Page 39 of Fern's Date with Destiny
The typing dots popped up immediately.
Cody: Miss you too, sweetheart.
Her heart did a little flip.After everything they’d gone through, after Ireland, after January, he made her feel as if someone had cracked her ribs open and tucked something warm and precious right against her heart.
Another bubble popped up.
Cody: Also…I have a favour to ask.
She straightened.“Hang on, girls.”
Three dots blinked, then vanished.Reappeared.She waited, thumb hovering.
Cody: My appointment for testing got moved up.It’s tomorrow.I know you’re with your sisters, but…
The dots paused.Fern’s chest squeezed.
Cody: You feel like sitting in boring reception rooms so I can hug you when the bullshit’s over?I’ll buy you dinner on the way home.
She didn’t hesitate.
Fern: Yes.Absolutely yes.
Cody: You sure?You don’t have to.
Fern: I WANT to.
She looked up to find Rose watching her knowingly while Tansy was blissfully preoccupied digging in her tote for a protein bar.
“Potential change of plans if you guys don’t mind,” Fern said carefully.“Cody’s going to be in town tomorrow.If you can drop me off at around ten, I’ll spend the day with him then we’ll ride home together.”
Rose’s brows arched then she looked away, expression smooth as glass.
Tansy popped her head back up, looking delighted.“Oh, fun.A Cody day.Convince him to buy some decent jeans.I swear he’s been wearing the same pair since last fall.”
Fern coughed to cover her laugh.“I think he has more than one pair.”
“You’re enabling him.”Tansy pointed accusingly.“I know wardrobe minimalism is a thing, but you’re a bad influence.”
Rose cleared her throat delicately.“Or a good one,” she murmured.
Fern shot her a look that saiddon’t you dare.
Rose just raised an innocent brow and sipped her coffee.
Tansy, oblivious, stretched out her legs.“Well, tell Cody hi for me.And that if he ever wants to offer me a prize, I’m game—sincesomeone—” she jabbed a dramatic thumb into her chest, “arranged and then graciously bowed out of the trail ride that was the start of the epic friendship between you two.”
Fern clutched her chest.“Are you still going on about that?”
“Yes,” Tansy deadpanned.“I am.”
Rose laughed quietly.“She’s never going to let that go.”
“Never,” Tansy confirmed cheerfully.
Saturday morning was bright with that clear, deceptive light that made the sidewalks look warm instead of brittle and minus twenty.
Fern hugged her sisters tightly on the curb outside the café where Cody said he’d meet her.
