Page 75 of Dare to Hold
“Yes,” I say, the word tumbling out faster than I expect. “I’d love to help. What exactly do you need?”
Greg laughs, the kind of warm chuckle that makes the whole thing feel less intimidating. “We’ll need a few social media graphics, a couple of flyers, and—if it’s possible—a backdrop for a photo booth.”
I scribble the words in my notebook, underlining backdrop twice, ideas already starting to swirl.
“That all sounds doable,” I say, chewing lightly on the end of my pen. “Deadline?”
“If we could have everything finalized a week from now, that would be incredible. And Ivy, there’s something else.” He pauses. “There’s a part-time position opening on the creative team. Paid, flexible hours. This could be a good way to see if it’s something you’d like to apply for.”
“I’d definitely be interested,” I say, my voice softer this time.
“Great. I’ll email you the details so you have everything in writing.”
“Perfect. Thanks so much for thinking of me, Greg.”
We hang up, and before the call has even fully disconnected, I’m already swiping to Gray’s contact. My hands tremble with something that feels an awful lot like joy.
He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, you. Miss me already?”
I grin, pressing the phone tight to my ear. “Always. But you’re not going to believe the call I just got…”
The weekend rolls around faster than I expect, and I find myself crammed into the passenger seat of Harper’s Jeep, Olivia reluctantly perched in the back.
“This is my hostage face,” Olivia mutters, arms crossed over her chest.
Harper flicks her eyes to the rearview mirror, unbothered. “You’re gonna have fun. You might even smile. Don’t fight it.”
Olivia snorts. “We’ll see.”
The church picnic is already in full swing by the time we arrive. Tables are set up under massive oak trees, kids are chasing each other around, and there’s a smell of barbecue lingering in the air.
“Wow,” I say, stepping out of the Jeep and taking it all in. “They go all out.”
Harper grins. “Welcome to the South. We don’t do anything halfway.”
We weave through clusters of people, waving at familiar faces. Harper immediately zeroes in on the kids’ area, her eyes lighting up as she spots a crafts table. “I’m going to check that out. If I’m not back in ten, send a search party.”
I laugh. “Good luck.”
Olivia glances around, clearly out of her element. “Do they serve wine at these things?”
“Pretty sure it’s sweet tea, but I saw a sign for apple cider back there.”
She sighs. “Figures.”
We find a spot near the edge of the crowd, far enough from the main cluster of picnic tables to feel like our own little space, but close enough to hear the hum of laughter and conversation. I shake out the blanket we brought and smooth it over the grass.
“Having fun yet?” I ask, nudging Olivia with my shoulder.
She shrugs, but there’s less tension in her shoulders than I expected. “It’s not the worst.”
“I’ll take it.”
I glance around, scanning the sea of faces. My eyes catch on Gray across the field, standing near a grill and laughing with a group of guys I don’t recognize. He’s got a pair of sunglasses perched on his head, his hair a little messy, sleeves rolled up casually. He looks happy.
“Think he’ll come over?” Olivia asks, following my gaze.
I flush, snapping my attention back to her. “I don’t know.”
