Page 122 of Tate
“I think my words were something along the lines of stop being so afraid and sing your song. I can’t be responsible for what happened after that. But I think it’s more than just putting yourself out there to let Tate love you… What if you stopped blaming yourself for Joy’s death and just…just let God love you?”
“And now you’ve been around Knox and his family too long.”
“Not long enough. But you’ve spent your entire life showing up for everyone else. What if you let God show up for you? Show you that you don’t have to do anything for Him to love you.”
“I think I’d be setting myself up for another broken heart.”
“Glo—”
“No, Kels. Why would God show up for me? Please… How are things with you and Knox?”
A pause, then, “Would you be upset if we eloped?”
Glo drew in a breath. “Really?”
“I don’t know. I think he might ask. And if he does, I’m saying yes.”
“But it’s only been a few months?—”
“I’ve waited for this man my entire life, Glo. He’s the one. He makes me feel safe and, most importantly, I like the person I am with him. He made the songs stir out of my soul.”
“You should write that down.”
“I have. I am. I have a slew of songs for you to put music to when we get back together. Please tell me it’s soon.”
A knock came at the sliding door behind her and she turned. Sloan was standing there, pointing to his watch.
“I don’t know. Maybe a few more months. After my mother gets elected.”
“Glo—give God a chance.”
“I gotta go, Kels. The VP is waiting.” She hung up before Kelsey’s words found too tender soil.
As it was, her question dug deep and hung on as she opened the door to Sloan.
What if you let God show up for you? Show you that you don’t have to do anything for Him to love you.
God didn’t work that way. Really. She knew from personal experience.
“Ready for an amazing evening?” Sloan said. He’d rolled his cuffs down and donned a coat. “I promise, it’s going to change your life.”
Yeah, that’s what she was afraid of.
12
Please don’t let her be the weak link here.
“You look amazing, by the way,” Ford said as he held out his hand, completing their operational disguise. Scarlett took it, and he wove his fingers between hers, like they might be an actual couple.
Scarlett still wasn’t sure how she’d gone from her runners and a T-shirt to being mic’d up and wearing a glamorous dress that could have been worn by a movie star during some red-carpet event. When Ford had brought it over, along with his brother and their crazy idea, she’d been stretching out after her mile swim along the coast.
Feeling pretty invincible.
She was going to nail the PRT. Not just the swimming, pull-ups, and push-ups, but the buddy tow too.
All because of Ford. Because he’d flipped a switch and decided to play on her team. Not only had he helped her get her car running, but he’d shown up every morning for the past week for buddy tow training, instructing her on technique, giving her tips, and cheering her on until today she swam all two hundred yards towing him, his face above water the entire time.
She could even take him in the freestyle swim—his combat crawl was too bulky for him to keep up with her.
