Page 34 of Fern's Date with Destiny
Fern tilted her head to study him, considering her answer.“Rose isn’t the type to tease.If she’d figured it out, she probably wouldn’t have said a word to Chance.She’s good at protecting people’s privacy.”
He pressed his lips to her temple, soft and sure in a way that still made her chest ache.“You should tell her.”
“What?”She reared back slightly, mock scandalized.“Break the rules of our bet?Never.”
He chuckled, but his eyes were warm.“Technically, I think I won the bet.No one knew by the end of September, but Chance had definitely figured it out in December.”
“Fine, you won,” she informed him primly.“But to not make it awkward, I’ll put out some feelers.See what my sister does or doesn’t know.”
“Tansy and Ivy too,” he added, all calm practicality.
Fern blinked.“You want me to spill to the whole family?Cody, Tansy is so distracted she wouldn’t notice if I moved to Peru.She’s got a new relationship.She’s hip deep running the food situation at High Water.She can barely remember where she left her phone.”
“And Ivy?”
“That’s just opening the floodgates,” Fern muttered.“If I tell Ivy, she'll tell Walker, who will tell his family, who are somehow related to or connected with half the town.That door can stay shut for a little longer.”
Cody’s brows knit together.“You’re sure this isn’t going to cause hurt feelings?”
“Nope.”She cupped his jaw, letting her thumb stroke the rough line of stubble.“I might get teased, but teasing in six months versus teasing now… It’s a win in my books.”
He leaned in to kiss her, soft and slow, like they were both remembering how good this was when it was simple.
Fern pulled back just enough to unlock her phone and fire off a text to Rose
Fern: Can I bring a date tomorrow night?
The typing dots appeared instantly.
Rose: That’s why we told you to bring Cody, silly girl.
Fern huffed a laugh, showing Cody the screen.“Well, that answers that question.”
He exhaled.“She knew?”
Fern’s phone buzzed again.
Rose: Chance can’t keep a secret to save his life.Once he started acting suspicious, it wasn’t hard to guess.But don’t worry.No one else knows unless you want them to.
Fern felt something unspool in her chest.Relief she hadn’t realized she was carrying.“So much for stealth mode.”
Cody still looked worried.“I don’t care who knows anymore.As long as you’re okay with it.”
She settled in closer, pressing her lips to the underside of his jaw.“I’m better than okay.”
They arrived at Rose and Chance’s place the next evening just after six.
Fern loved their house.It backed right onto her mom and dad’s yard.She’d grown up watching the big willow trees in the back sway over both properties as if they belonged to everyone.
The porch light glowed a welcome.She followed Cody up the steps, her heart a ridiculous combination of steady and nervous.
Rose met them at the door with a knowing smile.She hugged Fern first, then turned to Cody with that same soft affection she gave everyone she’d pulled into her wide circle of family.
“Come in, you two.”She pretended not to notice how Cody hovered closer to Fern’s side than usual.“Dinner’s almost ready.Chance is in the kitchen insisting he’s making the world’s best mashed potatoes.”
“Bold claim,” Fern teased as they stepped farther in.
Chance popped his head around the corner, wooden spoon in hand.“I heard that!”
