Page 26 of Her Grumpy Lumberjack

“Yes.” I think of Chase waiting for me at his cabin, and it helps me find the courage to keep on talking. “I’m moving to Cherry Hollow and I’m going to try and be an author.”

Megan’s disbelief turns to concern. “Sienna, are you feeling okay?”

“I’m feeling better than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t understand. Is this a prank?”

“Megan, please listen to me,” I say desperately. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I’m not happy in Denver. I’m not happy working at Luminary. The publishing industry is your passion: it’s not mine and it never has been. You thrive in this hectic, stressful work environment, and that’s great, but I don’t.”

Megan sucks in a breath, massaging her temples like she has a headache. “Sienna, it’s not about the work. I know being an editorial assistant is stressful—I started at the bottom just like you. But if you keep working your way up, you can make great money.”

“I don’t care about making lots of money or living in a giant penthouse,” I tell her. “I don’t want the things you want, Megan. And that’s okay! But just because we want different things, that doesn’t mean my dreams are unimportant.”

My sister considers me, her usually perfect exterior looking a little ruffled as she chews on her lip, thinking hard.

“I just want you to have a good life,” she says eventually. “I want you to have everything you want.”

“I know.” I reach out to squeeze my sister’s slender hand. “And I love you for it. But the stuff I want can’t be bought.”

She sighs. “If you don’t want to work at Luminary, I can accept that. Maybe I pushed you too hard for this position. But quitting your job doesn’t mean you have to leave the city.”

“I know, but I want to. City life isn’t for me, Megan. I want something slower-paced.”

“Does all this have something to do with this mysterious man you met in the woods?” she asks, arching an eyebrow.

“Yes,” I admit. “I know you’ll think it’s crazy, but I want to be with him.”

“You’re quitting the city for this guy?”

“It’s not like that. Chase isn’t pressuring me to leave the city—I want to leave. That’s why I went to Aunt Carol’s cabin in the first place. I needed to get away.” I sigh, determined not to back down. “I’m not expecting you to agree with my decision. But I need to make my own choices, and this is what I’m choosing. This is what I believe will make me happy.”

Megan doesn’t speak for a long time. She looks at me, still worrying her lip with her perfect teeth.

“I think you’re making a mistake,” she says eventually. I open my mouth to argue, but she holds a hand up to stop me. “But maybe it’s about time I let you make your own mistakes.” She frowns. “If this is what you want, then I won’t stand in your way. I hope it makes you happy, Sienna, and I really hope I’m wrong about it being a mistake.”

It’s more than I could have hoped for. I knew my sister would never fully embrace my decision, but she’s finally taking a step back and letting me make my own choices. Hopefully, with time, she’ll see it wasn’t a mistake. She’ll see just how happy Chase makes me, and she’ll know I made the right call.

“Thank you, Megan,” I say, throwing my arms around my sister. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She pulls back to look at me, and I’m shocked to see tears welling in her eyes. I’ve never seen my sister cry before.”

“I’m going to miss you,” she says shakily.

“Oh, Megan…” I hug her tight. “We can visit each other all the time. I’ll only be a few hours away.”

She sniffs and nods, quickly composing herself. “Take care of yourself, okay? I want to meet this Chase guy as soon as possible. And don’t forget everything I said before about bears and wildcats.” She looks at me, her eyes full of sincerity. “But most of all, remember that you’ll always have a home with me in Denver, okay? I’m only a phone call away.”

“I know.” I smile at her, wiping a tear from my cheek. “Thank you. You’re the best big sister in the world.”

She laughs, smiling at me as she says, “That’s a very sweet lie, Sienna. But I’ll take it.”

12

CHASE

“Duke!” Ronan calls from the attic. “Turn on the faucet again.”

There’s the sound of running water from the bathroom as Duke turns it on. I abandon my work and peer through the bathroom door, relieved when I see the water is clear.

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