Page 50 of Love for a Lifetime

He was treading into the deep end of the pool, and she was having trouble keeping her head above water. “Dawson–”

“Let me do this,” he said, cutting her off. “I want to. And when we’re working on something together and you need to step back because you’re hurting or just not feeling up to it, you can know I’ll be there handling things. We can do this together, and you won’t have to break your back trying to do it all.”

She was still processing everything Dawson had said when he pulled up at her place. The little house was all she could afford, but it was more than enough for her. She barely spent time at home anyway.

Dawson shifted the truck into park and got out. She slid out of the passenger seat as he made his way around. They walked up onto her tiny porch together, and he waited while she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door.

She turned back around to face him, mustering as much determination as she could. “I’d love to have some help.”

Dawson opened his arms. “You got it, my queen.”

Olivia fell into his embrace, resting her head against his chest. Lots of people in her life knew she had a passion for service, but Dawson probably understood her reasoning more than anyone else. Her mom had taught her to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and she took that job seriously.

She needed this comfort. She needed a place to rest her head.

“You’re not alone,” Dawson whispered.

“I know. Thanks for the reminder.” She lifted her head and looked up at his waiting smile. “You smell like a goat.”

He laughed, and she felt the vibrations from his chest tingle throughout her body. Jerking his chin toward the door, he said, “Go get some rest. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“I’m going to Brandi’s for the catering rehearsal, so don’t think anything is wrong if I don’t answer.”

“Oh, that sounds like something I can do for you. Consider it done. What time do I have to be there?”

Olivia threw her head back and groaned. “You’re not going to let me do anything now, are you?”

“Of course I will, but I bet this pain you’re having isn’t going to go away overnight. You can sleep in and head down there when and if you feel like it.”

“Lyric and Asa will be there, so you won’t be alone.”

“Then why are you worried about it? I’ll give my honest opinion on the food, and everything will be a go for the wedding next week.”

The wedding. She’d gone through a million little tasks to get to this point, and everything was ready to go.

Why did she feel like someone had dropped her into a rushing river with her arms tied behind her back whenever she thought of the wedding?

Probably because watching Dawson and Anna have fun together was going to be about as confusing as calculus. They were her friends. She should be excited that Anna was finally getting a chance to go out with Dawson.

Except the excitement was doused with lava that burned her insides.

“Okay, you can do it, but I’m coming if I feel better in the morning.”

Dawson gave her another squeeze before releasing her. “Sweet dreams, my queen,” he said as he backed away from her.

“I’ll let Asa and Lyric know you’ll be there tomorrow.”

He held a thumb up in the air as he headed for his truck. “I’ve got this.”

Of course he did. Olivia wished she had the same assurance she knew what she was doing every time he was around.

12

DAWSON

The song “Shut Up and Dance” belted through Dawson’s bedroom as he struggled with a cuff link. He had a love hate relationship with the tiny things, and he bit back a few choice words.

By the time the chorus hit, the link finally clicked into place, and he joined in, bobbing his head to the beat. His friends were getting married, and Dawson had every intention of dancing the night away.

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