“I don’t know. Casa Bonita and a Broncos game?” I’m only half joking. Casa Bonita did get a new chef and the food might finally be good, plus it is a staple of Colorado. Sports though? I can’t. Especially in Denver. I feel like we should have an indoor arena. If someone tried to make me sit in the snow for three hours to watch grown men pummel each other, I’d never speak to them again.

“You’re a horrible human and if my next Jasper Williams book has a couple falling in love over football and cliff divers you’ll be dead to me.” Elsie takes off her glasses and levels me with a glare that causes my bones to chill even under the hot Colorado sun. “Anyways, don’t you have your map of the best places in Colorado or whatnot? This should be really easy for you.”

I try to ignore the way my stomach twists into a knot.

As much as I’m pretending to be put out by this entire mess of a situation, part of me is thrilled to have an excuse to do what I love again. I want to tell Jasper about all the little mountain towns I spent countless weekends in, hiking empty trails until I found the perfect shot. I want to show him pictures of the little towns down south surrounded by open plains and blue skies. I want to tell him stories my way, by showing him the beauty that exists all around us and letting it speak louder than words ever could. But the other part is scared to remember how much I love it. Most days, I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread. I’m terrified getting lost in wanderlust with Jasper will be the thing that snaps the tiny semblance of sanity I have left.

Did I love the photography career I was beginning to build for myself? Of course. But I love Gran more. Running a bookstore may not be my dream, but walking in her legacy is. Standing in her store, surrounded by memories of her, feels like it’s the only thing getting me through some days. I can’t jeopardize that because Mona decided to play matchmaker and set me up with a hot guy who has a talent for spinning pretty tales.

“You can put your glasses back on and relax.” I lean toward her to avoid getting caught in the selfie the couple in front of us is huddling together to take. “I’ll make it a good list. I already have an idea for a few places I think would be a great setting in any story. But you need to calm down. Your hopes are way too high for something he’s only doing to be nice to a group of sweet but very intrusive old ladies. You know they’re impossible to say no to.”