Page 29 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

Without Miss Cena there, I only had one reason to visit the place again, not that I was ready to. In fact, I might never be.

“Where are you off to?” my mom asked when I came downstairs and grabbed my coat off the rack.

“I’m having dinner with Ross Reynolds.”

She raised a brow.

“It’s just dinner. I made that perfectly clear.”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“Yeah, you did. I can read your mind.”

She shook her head. “My mind is completely blank. Nothing to read.”

I chuckled. My mom and I were alike in that our minds were never blank. We both overthought everything down to the most minute detail.

“He’s here,” I said when I saw his car pull in the driveway. I kissed her cheek and told her I’d see her later.

She waved as I shut the door behind me.

It didn’t take longbefore I realized the mistake I’d made. While I’d said I made it clearwe were only having dinner, Ross disregarded it entirely. He was acting as if we were dating again, and when I tried to address it, he responded as if I hadn’t said a word.

Finally, when I’d told him I was ready to leave at least three times and he just kept talking, I excused myself, left the table, got my coat from the rack, and walked out. I could’ve called my mom or brother to come and get me, but it wasn’t that long of a trek home and the weather was nice for the beginning of January.

I was about to turn off the main drag onto our street when I saw a black truck drive by. The Colorado plates confirmed it was Cord’s. Thankfully, it was dark enough that I doubted he saw me. Halfway down the first block, though, he pulled up beside me and stopped.

“Juniper?”

“Oh, hey, Cord.”

“What’re you doing out, walking in the cold?”

“It isn’t that cold.”

“Okay, what are you doing out, walking at this hour?”

I rolled my eyes. “You sound like my nana. It’s nine, not midnight.”

“Can you get in the truck? I was hoping we could talk.”

“It’s not a good idea. Besides, my house is right there.” I pointed at one a few doors down that was definitelynotmy house. Mine was still two blocks away.

He cut the engine and got out. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”

I knew he had. Who else did I know with a Colorado number? As far as trying to get in touch, he’d only called twice.

I shoved my hands in my coat pockets and sighed. “How are you, Cord?”

“I guess you heard Mrs. Covert passed away.”

I nodded. “Mrs. Miller called my mom.”

“I never got to meet her,” he said, looking down at the ground.

“Too bad. She was a nice lady.”

“Look, I don’t know what your uncle told you about that day in the tavern…”

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