Page 99 of Love for a Lifetime

“I do! It’s difficult at times, but I love connecting people to the help they need. I know I’m not doing anything groundbreaking, but I love it when the dust settles and things work out.”

There was no way on God’s green earth Olivia was going to bring up the times when things didn’t work out. She probably wouldn’t make a good police dispatcher because she’d have a really hard time compartmentalizing the calls that didn’t have a happy ending.

Lyric cleared her throat. “I’m really glad you and Dawson are giving it a shot. He’s such a good guy.”

There it was. The casual mention of the man who had her completely wrapped up in an all-consuming love.

They’d been official for less than a week, and she was already positively in love. The realization wasn’t really a quick one. She’d loved him as a friend for half of her life, but opening her heart to his full affection was like turning on a light. Dawson was as much a part of her heart as her family, and that would never change.

It was love, plain and simple. Dawson made it easy.

“You have no idea. He’s so good to me, but I think I love it more when I see him being good to others. That’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. I feel that way about Asa too. I think seeing him be a good dad is the most attractive thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

Olivia’s grip on the stack of food in her lap tightened. What was she doing? Dawson had no idea that he might be trading kids for a relationship with her, and she didn’t know how to tell him.

The ride was silent until they parked in the church parking lot. Lyric rounded the car and started lifting trays.

“You okay?” Lyric asked.

“I’m fine. Why?” That was a stretch of the truth, but Olivia was getting used to impersonating a vault when it came to talking about the problems she and Dawson had in front of them.

Lyric shrugged. “You just looked a little green. Are you sure you’re not getting sick?”

“Positive.”

When only a few trays remained on her lap, Olivia stood with the last of the load and stretched. They still had the entire back seat and trunk to unload, and volunteers would be arriving soon.

She walked inside to put down the trays when her phone rang. Hurrying to the table filled with food items, she put the trays down and pulled her phone out of her pocket.

Anna Banana.

Why did her gut have to roil whenever her friend called? It wasn’t supposed to be this way. They were sisters–on the same team.

Not anymore. At least Anna wouldn’t think that after Olivia gathered the courage to have the talk with her.

Olivia answered the call and pressed it between her ear and shoulder. “Hey.”

“Hey.” The greeting was flat and lifeless. “Have you seen Dawson’s latest post on Instagram?”

Olivia raised her chin and looked around. The church dining hall was packed. The whole place buzzed with volunteers. She was the only one standing still, and she couldn’t make her legs move for all the money in the world. She swallowed the burning in her throat and croaked out a hoarse, “No.”

“It’s a reel,” Anna said. “He’s asking the goats if they think TheChickenChick should give him a chance.”

No. No, no, no. Olivia hadn’t seen the reel, and she wasn’t prepared for this confrontation. “I–I–”

“It has almost a million views,” Anna added.

Olivia gasped. A million? He had to have posted it today because she hadn’t seen it earlier.

“I didn’t know about it. I’ve been picking up food for Fish and Loaves this afternoon, and I just haven’t–”

Anna sighed. “I know you didn’t have anything to do with it. I just saw it, and the internet is going crazy over it. Women are begging him to be their baby’s daddy in the comments like he’s the last man on earth.”

Olivia stared at the blank wall in front of her. Comments like that weren’t uncommon on his Instagram posts, but a million views on a video that connected them in a romantic way?

Lyric stepped back inside with her arms full of food. She stopped when she saw Olivia standing dumbstruck.

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