Page 121 of Love for a Lifetime

“We’ve been friends since we were kids. We take care of a farm together. We go to the same church and do pretty much everything together. That counts for a lot, Liv. And how was I supposed to spend any amount of time with you and not fall in love with you?”

Olivia’s chuckle brought some life back into the stale air before she sighed. “I can’t hurt my friend,” she whispered.

“And I can’t live without you.”

Olivia’s head whipped up, and she sucked in a deep breath. “I’m the one holding the knife here. I’m hurting everyone around me. I was keeping things from you. Then I was keeping things from Anna. Now my best friend won’t talk to me.”

“Second best friend,” Dawson corrected. “I’m number one.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And you’re forgiven. You had reasons for not telling me those things, even though you should have known you could trust me and we’d figure it out together.”

“And I’m glad I did,” she added. “Can we have a fun night? I just need to take my mind off things.”

“Barn Sour?” Dawson asked as he lifted her hand above her head, coaxing her to twirl. “We can dance the night away.”

“That sounds perfect, but I need food before dancing,” Olivia said. The light was already gleaming in her eyes again.

“You read my mind. I could go for a ton of totchos right now.”

Olivia closed her eyes and hummed. “And a cheeseburger.”

Dawson tilted her chin up and kissed her. Every movement was soft and sweet, reminding her to savor the moments when everything was right in the world. “Your wish is my command, my queen.”

Dawson parked his truck in front of the church on Sunday morning. Only four other vehicles sat in the parking lot. One belonged to the pastor, one belonged to Lyric, and the other belonged to Anna.

It was the second Sunday since the run-in with Anna, and Dawson wasn’t about to let the Lord’s day pass without the lines clearing up. Olivia loved going to church, and seeing her unease last night at the mention of the mid-morning service was where he put his foot down.

He said another prayer for the right words as he walked through the front doors of the church. Lyric waited in the entryway, dressed in a brown-and-gold dress that reflected the fall weather, pacing with her fingernails between her teeth.

When she spotted him, she dropped her hands and lifted her shoulders. “I can’t believe I lied to get someone to church.”

Dawson chuckled. “I’m sure God will forgive you. It’s for a good cause.”

“I know. I hate to see Olivia and Anna like this. It breaks my heart.”

“And that’s why we needed to do this.”

Lyric shook out her hands and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

Dawson took his place beside Lyric and followed her to the dining hall. “What did you tell her?” he asked.

“I told her I needed help with Baking Blessings.”

“Nice one,” Dawson said.

Lyric swatted his arm. “Shut up. I’m still not happy about lying.”

If everything worked out this morning, Dawson would buy Lyric a cake this week for her trouble. He’d probably have the baker write “Thanks for lying” on it just to make her laugh about it.

They stepped into the dining hall, and Anna looked up from her phone. As soon as she spotted him, she lowered her phone to the counter beside her and looked from one side to the other like a cornered animal.

Lyric held up her hands and walked straight to Anna. “I’m sorry. I don’t need help with Baking Blessings. Dawson asked me to get you here so he could talk to you.”

Anna averted her gaze and inhaled a deep breath. “I get it.”

Lyric threw her arms around Anna’s neck. Lyric’s dark hair contrasted with Anna’s blonde hair as the women embraced.

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