Page 298 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I shrug. “You can see it that way if you want. Or, you could say you came all this way to see your daughter, meet the man she’s fallen in love with, and have an incredible dinner at an amazing restaurant.”
His eyes lift to mine, a question in their depths. “Love?”
I nod. “I’m livingmylife now, Dad. It’s a good life, and I’m happy. I’m going to be angry about what you did to Mom for a while. But we’re still family. If you’re in town tomorrow night, come back and have dinner with me and Lennox. I’d love for you to get to know him. And I’d like for us to part on good terms.”
I squeeze his arm once, then turn and walk out the door, a strange sensation filling me as I go.
I’m all the way out in the parking lot before I figure out what it is.
For the first time, maybe in forever, I feelfree.
I circle the restaurant and sneak back inside long enough to grab Toby and change my shoes.
I know where Lennox is, and I can’t get there fast enough.
I’m halfway to the farmhouse, worrying over whether I remember exactly how to find the trail to the ledge when I see Olivia approaching in a Gator. She stops when she reaches me. “Hey. Just the person I was looking for.”
I force myself to smile. To be patient when it’s the last thing I’m actually feeling. “Hi. What’s up?”
“I didn’t see you at the reception earlier. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. I’m so sorry.” Until just now, I’d forgotten I even have a job. “Did everything go okay without me?”
“Tatum, relax,” Olivia says. “I’m checking on you as a friend. The party was fine. Your sous chef rocked it.”
I nod a little too enthusiastically. “Good. That’s good. Great.”
She eyes me curiously. “But you arenotgreat,” she says, and my shoulders fall.
“You’re right,” I say with a shrug. “I’m not. Actually, are you busy right now? Because Lennox is up at the ledge, and I really need to see him.”
Her eyes widen. “Ohhh, so this is athatkind of a problem. Get in, girl. I’ll get you there in no time.”
I help Toby into the back, then slide in next to Olivia, keeping hold of the grab bar. I still remember how Olivia drove this thing the first time I rode with her.
We stay silent for most of the drive, but Olivia’s expressive features aren’t hiding much. By the time we reach the familiar trailhead, I’m almost laughing for how hard she’s fighting to keep her mouth closed.
She shifts into park. “Okay. Here you go. You just follow that trail right there.”
I nod. “Lennox brought me here once before. I just wasn’t sure if I could find the trailhead.”
I climb out of the Gator, pausing with both hands resting on the door. “Thanks, Liv. Your help means a lot.”
“Of course.”
I only make it half a step away before Olivia finally caves. “Gah, Tatum, I can’t not ask.”
I turn around and smile, like I fully expected her to ask.
Because Ifullyexpected her to ask.
“Please just tell me if this is an ‘I’m about to break your heart’conversation or an ‘I’m desperately in love with you’conversation. I just want to modify my expectations. And also know what kind of support Lennox is going to need after.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Liv!” I say on a groan.
“I know. I’m terrible.” She shrugs. “But I’m a Hawthorne. This is what we do.”
It’s whatfamilydoes.
