What did he expect? Did he think he could throw her mistake back in her face seconds after telling her it was forgiven and not face consequences? Besides, wasn’t this what he wanted—to be rid of her prying eyes? The distance would be good for him—give him space to sort out his own feelings.

Why, then, did her cold shoulder make him feel like—to quote Louisa—a jerkshovel?

He sighed and went back to work, wishing for the millionth time that things were different.

The ferry left Nantucket at 7:40 a.m. and would arrive in Hyannis about an hour later. That meant one full hour of ignoring every single thing about Cody Boggs. It meant pretending that the way he looked in his uniform had no effect on her. It meant sitting next to him on too-close-for-comfort seats and acting as if she hardly noticed. And it especially meant not drawing in deep, long breaths just to memorize the way he smelled after a shower and a shave.

So far she was doing a terrible job.

“Are you going to do that the entire ride?” he asked with a nod toward her knee, which she only just that moment realized was bouncing like it had a motor hidden somewhere inside it.

She stopped and focused her attention out the window.

When she was a kid, these ferry rides to and from the island were filled with emotion—excitement on the way to the island and sorrow on the way back. Today the ride was also filled with emotion—namely a mix of dread and nervousness. And she was doing her best to hold on to her anger so she didn’t go and fall in love with the man sitting next to her.

“Do you want some coffee?”

She glanced at him and found him sitting so still he looked like a statue.

“Do you drink coffee?”

Why was he being nice to her? It was confusing. If he’d just treat her like a jerk all the time, it would be a lot easier on her heart.

“Lou?” He said her name like they were friends.

They were not friends.

“I do drink coffee,” she said.

“You look like you might need some.”

She frowned.

“You’ve yawned three times in the last five minutes,” he said. “Have you been sleeping?”

She wanted to tell him she was just fine and needed nothing from him, but she really could use the caffeine. And no, she wasn’t sleeping, not that she’d tell Cody that.

“I’ll go get you some.” He stood.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m getting a cup for myself anyway.” He walked away and she noticed two women, probably a few years younger than she was, staring at him.

One of them glanced at Louisa and caught her eye. “You’re a very lucky girl.” She grinned while the other woman raised her eyebrows in agreement.