Summer of Peace

Chapter One

Instant relief. The door of Generic Eric's Sandwich Shoppe and Soda Fountain closed behind JoJo Johnson, and she took a moment to savor the heavenly air conditioning. As if ready to take flight, she closed her eyes and stood with her arms extended and head tipped back, her hair falling loose and brushing her shoulder blades. She could feel a light sheen of sweat drying on her skin.

Though the walk from her job at The Craft Corner next door was short, the day's summer heat in Peace, Montana was intense. Pulling her blonde hair off her neck, she looked around the diner for her best friend and lunch date, Valerie Todd.

In the corner, next to the old jukebox, she spied her friend. Valerie sipped a milkshake and stared at her phone.

"I think I'm melting," JoJo declared, sliding into the booth across from Valerie. "It's literally a thousand degrees outside." The red vinyl seat clung to the exposed skin on her legs and she adjusted the skirt of her sundress.

Valerie rolled her hazel eyes, her lips curling up in amusement. "It is not literally a thousand degrees out."

"Illiterately. Figuratively. Whatever. It's hot and I'm gross and sweaty."

Valerie snorted—JoJo had a tendency to exaggerate—and shifted her attention to her phone once more.

JoJo knew the source of Valerie's distraction. "Where's lover boy this afternoon?"

Valerie frowned. "He's doing a ride along with Dray, trying to get an edge on the other recruits."

Valerie's boyfriend, Liam, was enrolled at the police academy in Helena. He wouldn't begin training until September, but he had been taken under the wing of local sheriff's deputy, Dray Palmer.

"It's cute that he has a mentor," JoJo said.

Valerie sighed. "I know. It is. It's great actually. How many rookies have a seasoned professional showing them the ropes? But I miss him, and I'm leaving for New York soon, and then we really won't get to see each other."

"Hey, cheer up. At least you have a boyfriend."

Valerie shook her head. "JoJo, you'll never have a boyfriend if you keep turning all the boys down. Poor Rusty Hamilton has asked you out how many times now?"

JoJo did get asked out fairly frequently—especially by Rusty. She knew boys found her attractive. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she was the stereotypical girl next door.

"I just know what I want... and it's not in Peace."

What JoJo wanted was Valerie's brother, Matt. But she'd never admit it. When she was barely sixteen, and he had one foot out of Peace on his way to California for college, she had professed her love for him. It ended in tears. Hers.

Their conversation was interrupted by Tammy, Eric's head waitress. She set a basket with a steaming grilled cheese sandwich and french fries in front of each of the girls. "I put in your usual order as soon as I saw Valerie walk in."

"Are we really that predictable?" JoJo asked.

Tammy raised an eyebrow, her red lips quirked in a half smile.

"Okay, don't answer that."

"I'll be back with your shake in a jiffy." Tammy winked and left.

"So, I got some news today." Valerie had an excited gleam in her eyes.

"Oh, yeah?" JoJo picked up a fry, dipped it in ketchup, and took a bite. The greasy, salty, treat was just what she needed.

"Matt's back!"