Page 29 of Fern's Date with Destiny
“Always.”She twisted her stylus between her fingers, heart picking up speed.“What’s up?If it’s about the promo?—”
“It’s not gallery stuff.”
Chance dragged a stool over, flipped it backward, and straddled it, arms folded over the backrest.He looked every inch a scruffy Irish artist.Paint under his fingernails, hair barely tamed by a halfhearted tie at his nape.
He didn’t look like a hammer blow, but that’s what his next words felt like .
“Cody’s gone home for Christmas.”
Fern stared.“Home— you mean Red Boot?Or Toronto?—”
Chance’s eyes softened.“Ireland.”
The stylus slipped from her fingers, clattering on her tablet.“What?When?”
“He flew out this morning.”
A rush of confusion and something cold crawled up her neck.“Why didn’t he say— I mean, he didn’t?—”
“He didn’t tell you,” Chance finished gently.“Aye.I told him he was a feckin’ eejit for it.For the record.”
She opened her mouth.Closed it again.
“For how long?”she asked, her voice smaller than she liked.
Chance shrugged one shoulder.“Didn’t say.Maybe a couple weeks.Maybe more.”
For a moment, the bright lights of the loft seemed to flicker.A pulse behind her eyes she blamed on the gallery lighting.She blinked until the room sharpened again.
“I thought—” She bit the inside of her cheek.You thought what, Fern?That he was too happy to leave you?She’d made a wrong assumption at some point.
Chance must have read every word of her silence.He reached across the desk, brushing his knuckles against hers.
“I’ve known for a while, you know.”
Her breath hitched.“Known what?”
“That you two are daft about each other.”His grin creased the corners of his eyes.“It’s not exactly subtle, little sister.Well, not to me, anyway.”
Fern laughed, except it cracked in the middle and turned into something watery.“Does Rose know?About us being daft?”
“No.Which surprises me because she’s usually more aware of things of the heart.”Chance gave Fern’s hand a gentle squeeze.“Your reasons to stay quiet are your reasons.Same for him.But I told him not to run.To fix whatever is wrong instead of hiding like a stubborn mule.”
She swallowed, her throat gone tight enough to hurt.“Why didn’t he say goodbye?”
Chance hesitated.
In that small moment of uncertainty, Fern had plenty of time to mentally list all the reasons Cody probably hadn’t willingly put words to.Pride.Fear.
That quiet, heavy need he had to carry the weight alone.
“Don’t exactly know, but he’s a good man,” Chance said softly.“Too good sometimes.Since you’re not acting as if you two had a row, it’s got to be something else.I’m pretty sure he loves you enough he thinks leaving is somehow protecting you.”
Love.There was a word they hadn’t even started to toss around, and yet…
She let the idea sink in, while outside, sleet hissed against the windows.
When she finally looked back at Chance, her voice was calm, but her heart banged around her ribs as if it wanted to leap straight across the ocean after his brother.
