“Yeah?”
“When you have her reach out to me, please also tell hershegets to decide who she is and who she wants to be, not anyone else. We can all try to help her, but at the end of the day, she needs to believe in herself, or she won’t get anywhere.”
ChapterFifty
Olivia
“I should head out now.Thank you so much for helping me get dressed. I don’t know what I’d wear without having access to your closet all summer.”
Callie scoops up the pile of discarded outfits resting on her bed. “You’d actually need to buy your own clothes. I thought your mom took you shopping a while back?”
“She did, but Rhett’s already seen me in those clothes, and I want to wow him.” I pause, then let out a breath and shake my hands out, groaning. “I’m nervous. Why am I so nervous? I’ve hung out with Rhett plenty of times before. We’ve kissed. We’ve shared a bed. This isn’t exactly a monumental step to go on a date.”
“I think you’re just nervous because you two are finally all in. You get to tell him you love him. He’s already told you. This is exciting! You know, they say being nervous and excited are the same feeling. Maybe you’re not nervous at all. You’re just excited.”
“No, I’m definitely nervous, and you’re making it worse. I forgot about the part where I’m supposed to tell Rhett I love him. And on our first date. That seems so out of order.”
“He’s already told you he loves you. You don’t have to worry about him not saying it back.”
“He could’ve changed his mind.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You’ve already spent a bunch of time together. This date is just a formality. Don’t get in your head.”
“I’m always in my head.” I flounce myself backward onto her bed with a dramatic huff.
“Don’t do that. You’ll mess up your hair. I spent a long time getting you those beautiful waves.”
Laughter escapes me as I sit back up. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me that. It makes me feel old.” She scrunches her nose.
“I think the excitement of realizing I love him has worn off and now there’s just nerves. This is all his fault! If he didn’t make me wait the extra hour, I wouldn’t be so in my head.”
“Just be yourself. I think Rhett has managed to bring out the best in you in many ways. Enjoy that. Enjoy the feeling of being in love. And then hurry back and tell me all about it.” She winks.
“I think I can do that.”
“Good! Now get going or you’re going to be late.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Callie grabs a pillow off her bed and swats me with it, corralling me toward the door.
“Okay, I’ll take the hint. I’m going! I’m going!”
* * *
I pull into the driveway just as Rhett is walking out his front door, dressed in a clean pair of boots and Wranglers, which is a feat in and of itself considering he’s always dirty, but the look is completed with a backward hat. He looksdamngood.
He meets me halfway and holds out a bouquet.
“Are these the wildflowers that grow behind the house?” I gasp. “They’re my favorite.”
“Yeah, they are. That’s why I got them.”
“Thank you.”
Silence falls over us, and I try to find a way to fill it. If I don’t, I know I’m going to end up blurting out my feelings for him instead of picking the right moment. After all the wonderful things Rhett has done for me, I want to get this right.
