Chapter 20

“Wake up, Jolene.”

“Do you remember the time we went to the beach and had a picnic date? It felt like we were the only ones in the world, and I was so happy to just be there with you and would have gladly spent forever at the beach if it meant that I would be there with you. What of the time you had to intimidate the other girls in school when they wouldn’t stop making passes at me? I acted like I was annoyed about your irrational jealousy, but I was thrilled you did that. Wake up, Jolene. I want to be your man again. I want to be the one you think of when you practice new recipes, the one you can boldly call yours and tell the rest to steer clear of.”

Jolene frowned, wondering why she kept hearing Tristan’s voice in her head for the past few days. Panic raced through her as she thought something had happened to him. No, don’t be here, Tristan. She cried. She was certain she was dead, and the thought of Tristan being dead with her scared her rather than thrilled her.