldn’t be right, but when she did the mental math, she quickly realized two years was a woeful underestimate.
Kit softened, turning down the heat. “Yeah, I get it. Butsometimes it’s not about letting people in. Sometimes it’s just about letting yourself feel something good for once.”
Krista let the words settle. She could feel the warmth of the wine spreading through her chest, mingling with the smell of basil and toasted pine nuts. Joe’s face flickered in her mind—his quiet focus, the rough timbre of his laugh, the way he watched her like he was trying to understand her, from the inside out.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
Krista glanced down, expecting a text from the friend group chat or maybe her sister, Robyn. But it was her mother’s name that flashed across the screen.
The smile faded.
She didn’t answer.
Kit noticed but didn’t comment right away. The kitchen filled with the soft clatter of utensils and the hum of the vent fan. Finally, she said, “Everything okay?”
Krista sighed, tucking her phone face-down under her palm. “Yeah. Just…not in the mood for a lecture tonight.”
“Ah,” Kit said knowingly. “So, they still don’t know?”
Krista shook her head. “Not yet. I don’t think Robyn told them about me selling the Hideaway. But if she did, I’d rather not deal with the fallout until I’ve had more wine.”
Kit handed her a plate and sat across from her. “You’re not a disappointment, you know.”
Krista gave a small, humorless laugh. “Tell that to my mother. Yale still comes up every Thanksgiving.”
“Well,” Kit said, raising her glass, “to not being who they wanted—and being better for it.”
Krista clinked her glass lightly against Kit’s, smiling.
As they ate, conversation inevitably drifted back to Joe. Kit teased, Krista deflected, and somewhere between bites of pasta and sips of wine, she admitted to her friend that she wanted Joe. Maybe not forever. Maybe not even for long. But she wanted the way he made her feel seen again.
Krista told herself to have fun now and worry about tomorrow…tomorrow.
Mind made up, Krista picked up her phone.
Meet me at the Hideaway tomorrow morning at eight. I’m teaching you how to paddleboard.
They did rent paddleboards at the Hideaway, which required giving a quick tutorial to the customers. So, she had to make sure Joe was prepared. After that, they had a meeting with Elsie to go over the swap rules before the Hideaway opened at eleven. Ian was going to run the café so she and Joe could keep preparing for the swap, which would officially begin the following day, Friday. Krista didn’t know if she was more excited, or nervous.
A minute later, Joe replied.
Bossy teacher. I like it.
