Page 7 of Close to Heaven

He’d shaken his head, his expression a mix of sadness and disappointment. “You don’t have to go, Avery. You’re choosing to go.”

Surely, he’d been referring to her leaving him as much as to help her dad. Part of her was angry at him for acting so selfishly, but she couldn’t blame him for being upset. She might have reacted the same way if she’d been in his shoes, though she’d like to believe she’d have been more accepting.

“Come and visit me next weekend. It’ll be romantic to stay in a cabin together, don’t you think?” She wiggled her brows at him.

There had once been a time when flirting would have softened him up, but not now. Ever since she’d first told him her idea of moving back to Townsend, he’d become edgy, distant, and argumentative. She missed the old Trevor, who’d been more playful and easygoing. Although, come to think of it, maybe he’d only been like that when things were going his way.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Dakota said, bringing Avery back to the present. “Call or text me when you get there, okay?”

“Yes, Mom,” Avery teased, attempting to lighten the mood.

She opened her Jeep door and slid inside. After she started the engine, she rolled down the window so she could say one last goodbye.

“Is there anything you want me to tell your brother?”

“Yes. Tell him he better be nice to you, or else!” Dakota curled her hands into fists and pretended to punch someone, namely Jax.

Avery laughed. “You’re scaring me again.”

Dakota stood in front of their apartment and waved as Avery pulled out of the parking spot. Avery blew Dakota a kiss and then drove away before her friend saw the tears that dripped down her cheeks.

She hadn’t been joking about feeling scared, but as she left the city of Knoxville behind, she wondered what she was most afraid of—what she’d left behind or what she was going toward?

Three

Jax and Smoky meandered through the woods behind the resort until they came out alongside the cabin named Sweet Dreams. Every cabin in the resort was named, and his parents had named this one, as it was one of the first cabins built on the property. Today there was a red Jeep parked in the driveway, which meant his new renter had arrived.

“C’mon, buddy. Let’s see if she’s settled in.”

Jax climbed the porch steps and knocked on the front door. He scratched the top of Smoky’s head while they waited, and a few seconds later, she opened the door.

“Oh! Aren’t you cute!” Avery exclaimed.

Jax chuckled at her reaction to his faithful companion.

“What’s his name?” she asked.

“Smoky.”

“For the mountains.”

“And because he’s a black Lab.”

“Ah. Would you and Smoky like to come in?”

“That’s okay. I just wanted to make sure you have everything you need.”

“Yes. Thank you. The cabin’s a lot nicer than I expected.”

He nodded. “Glad you like it. Well, we’ll let you get settled, then.”

“I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”

For a second, he’d forgotten she wasn’t his guest but his new employee. Standing in the doorway, wearing faded jeans and a Tennessee Titans sweatshirt, she looked like a tourist—a young, beautiful tourist, that is.

“Right,” he said and quickly turned to leave. He gently tugged Smoky’s leash, as the Lab seemed reluctant to go. If dogs could read people, Smoky must have decided that Avery was one of the good ones.

Jax stepped off the porch, and she called out, “Wait. I have a message for you from your sister.”