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“Yep, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
We’ve got bridesmaid errands to run and then our groupof friends is going to hang out at Daisy’s for dinner. Emberleigh hands me my pastry box and I lift the hinged section of the counter and walk out of the bakery.
The door isn’t even all the way shut behind me when my cell pings with a text. I set the bakery box on top of my car and pull my phone out of my messenger bag. My chest tightens, a warmth flooding me when I see Cody’s name on my screen.
Cody: How’s work?
Carli: Good. I just finished inspecting the community center and the bakery.
Cody: I’m smiling picturing you at work.
His next text is a picture of him smiling. He’s so gorgeous and his smile only amplifies his rugged good looks. His eyes crinkle up at the edges and a lock of his wavy hair is falling across his forehead in a way that makes my fingers itch to run through it.
I smile and snap a photo of myself and send it to him.
Cody: One day that’s going to be my screensaver.
Carli: I’ll send you a better one for that.
Cody: One of us together, maybe.
Carli: I’d have to see you in order to take a picture with you.
It’s been a few days since we’ve seen one another and that was only in passing when he dropped the lamps off for the piglets.
Cody: That’s what I was actually texting to ask you.
Carli: If we could take a picture together?
Cody: No. If you’re free tomorrow.
Carli: I’ve got stuff with McKenna in the late afternoon and evening. I don’t know how long it will run.
Cody: What about before that?
Carli: Helping Jace and Chet in the morning. But then I should be free for a while.
Cody: Free to take Lark out on a ride? I was thinking you could meet me by that gnarled white oak—the one where the fence started growing into the trunk. Does ten work?
Carli: Ten works. I’ll meet you there.
Cody: Great. Come hungry. I’m bringing a blanket and some food.
Carli: You already had me at horseback riding.
Cody: Does it help if I say I’m bringing chocolate?
I glance at the pastry box on the roof of my car.
Carli: You know I’m a sucker for chocolate.
Cody: I’m just doubling down to make sure you’ll come.
Carli: I’ll be there.
Cody: Nineteen hours—but who’s counting?
He sends a photo of himself looking at his wrist—no watch, but he’s tapping it as if there is.
