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“No. I like it this way.” Caroline wiggles her eyebrows at him and sips her drink, somehow not even flinching from the heat.
She shifts her focus to Jake. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? Last time we met, you were so busy pretending I didn’t exist I think you might not remember me.”
Jake’s jaw clenches. “I wasn’t–I”
Now Jesse tilts his head. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong with me. She’s your sister,” he says, gesturing as if that explains absolutely everything.
Both men share a very confusing look, then Caroline rolls her eyes.
“Speaking of sisters,” she says. “Jesse told me he wasn’t allowed to so much as think about your sister. Now it sounds like she’s practicing the extreme sport of water bed diving with him at his cabin. What changed there?”
Jake shoots Jesse a look.
“Those were not the words I used in my text,” Jesse says. “I just wanted her to know what she was about to get dragged into.”
“What is she getting dragged into, exactly?” Jake asks. There’s a warning note in his voice.
“A cranky big brother who thinks I’m trying to take advantage of his little sister? A ball of sunshine who wants work? Am I missing anything?”
“Just the teammate who thought it was a good idea to let my half naked sister climb into his stupid waterbed.”
“Anyway,” Caroline says. She’s younger than all of us, but I’m impressed with the air of command in her voice. She’s used to getting order and control when she wants it. I can see how this small woman could practically run things in Frosty Harbor now. “So it seems like you’re hoping to stay in town for a little while, Andi. Is that right?”
I suddenly feel like I’m being interviewed. “If that’s okay?” I ask.
“Oh, of course. So long as you pass my tests. Now listen very carefully.” Caroline’s eyes bulge and she leans closer. Jesse puts his palm to his forehead and sighs. “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “African or European?”
Caroline pops out of her seat and claps excitedly. “You pass!”
Jake and Jesse both lift their palms, absolutely baffled. “What the hell was that?” Jesse asks.
“You obviously don’t get it,” Caroline says. “But Andi is a woman of culture. She gets it, so she’s in. So says I and so it be!”
I give Jake a double thumbs up, but he’s too busy watching Caroline with a strange expression. My oh my, he certainly does have a crush.
“Well, newest Frosty Harboran,” Caroline says, sitting back down. “Jesse told me you were looking for work. How long do you think you’ll be staying in town?”
“Weeks? Months?” I say. “I mean, permanently is possible too. Who knows?”
“You’re not seriously considering staying here permanently,” Jake says. “You don’t even know how to ski.”
I narrow my eyes. “So? It would be fun to learn. Jesse could teach me.”
“I’m sure I could find you a good coach,” Jesse says quickly. “If you do decide to stay,” he adds.
Jake looks like he’s torn between saying something or not, and eventually decides to take an aggressive sip of his drink. “If she stays, it can’t be at your cabin,” Jake adds.
“I know,” I say. “I don’t want to put Jesse out like that. I want to find a job so I can pay him back and then maybe put down a deposit for a place of my own.”
“Pay him back?” Jake asks. “For what?”
“It’s nothing–” Jesse starts.
“Well,” I say. “I just needed some… stuff. Jesse lent me money and I want to make sure I pay him back.”
