Is It Any Wonder (Nantucket Love Story #2) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,123

and all of it—every single bit—revolved around what her life had always revolved around: making as much magic as possible for other people.

With that, she’d gotten the idea for her nonprofit, not unlike the one Maggie used to talk about starting. The Good Life would expand to include a branch that would grant wishes to families in need. Vacations for local heroes, cancer patients and survivors, single parents—people who could never afford the island on their own would be spoiled for days. She’d partner with local businesses to bring slivers of goodness to her clients, and those clients wouldn’t have to pay a dime.

She contacted Make-A-Wish and organizations that specialized in helping abused women rebuild their lives. She reached out to other nonprofits and shared her plans with them. And now, sitting at her desk across from Ally and McKenzie, she laid the whole thing out for one of the island’s most influential bloggers.

“I assume you’re telling me all this so I’ll write about it,” she said when Louisa had finished her pitch.

Louisa forced a smile. “I was hoping you’d find it newsworthy.”

“Nervy since you stole Cody Boggs away from me, but it’s good karma, so I’ll do a piece on it.”

“I didn’t steal anyone.” Louisa ignored Ally’s wide eyes that seemed to say, Chill out—we need her. “In case you haven’t noticed, Cody and I aren’t together.”

“You’re not doing long-distance?” McKenzie tossed her long, wavy locks over her shoulder, lips puckered in surprise.

“Long-distance?”

“I just assumed that you’d figure out a way to make his transfer work.” She shrugged. “Charlie said the guys are all bummed about it. I guess your boyfriend is pretty good at his job.”

Transfer?

McKenzie slipped her pink padfolio into her sleek black bag and met Louisa’s eyes. She must’ve found confusion on Louisa’s face because in an instant, the blonde’s expression changed. “Oh. You didn’t know.”

Ally stood. “Of course she knew. She just doesn’t like talking about it. Thanks so much, McKenzie. We’ve given you all the details, the printouts, the launch plan, but please let us know if you have any more questions.”

Louisa sat, unable to move.

“I’ll be in touch, girls.” McKenzie strolled toward the door but turned before exiting. “For what it’s worth, Louisa, I think he really did love you.”

Louisa bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. It must be really bad if McKenzie Palmer was being nice to her.

“Thanks, McKenzie.” Ally opened the door and practically pushed the other woman out. She turned back and faced Louisa, who couldn’t keep the tears inside for another moment.

“Oh, Lou,” Ally said. “I’m so, so sorry.”

It was stupid. She knew it was stupid. Of course he’d requested a transfer—he never wanted to be there in the first place. But knowing he was already gone—it felt like he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

He’d left without a single word. Just like last time.

She wiped her cheeks dry, but the tears kept falling. Ally reached across the desk and took Louisa’s hands. “Ice cream?”

Louisa took a deep breath. “I guess so. Tomorrow is my birthday, after all.”

But the words only made everything worse.

Her golden birthday. Their golden birthday. She’d already written out her wish—only one this year—which was pointless. She couldn’t go to Brant Point. She couldn’t show up and find that he hadn’t—it would destroy her.

She’d been holding on to that shred of hope, and even though it was foolish and wrong, a part of her still wanted to believe they lived in a world where they could be together. But clearly that had been a misguided wish, the kind she might’ve made as a teenage girl with no experience in matters of the heart.

She wasn’t that girl anymore.

It was time to say goodbye—for real this time—to any notion that her life might ever coincide with the life of Cody Boggs.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

AFTER FOUR DAYS IN HIS MOM’S APARTMENT, Cody boarded a plane. Spending time with her had made it clear what he needed to do.

His flight was short, but it felt like an eternity, his mind racing with what to say and what not to say. His palms turned clammy the second the plane landed.

He grabbed his carry-on and made his way off the plane, out of the terminal, and onto the street, where he caught his Uber. As they drove, he replayed his planned-out speech for the thousandth time.

At his stop, he pulled his bag out of the car and slung it over his shoulder, looked at the house, and inhaled