Chapter 23 Why Not?
Why Not?
The pointed toe of my pink cowgirl boot taps against the hardwood of the Alpine Rose in time with the beat of an old country song. I plaster a smile I hope looks real onto my face as Codie makes her way through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd to the tall table I’m standing next to.
It’s a miracle we even got in tonight. If we’d been ten minutes later, we would be stuck in the line that is now starting to snake around the block past the coffee shop next door.
Despite there being a whole town to explore, it seems I’ve been stuck to this block during my time here.
There’s a bar, a coffee shop, and a bookstore all within feet of each other.
What else does a girl need?
“Damn, this place is hopping tonight,” Codie says on a laugh. She sets down a beer for her and a whiskey sour for me onto the table. Clinking our glasses together in a quick ‘cheers,’ we turn to survey the crowd.
“Especially for a Tuesday night,” I nod. A whiff of honey catches my nose, putting another smile on my face. This time for real.
I didn’t want to go out tonight. But when Codie offered to pick me up from the ranch, I couldn’t exactly say no. It’s not like I have any excuses not to. But now that I’m here, I’m glad I came.
I’ve gotten comfortable in this place, as much as I don’t want to admit it. It feels homey. I’ve fallen into a routine with work, morning runs, the coffee maker in my cabin, texting Codie about the books we’re reading. Even this little cowboy bar in town.
“How’s your big project coming along? Any new developments since we were there?” Codie asks. Her fringe suede jacket brushes up against the table as she reaches for a toothpick from a little red cowboy boot in the center.
“Just doing the finish work. I should be done with door trim and window sills in the next two weeks, then the crew will be back to help out with the rest. It’s starting to look like a B and B.
” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do about the floor, though.
Miles was working on it, but he hasn’t been back all week.
I’ll have to talk to the crew. It might take some extra time. ”
Codie’s jade eyes sparkle as she takes another swig of her beer.
She has always been so easy to talk to, since that first day we met.
Something about the way her eyes crinkle at the sides when she smiles makes you feel like you’ve known her for years.
“Well, I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m pretty stoked you’ll be trapped with us for a little while longer. ”
“I’m not mad about it, I really like this place,” I laugh.
“What happened with Miles? I thought you guys were getting along pretty well,” she asks.
“We were. Or at least, I thought we were. We spent a lot of time together while he was at the cabin fixing the floors. On the Fourth of July, we ended up at the cabin during the fireworks, and we kind of… kissed.” I duck my head down, hoping she doesn’t see me blush.
“What? You’ve been holding out on me! You kissed Miles Autry? Oh my god! Was it good? I’ve always thought he’s gotta be a good kisser.” She nudges me in the arm, eyes wide and a huge grin on her face.
“It was great. That’s the problem. I’m not really a stick-around type of gal. I’m getting too attached.”
“It must have been some kiss if you’re already attached to him, hot damn,” Codie laughs.
“Well it wasn’t exactly our first kiss,” I mutter.
“You kissed him before? When?” Her jaw hangs open.
“Four years ago.” I launch into an abridged version of the story of our one night stand.
Meeting Miles at the bar in Utah, taking him back to my room, the best sex of my life, leaving in the morning and him never calling.
Then, seeing him again at Lone Pine Ranch.
Miles immediately hating me, bickering with me over every little thing. How much he’s changed over the years.
She listens the entire time, not interrupting except for a few gasps and chuckles. She’s just as good a listener as Hazel. My heart squeezes when I think about how much I miss her, how I wish she was here to meet Codie.
“I’m kind of glad he left right after we kissed. He must have realized it was a bad idea. Honestly, it’s just what I needed to feel better about leaving. I was getting too attached to him and this place,” I lie.
“Yeah, I guess so…” Codie trails off, looking at me like I just kicked a puppy.
“What’s that face for?” I ask.
“Well, it’s just…” she pauses, her face scrunched in thought. “It just seems like it’s meant to be, you know? You find this guy after four years, and you have a chance to fall in love all over again. And he’s into you too. I guess I’m just a hopeless romantic.”
“My best friend Hazel is a hopeless romantic too,” I giggle. “I’m more of a realist. I’m going to have to leave at the end of the summer. He knows that, I know that. There’s no reason to get involved in something that can never happen.”
“Why?” Codie’s eyes go wide in wonder.
“Why, what?”
“Why do you have to leave at the end of the summer?”
“Because I live in Idaho. I can’t just move to Wyoming,” I say.
“Why not? You said yourself that Idaho doesn’t feel like your permanent home. Your only family there moved away, and you can work from home. Plus, it’s only like, three hours away,” she shrugs. Presenting me with an option to move away like it’s not life-changing.
I don’t want to admit it, but what she’s saying does make a lot of sense.
After Aunt Millie moved away, there’s really not a lot left for me in Juniper Ridge.
Hazel is busier now than ever with her family’s dude ranch, and I don’t really have anyone else.
I can visit her whenever I want to, we don’t have to be neighbors. We’ll always be best friends.
I’ve been thinking about moving somewhere new. Starting fresh. I’m just not sure where I’d go. It’d have to be somewhere I could still do my job. I’m not willing to let that go. But I always thought it’d be a place MacPherson Enterprises sent me to live in, or somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.
I’d never move back east near my family. That ship sailed far, far away when they sent me away. I love the west way too much now.
Even so, staying here after one job in Wyoming seems like too much of a leap.
I don’t even know the first thing about living here.
Bed and breakfast laws? I’ve got those down.
The history of Jackson Hole? I could write a book.
What to do for tourists in every season?
I can give a hundred suggestions based on my research.
But staying? Living in Wyoming? It seems too far-fetched.
“I can’t move here,” I laugh.
“I think you can,” she sing-songs. “And I know a cowboy that could keep you company.”
“Stop it,” I laugh, nudging her shoulder. “Cowboys aren’t my type. Besides, I’m not a relationship girl. Never will be.”
“I’m just saying, I think it’s worth a shot. What do you have to lose?”
My dignity if it doesn’t work out here. My confidence in moving anywhere else. Juniper Ridge, the only place I’ve ever felt even a little bit comfortable.
Miles presents a whole other set of problems. He can never be more than a crush. We had our one night together. It can never be more than that. I’m not built for relationships. Not with my upbringing. We’d both get hurt, and my living here would only make that infinitely more complicated.
“Either way, I don’t think you should let Miles push you away. From what I’ve observed, he’s the type to retreat. I think you should go for it. The worst that could happen is you go back to being grumpy towards each other again,” Codie raises her eyebrows at me, driving her point home.
“I don’t have any extra time to invest in figuring out the jigsaw puzzle that is Miles Autry,” I scoff.
I lift the cold glass to my lips, tossing back the rest of my drink before taking Codie’s hand and pulling her towards the dartboards in the back corner of the bar.
The light is lower back here, glowing orange from an old stained glass pendant light that’s probably older than I am.
“Come on, I want to kick your ass in darts.”
“Good luck,” she laughs.