Page 70 of His One True Wish

“Chili and cornbread are almost ready,” Mason said. “You shouldmake sure you eat before you head out. I’m going to go check on my sous chefs.”

“Right, but I think my ride is missing,” I said, looking around the restaurant. Axl was gone. I walked past the booths, glancing to see if he’d changed spots. It’s not like we were a package deal. He could go wherever he wanted. I passed a couple working on a crossword. They were from out of town. They didn’t look familiar at all.

“Billie, is that you?” I turned to see Zoe Morgan, a local Smoke River girl, smiling at me.

“Hey!” I said.

She squealed and jumped to her feet. “I thought it was you. I hear Mason talking about checking on your family’s cabin, but I didn’t know you were here. How are you? Do you still live in Seattle?”

“Yeah,” I said, rocking back and forth on my feet. “Moved a few years ago, and I love it. I mean, I love it here, too, but I do love living in the city. I’m in property management. I have an apartment that I live in and run, and I’m hoping to take on some more properties this year. It’s pretty fun.”

Zoe had freckles and big gray eyes. She was my age and was one of those girls who made me envious of the year-round Smoke River girls. “Oh, you are so lucky,” she said, sighing. “My mom still does real estate. I’m working with her now. The market has been crazy here and all over the mountain.”

“Well, who wouldn’t want to live in Smoke River,” I said.

“Yeah, but this is not exactly a bustling metropolis,” she said. “I wish I could be brave like you and make a big life change.”

“Well, I don’t know if moving from Denver to Seattle is brave.”

“Sure it is,” she said, sighing.

“I’m surprised to see all these people here,” I said, nodding at the booths crammed with unfamiliar faces.

“I know,” she whispered. “This last year, air traffic has gone way up to Smoke River. Alfie was telling me all about it. Apparently, there has been very big interest from some Florida investment companies in our town.”

“From Florida? That’s oddly specific.”

“I know. Well, Alfie was saying that there is actually some interest in expanding the airport, adding another runway even.”

“Wow, a two-runway town. Can you imagine?”

“I know, right?” Zoe had a buzzing energy about her.

“Hey, babe.”

I looked up to see Alfie at our table. He held a tray with bowls of chili. “You want some? It’s pretty dang good.”

“Sure, babe,” Zoe said, eyebrows dancing.

Alfie set down the bowl. “Good to see you, Billie,” he said, and then he walked away, all tall, dark, and broody.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered. “You and Alfie.”

“He wore me down,” she said, both hands on the table. “He’s seven years younger. I know. Cradle-robber. Cougar. I don’t care what you call me. He is sweet as pie, wickedgood in bed, and he makes me happy. He makes mesohappy.”

“That’s great, Zoe,” I said, leaning back in the booth. “I’m happy for you two.”

I scanned the restaurant again, looking for Axl. I hated the feeling that I’d lost something. We were simply roommates right now, travel buddies, like people who decided to hang out in a foreign city for the day.

“How about you?” Zoe asked. “You have anyone special in Seattle?”

“No.” I sighed. “I just broke up with someone, and I’m taking a break from relationships for a while.”

“Well, I hear you,” Zoe said. “I was on a break with Pete for, like, the billionth time when Alfie cornered me at the Gold Digger. The boy was relentless, and I finally agreed to play darts with him and guess what … ?”

“He’s great at darts?”

“No, he’s terrible, but he was so sweet and so kind. He asked me out and offered to pick me up and drive me home, and you know what I realized?”

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