Page 5 of More Than a Good Friend

Lilith touches the waves in my hair. “Product makes a huge difference. I’m happy to tell you what I used and the steps. But before any of that, we need to get that picture.”

“Right.” Daisy leads up the photo mission.

And a half hour later, I’m swiping right for the first time. “Now I just have to remember which way to swipe to like. With my luck, I’ll reject all the guys who seem interesting by swiping the wrong way.”

“Whatever is meant to be will work out. And we’re all rooting for you.” Joji jumps into a cheerleader pose. “We want you to be happy and to find that someone who will make you feel loved.”

“Thanks, but no more of that talk or I’ll cry. I have to meet my family for dinner in a bit, and I want to stay looking good.”

Bluebonnet gives me a hug. “I’m glad you have plans. Go have fun and forget about Dag.”

“He was supposed to go with me, and if he doesn’t, my mom will start asking questions. So, I should text him to make sure he’s still coming. Besides, he’s my ride.” There might be a tiny part of me that hopes he’ll see the made-over version of me and his love-switch will be flipped. Okay, so it’s a huge part, but this is the kind of hope that caused me trouble in the first place.

“Then take him along. Let him see what he’s missing out on.” Ava hugs me. “But remember. This is a new you, and you are looking for love.”

“I’ll remember.”

The ladies leave, and I send off a text.

Me:You still coming to my birthday dinner tonight?

Dag:I’m still invited?

Me:Of course. We’re still friends.

Dag:I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.

Tonight will be interesting for sure.

CHAPTER4

DAG

Goldie’s dead car may be the only reason she wants me to go with her to her family birthday dinner, but I’ll take it. I hate that I upset her. After tonight, maybe she’ll decide she doesn’t need space or time away from me. Because I hate that too.

She’s a huge part of my life. I see her every day, and since her car went kaput, I take her where she needs to go.

I pull up in front of her cabin, expecting to knock on her door, but she’s on the porch. Hurrying toward the truck, her hair bounces off her shoulders. It’s shiny and curly. Not super curly. Wavy, I guess. It looks good.

Without looking at me, she climbs into her seat and buckles in. “Thanks for going tonight.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to go, so your text was a nice surprise.” I lean over, trying to get her to meet my gaze. “I am sorry about earlier.”

“I’d rather not talk about that, and please, whatever you do, do not bring that up tonight.” She turns, her face all done up with makeup.

My breath catches. “You look different.”

“Daisy and Bluebonnet and everyone gave me a mini makeover. Girl bonding time. It’s nothing.”

“Oh.” I turn onto the road that leads out of the ranch. “And I won’t mention the proposal. Hopefully, your dad doesn’t either.”

She grabs my arm. “My dad?”

“Well, yeah. I thought you’d want me to ask for his blessing first, so I did. But I asked him not to say anything.”

Her parents have always been kind to me, but the looks they’ve given me since the first time I showed up at her house made it clear that they thought I wasn’t good enough for her. Asking her dad might be the bravest thing I’ve ever done.

She blinks. “What did he say?”

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