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“It’s hard when I don’t have enough help to run the station to start with. I haven’t had a chance to put anything like that together. I’ve talked to Jackson about it a few times, but without rangers to help…” He can’t expand on the programs which would bring in a bigger budget to hire more rangers.
I look to Jem again who’s holding Rhett’s hanky and smiling at something he’s whispering to her, and a sinking feeling starts in my gut.
I’m going to take my dad up on his job offer, which means moving home.
But if I do that, I’m going to lose the woman who brought me home in the first place.
14
JEM
After the emotionally charged scene in the barn, Boone’s quiet as we make our way upstairs to our room for bed. He hasn’t said much to me, but I have a feeling I know where his thoughts are. Now that he’s home, with his family and learning about the struggles of the local ranger station, I’d bet every dollar I have saved for my coffee shop that he’s going to take his dad up on the offer for a job.
And I’m torn about it. I’m so happy for him—that he’s reconciling with his family, that he’ll be closer to them—but worried about what this might mean for us.
The whole start of our relationship has been a whirlwind. Me getting stuck in the snow and him saving me like I’m a damsel in distress. Getting to know him and really see him. I’m falling faster than my old childhood fear of quicksand sucking me down.
But where does him moving back here leave me? Leave us?
Everette isn’t too far from Felt. It’s about two hours, so that would leave us with weekends that I’m off work. We could try the long-distance thing, but I don’t even know if Boone would want to.
“You okay?” he asks, like he wasn’t the one that just had a heavy heart-to-heart with six members of his family. We reach the landing at the top of the stairs and I turn to him, running my hand down his arm, because I just want to touch him. To use him as an anchor.
“I’m fine. How are you?” I ask.
He nods. “It feels good to have it all out there.”
I smile. “That’s good. I’m glad that you and your brothers talked. Even if I was worried that one of you was going to start swinging.”
He shakes his head, chuckling. “We save punching each other for more serious offenses.”
“And you not coming home for years doesn’t count?”
“Nah. It’s more like when Rhett eats all of the cereal, or Jedd leaving grease stains all over the counters after work.”
“Oh, so only the gravest of offenses,” I deadpan.
We clear the threshold to the room we’re staying in and Boone pulls me into his arms. “You got it.”
It feels so right to be held by him. To have his arms wrapped around me. When he presses his lips to mine in a kiss, I want to stay here forever. Just the two of us in a bubble of our own making.
“I’m going to shower. I’d offer for you to join me…”
I shake my head. I’m not uncomfortable with the thought of seeing him naked and wet in the same house as his family—we’re adults after all—but I need a few minutes to find my equilibrium and think.
“You go ahead. I’m going to get into my pajamas.” I showered this morning before changing for my shift at the bakery so I’m good.
He drops a kiss to my forehead. “Okay. Be right back.” After snagging his toiletries and a change of clothes, he disappears out of the room.
I grab my own pajamas, a sleep shirt and shorts, and change before climbing onto the bed and blowing out a breath.
He’s going to take the job. I know it. I don’t want this—want me—to impact his decision there, but I don’t want to end whatever it is that we started on a snowy night in his cabin. Which only leaves me with one option. Convince him to give us a shot at long distance.
But what about your coffee shop? You guys can’t be long distance forever.
The thought isn’t a welcome one, even though it’s true. One of us is going to have to go to the other eventually, if this thing between us turns serious. And while I want him to be close to his family, it’s not easy to just up and move a whole business.
Eventually I’m going to find the right retail space. Eventually I’m going to open my shop. I’m just waiting until the perfect property becomes available.
