Page 63 of The Promise Of Rain

The night was crisp and clear; the indigo sky freckled with a million dots of light.Without a whisp of wind, the cold cast a quiet over her little corner of the world.

I couldn’t enjoy the peace, not knowing if Jenny was still with me.

“There’s not enough light back here.”

Her soft blue eyes flashed up to mine.“It burnt out.I’ll get a replacement tomorrow.”

I grunted and wrapped my hand around her arm.“Parking lot needs more salt.”

She laughed softly.“What is it with you and salt?”

I opened the passenger side door and retorted, “What is it with you and not returning my calls?”

She sighed and slid into the truck.“We need to talk.”

“Damn right we do,” I slammed her door and stomped around to the driver’s side, taking a deep breath to calm my temper.

Temper?

No.

It was full out panic that she was calling us quits before we even got started.

I slid into the truck and turned the heat up on her side.“Are you warm enough?”

She nodded.

I drummed my thumb on the steering wheel as I pulled out onto the main road and drove toward Peppergrove.

“Where are we going?I’m not really dressed to go out—"

“If you need time, I’ll back off,” I blurted.“But I swear to God, Jenny, I’m staying here in Moose Lake.With you.Unless you convince me it’s never going to happen.”

“I don’t think it can,” she replied evenly.

Her hands clasped together tightly in her lap.

That’s not a no.She’s wavering.What else is going on?

“You and me, we’re inevitable,” I murmured.“You know it and so do I.”

“There are things you don’t know,” she blurted.

Ah, now we get to it.

“So, tell me!”I retorted, my patience running thin.

She shook her head.“I can’t.”

I huffed in exasperation.“Why not?”I yelled.

Her voice rose to meet mine as Moose Lake fell behind us.“Because they’re not my secrets to tell!”

“Do they have anything to do with what happened with Baxter and his father?”

“No,” she said, but her voice hitched.

When I glanced over, her eyes skittered away.