Chapter 9

9

J essa woke up the next morning to Megan standing at the small coffee machine in the room brewing a cup. The smell immediately had Jessa sitting up.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Megan said. She handed Jessa the paper coffee cup from the small stash next to the machine.

“Mmm. Thank you.” Jessa took a sip and closed her eyes as the warm liquid traveled through her body.

Megan took her cup off the coffee machine and put the lid on before sliding onto her bed and turning toward Jessa with her legs crossed.

“Sooooooo, how did the date go?”

Jessa had gotten back late. After dinner, they walked through the town a bit until it got too cold. Then they stayed in Noah’s truck in the resort parking lot, chatting until nearly midnight. By the time she got back to the room, Megan was asleep.

“It was really great,” Jessa said. A small smile crossed her face at all the laughs she shared with Noah. At no point during the date did she want it to end. She was enjoying herself far too much. Much more than she had expected.

Megan stared at Jessa over her cup with a knowing smile on her face. “Look at you all smitten with a boy.”

“Am not.” Jessa hid her smile by taking a sip of her drink.

“Oh please. You were out late with him and nonstop smiling now. I didn’t receive any 911 texts.”

“Just because I didn’t send you a text to bail me out doesn’t mean anything. I’m capable of staying on a date for the entire duration.”

Jessa had a knack for asking Megan to bail her out of dates. It became a running joke between them, but Megan always followed through with a fake emergency that allowed Jessa to escape.

“Uh huh. I don’t remember the last time you made it through an entire date without a 911 text.”

Jessa rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Hey, let’s go to that coffee shop. I’d like to get a pastry and a better cup of coffee.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

The two friends took turns getting ready in the bathroom before they slipped on their boots and coats. When they got down to the lobby, Jessa heard her name called. She looked around and spotted the lady she saw last night standing behind the front desk.

Jessa looked at Megan and whispered, “I think that’s Noah’s mom.”

Jessa and Megan walked over to the woman, who smiled brightly at them.

“Hi. I don’t know if you remember me from last night, but I’m Karen, Noah’s mom,” she said, holding out her hand to shake Jessa’s.

Jessa took her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Then she shook Megan’s, who introduced herself.

Karen leaned across the counter. “Now, did he treat you well?”

Megan giggled.

Jessa shot her a look before turning back to Karen. “Yes. Like a perfect gentleman.”

“Good.” Karen raised her eyebrows. “Did you treat him well?”

Jessa looked at Karen dumbfounded and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she replied. Megan snickered beside her. “Um… yes?”

She opened her mouth to say something else when a door opened behind her and an older man stepped out. He was an older version of Noah, and clearly his father. He looked at Jessa before looking over at Karen.

“Karen, you aren’t giving her a hard time, are you?”

Karen’s eyes widened in innocence. “Me? I would never.”

The man smiled and stepped up beside Karen before holding his hand out. “I’m James, Noah’s dad.”

Jessa shook his hand. “I’m Jessa. This is my friend Megan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Megan said.

James smiled politely. “You as well. Now we’ll let you two ladies get back to your morning.”

“But I wasn’t done chatting,” Karen said.

James took her elbow and gently pulled her toward the back room. “Now, Karen, they’re on vacation. Let them be.”

Karen frowned. “It was nice to meet you two. I hope to see you again very soon so we can chat.”

Jessa waved. As soon as the door to the back room shut, Megan burst out into laughter.

“That was… interesting,” Jessa said.

Megan only laughed louder. “This is so great. I love this family.”

As if on cue, Jessa’s phone vibrated with a message from Noah.

How’s your morning going? I hope I didn’t keep you up too late.

Jessa smiled and typed out a response. I thought I kept you up. You’re the one who needed to be on the slopes first thing this morning.

Worth it.

“Okay, lovebird. Let’s get our coffee,” Megan said.

Jessa followed Megan as she typed on her phone. To answer your question, it’s going well. We are heading to the coffee shop. I also spoke with your parents.

The dots danced across the screen, showing he was typing before they disappeared. Then they appeared again and disappeared. Jessa frowned.

“You better pay attention or you’re going to slip,” Megan said.

Jessa tucked her phone into her pocket and walked with Megan toward town. The snow was lightly falling, but the sun peeked through the clouds, making it a sunny day. She pulled in a deep breath.

“I can’t get over how clean the air is here. It’s got a certain scent to it I can’t explain.”

Megan nodded. “It does. It’s refreshing.”

They stepped inside Brewbirds Coffeehouse and stamped their feet on the rug. Melissa was working at the counter again and she smiled warmly at them.

“Welcome back. Here to try another dessert?”

Jessa looked over the case and spotted the chocolate-filled croissants. “I don’t know about dessert since it’s still morning, but I could go for a chocolate croissant.”

Megan snorted. “Not dessert. Right.”

“It’s not. It’s breakfast.” Jessa smiled brightly. “I’m on vacation. I can eat whatever I want.”

“When are we not on vacation?”

Megan had a point. They always traveled, and it could be viewed as a vacation despite them working remotely. So why did that suddenly put a damper on Jessa’s mood?

Melissa smiled. “The croissant is an excellent choice.”

“I’ll do a bacon and egg sandwich, please,” Megan said.

They both ordered a different holiday drink off the menu and took a seat at the same table they were at the day prior. Their food and drinks were brought to them and they stared out the window while enjoying their breakfast.

“You’re quiet,” Megan said.

Jessa looked at Megan and sighed. “Why did I go on that date?”

“Because you like the guy.”

Butterflies fluttered in her chest. She knew Megan was right. But it couldn’t possibly work when Jessa perpetually traveled.

“But it can’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t live here.”

“Back to this again?” Megan smiled.

“Back to what?”

Megan set her mug down and rested her elbows on the table. “Jessa, have fun. Enjoy yourself. Let yourself experience what it would be like to settle down. You already said it has crossed your mind, so try it out.”

Jessa pulled a lip between her teeth as she thought. “You’re right.”

Megan raised an eyebrow. “I am?”

Jessa raised an eyebrow right back. “You’re giving advice you aren’t sure about?”

“Not at all. I just didn’t think you’d agree.”

Jessa chuckled. “I think you’re right, though. I need to live in the now and stop worrying about what might happen once we leave.”

“That’s a good plan.”

Jessa gave a nod as her phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up and looked at the text that came through from Noah.

Did she say something crazy?

Jessa laughed and showed Megan the text. Megan snorted.

So I take it she has done this before?

The dots danced on the screen again and she wondered if it would take him a while to respond again, but to her surprise, his response was immediate.

She’s a bit overprotective. I’d like to tell you about it in person. Are you free tonight?

Jessa read the message out loud to Megan, who laughed.

“He’s smooth. Slipping that date in there.”

Jessa smiled and typed out a reply. “He sure is.”

“Are you going?”

“Of course.”