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She’s standing at my shoulder, using one hand to hold some holly berries in place while the glue sets.

“I told him ‘Sorry, bruh, but you better get cookin’ if you wanna pass this class. No cap.’”

Ivy rolls her eyes so hard, and she and Beth dissolve into giggles.

Beth rests her head on my shoulder, closes her eyes, and continues to laugh.

And in this moment, everything is so . . . good. So right.

I’ve missed this. I stayed away from Dasher Valley, first because of the show, which by extension helped my mom. Then, because I was chasing the dream. I was hustling. I thought it’s what I had to do. But I need to find a better balance between working and taking time for the people I care about.

To be here. To be with friends. To be joyful. I want to freeze time. I want to memorialize this moment in a song. I want—so many things.

Number one being the woman who feels so close, and yet so far away.

Tonight taught me to hope. Beth is comfortable with me; there’s no denying that. The longer we spend side by side, the better I feel about our friendship’s footing.

Maybe eventually she’ll agree to try for something more. If these are the moments I get in the meantime, then I’m okay with that.

“Ta-da!” Beth takes her hand off the holly berries and hoists up the wreath she helped me complete. “What do we think?” She shows it off to the rest of the crafters. “It was touch and go there, for a minute, but this is good, right?”

“Well done, Gabe!” Patrice beams from across the table. “Elena will be so proud.”

I look over at Beth, who smiles at me. I wink at her, and a pretty blush blooms on her cheeks.

And who woulda thought, but craft night went from being a danger zone to my new favorite place to be.

Chapter 17

Beth

Snow is falling in soft waves from a gray sky as I pull into the McKenzie driveway on Thursday morning. I grin like a goofball when I see the wreath Gabe and I worked on last night hanging proudly on the front door.

I was shocked Gabe came to craft night—even more shocked he wanted to apologize. It was silly, really. He’d done nothing wrong. He picked up on how I was feeling, though. There’s something liberating and exhilarating in having someone in tune with you in that way. I didn’t even voice my emotions, but Gabe was already trying to understand—to make it all better.

A girl could get used to that.

Gabe walks out of his mom’s garage and closes the door before shuffling toward my idling car.

He’s wearing a red-and-black flannel shirt. I can see it peeking out from beneath his black puffy coat. With his brown work boots finishing off the look, he’s giving professional lumberjack rather than professional musician.

If only.

As amazing as it’s been to be Gabe’s friend again, I’m teetering on the edge of dangerous territory. I can’t let myself forget that his life isn’t here in Dasher Valley. His life is in the fast lane. The same fast lane that stole my parents from me. Gabe and his superstar status aren’t what I want. Even if he does make one sexy lumberjack.

He tugs the handle on the passenger side of my car. The door sticks with the icy buildup of the night, but he gets it open. Let it be known that the winter elements are no match for Gabe McKenzie’s biceps.

“Morning.” There’s a smile in his voice that’s like a shot of espresso to my veins.

“Someone’s chipper today.” I glance in my rearview mirror before backing out. “Where am I headed?”

“Go right then straight,” he instructs, before adding, “There’s snow on the ground.”

I look over at him, and his expression of boyish glee is so charming it makes my breath hitch.

Sexy and charming. A lethal combination if I’ve ever heard of one.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I say with a chuckle.