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Dad tossed his napkin onto his empty plate and pushed his chair back from the table. With a quick glance at Finn, he blew out a breath. “I guess we have to do it now, don’t we?” he said. “We’ve got a wedding to plan.” He pointed at Finn, who pointed back with a smile.

“And Hattie?” Dad looked at me. “. . . not bad.”

A “not bad” from Dad was like a treasure chest full of priceless gems.

Now, I look at Noble, who’d listened to the entire story with genuine interest, like he was invested even though he knew the outcome.

“That was months ago, and it felt like I had all the time in the world,” I say, shifting in my chair. “Now, everything is happening in less than two weeks.” I wince. “It’s getting real.”

He reaches over and squeezes my hand. Every nerve in my body rushes to the point of contact, and my brain packs up and goes on vacation.

“You’ve got this, Hattie,” he says. He squeezes it again, then pulls it back.

Like a friend.

I drop my hand into my lap and cover it with the other one so it doesn’t catch fire and send the entire lodge up in flames.

“Well, I hope so,” I say, willing myself to act normal, Hattie, for the love of Pete. “Because I sunk my entire savings into it.”

“Ah, right, the ‘no handouts’ rule,” he says. “I forgot about that one.”

“Ranks right up there with the ‘no naked outdoor shower’ rule,” I say, laughing. “That one was for Rowe and she didn’t even know what she was doing was wrong.”

“Or the ‘no shared blankets during movie night’ rule,” he says.

“Funny they repeated that one a lot to Boone.” I flash him a quick smile. “They only had to tell me once.”

He laughs. “Man, I’ve missed—” his eyes drop onto mine and linger there, and I’m faintly aware that I’m holding my breath. But then, he looks away and says, “this. I’ve really missed this.” He’s staring out at the dock, and I tell myself he’s talking about the view and the ranch.

But I really don’t want to believe he’s talking about the view and the ranch.

The thought is there and gone in a flash, and I push it away.

A part of me wants to forgive and forget and move on—but the hurt part of me is too loud, too strong, and still making some really good points.

I have a feeling it’s going to be two full weeks before I finally feel normal again.

Chapter Seven

Noble

I’ve missed you.

Why didn’t I just say that?

It’s not a big deal. I did miss Hattie. I missed all of them.

Part of me feels like I never left. It’s so easy to slip right back into old rhythms. But other parts of me feel like I’m a total outcast.

But on that patio, looking out over the lake, her sitting beside me, everything felt right. That unsettled feeling that I’ve been carrying around with me all these years wasn’t there anymore. For the first time since I left Silverwood when I was nineteen, I felt completely at peace.

Maybe it’s the lake. Or the trees. Or this lodge.

Or maybe it’s her.

What a stupid thought to have about a woman who can barely stand to be in the same room with me. I knew I had my work cut out for me, making things right with this family and this place, but I think I’d underestimated just how hard it was going to be to bring her around.

Not that I’m giving up. I screwed them all over, and I’m starting to see she might’ve taken my leaving the hardest.