Page 97 of Love for a Lifetime

Olivia groaned. “I want to believe that, but I’ve heard her talk about how she feels about him.”

“I have too. She truly believes it, but there isn’t a foundation. That’s all made up. What you and Dawson have is real. There’s a huge difference, but she won’t see that easily.”

“I know. She’s going to be crushed. I don’t even know a way to ease into the conversation.”

Lauren clicked her tongue behind her teeth. “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll be praying you can find the words.”

Prayer. Olivia was always first to pray for someone else, but she’d forgotten to pray for guidance in her own life.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Lauren smiled and rubbed Olivia’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. We’re adults, and we’ll all get through this.”

“Not without a broken heart–one I care about.”

With a heavy sigh, Lauren rested her head against Olivia’s shoulder. “She’s strong. She’s intent on finding true love. I just think she’s trying to force something that’s not meant to be.”

“You’re a good friend,” Olivia whispered.

“I try my best.” Lauren lifted her head and sat up in the bed, stretching her back from one side to the other. “Now, go find Dawson and give him proof of life. He’s probably pacing outside the door waiting for you to get up.”

Olivia kicked the covers off. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

“Anytime.”

Grabbing her toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush, Olivia darted out into the cool morning. She didn’t spot Dawson as she grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and headed for the creek. Navigating the hill was much easier in the daylight without a migraine threatening to crush her.

Continually scanning the creek bed around her for dangers like the wolves, she brushed her teeth and hair in record time. After splashing some water on her face and pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she trudged back up the hill toward camp.

She spotted Dawson the moment she crested the top of the hill. He had his back to her where he stood by the picnic table he was building with Aaron.

Dawson turned and locked eyes with her as she took her second step into the clearing. A boyish smile stretched over his lips, and a dark shadow of stubble covered his jaw, giving him an air of maturity that almost stopped her in her tracks.

What would Dawson be like in ten years? Twenty? Would she get to see that older, wiser man? Would they still be friends? Would they be married with kids?

Kids. The thought crashed into her chest like a freight train, knocking the breath out of her.

No. She didn’t want to allow anything to steal this moment when he was finally hers–when she gave in and let the joy have free rein.

Her feet were moving before she knew what she was doing. She picked up speed as she ran toward him.

Dawson opened his arms, as she barreled into his waiting embrace, entwining her arms and legs around him.

All air left her body in a rush as they collided. She buried her face in his neck and breathed him in. Every bit of the campfire smoke, sawdust, and the basic smell that was simply Dawson filled her up, seeping into every crack in her heart until it was whole and perfect again.

His strong arms wove around her, crushing her to him. His deep whisper tingled against the shell of her ear.

“Good morning, my queen.”

Those words crumbled every wall around her heart. Yesterday, she belonged to herself. Today, she was his.

25

OLIVIA

Olivia settled into the front seat of Lyric’s car and scooted it all the way back. Opening her arms, she turned to her friend. “Okay, lay it on me.”

Shaking her head, Lyric handed over a six-tier stack of trays full of canned spaghetti. “This is an awful idea. Asa will lose his cool if he finds out we did this.”

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