Twisted Up (Taking Chances #1) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,110

the many Washington, DC, numbers that had been calling him over the past two weeks.

His new boss answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Ryan, it’s Jake Mitchell.”

The MRI showed no major soft-tissue damage. Dillon told her she’d be sore for a few days, he wanted her in the arm sling for a while, and he wanted her to talk to a physical therapist about some stability exercises, but she was going to make a full recovery.

Avery wondered if he had any suggestions for her broken heart.

She was so conflicted. She was happy for Jake. And of course he’d gotten the job with FEMA. He’d be perfect for that job. Thousands of people were going to be better off because Jake Mitchell was moving to Washington, DC.

But the selfish part of her heart hurt.

She wanted him here, with her. Forever.

Avery let Heidi and Wes fuss over her and tuck her into the backseat of their car and even buy her ice cream.

She knew it made them feel better to be doing those things for her—their son came by his need to serve others naturally. And she didn’t have the energy for doing anything for herself that she didn’t have to do. She had to admit it felt good to be fussed over. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had wanted to take care of her.

Other than Jake.

But if it couldn’t be him, maybe his mom and dad were a good substitute.

Even as she thought it, though, she almost laughed. Ten years ago she’d thought she’d made up her feelings for Jake because in actuality she’d wanted his family. This time she was under no such delusions. Her feelings for Jake were all about Jake. Even some of her feelings for Heidi and Wes were about Jake.

Sleepy from the pain meds Dillon had insisted she needed for at least one night, and from the sheer emotion and adrenaline of the evening, Avery simply sat back in the seat and let her mind wander.

“Are there any direct flights from Omaha to Washington, DC?” Avery asked after a few minutes.

“Washington, DC?” Wes asked. “Why do you ask?”

“I might go visit Jake,” she said. “Or I could move there.”

Heidi turned in her seat. “Move there?”

Oh, had she said that part out loud? But she nodded. She felt like her thoughts were coming a little slow, thanks to the meds, but they were clear. She wanted to be where Jake was. “I can be a firefighter anywhere. Jake can only be . . . Jake . . . in DC.”

“And you want to be with Jake?” Heidi asked with a smile.

“Yes. For sure. If he wants me to be with him,” she added with a frown. Jake hadn’t asked her to go with him. But that didn’t matter, did it?

“He wants you to be with him, sweetie,” Heidi told her.

“I don’t know,” Avery said, shaking her head and feeling a little dizzy from the motion. “He didn’t say that.”

“Well,” Heidi said, glancing at her husband, “Jake is more of a doer in a lot of ways.”

Avery wasn’t sure what Heidi meant by that. Then she got distracted as she realized that Wes wasn’t driving toward her house. He was headed out of town.

“Where are we going?”

“We have to show you something.” Heidi looked back at her. “Two somethings, actually.”

Oh, no. “Is the farm a mess again?” They were headed that way, and Avery prayed everything was still intact and ready for the Bronsons’ visit.

“The farm is fine, actually,” Wes reported. “Some leaves and branches down. Already cleaned up.”

Thank God. “Then what?”

Her phone buzzed in her pocket before they could answer.

Maybe it was Jake. She pulled it out quickly.

The text wasn’t from Jake.

It was from Bree.

Is Jake leaving?

Avery felt her heart squeeze. Oh, she was so not ready for this. Why do you ask? she texted back.

But the next message was from Kit. Did I see Jake head out of town with his truck packed up?

Avery felt a little dizzy again, and this time she hadn’t moved her head. No. No, Jake couldn’t be leaving. Not tonight. Not like this. Not without saying good-bye.

She felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes.

She blinked and looked up to see that they were, indeed, driving to Montgomery Farms. The farm looked better than it ever had. In preparation for the welcome party for the Bronsons, the trees around the main drive were wrapped in twinkle lights. There was a huge plastic banner across the main barn that read WELCOME