“I’m fine, Mama. Just exhausted, and it's hot in here.” She used her shirt to fan herself listlessly, barely managing to find the strength to do so. “Do y’all mind cleaning up in the kitchen before you head out? I let Sadie head home early, since she’d been here all day for me.”
Joan looked her daughter over, unconvinced, but agreed all the same, “Sure thing. We’re on it, baby doll. You get some rest tonight, okay?” A look passed between parents, and without saying a word, her dad nodded and directed the other kids to jobs before following his wife to the kitchen.
“I’m gonna go catch up with the Lovetts for a few minutes, alright?” Caroline put her arm around Georgia and admired the group in question. “I haven’t seen Griffin in a long while, and I wanna meet that little boy of his. But I’ll help get everyone to start packing up, too. You sure you’re alright?”
Georgia nodded and squeezed her sister’s waist. “Yeah, you go on… I’m gonna…”
“Pensively swoon.”
“No, Caroline.”
“Brainstorm baby names?”
“Leo, boy. Claire, girl.”
“Obviously,” her sister said.
“Obviously,” Georgia echoed, her head buzzing in the noisy room.
“So,” Caroline paused to scoff at Dakota who’d decorated a cookie as if its head had been chopped off, holding it out for Theo to appreciate, “you’re gonna avoid Lakeland like a well-adjusted, adult woman who knows exactly what she wants, aren’t you?”
“Maybe… yeah,” she conceded.
“Well, I’ll leave ya to it.” She kissed Georgia’s cheek. “Get some rest tonight, okay? You’re lookin’ sickly.”
She nodded and watched Caroline approach the Lovetts’ table. Griffin jumped from his chair and beamed at her sister. “Caroline Remillard. Look at you!” He pulled her into a giant hug that lifted her feet off the floor before dropping her again to assess.
Georgia half giggled and half coughed seeing the way her sweet sister seemed clueless about the way Griffin studied her interacting with his brothers. She knelt down to give her full attention to Theo who had stars in his own eyes for Caroline.
Georgia put herself to work wiping tables and bidding customers goodbye, with gratitude, as they slowly trickled out into the cold evening. Her folks left too, only after Georgia assured them she’d close soon enough and get much needed rest. She promised to check in with them the next day.
Dazed and exhausted, Georgia watched the stragglers finishing up over the next hour. She’d long lost sight of Lake, who’d talked with Caroline for a few minutes, then made his way around the room, charming each table with his baby blues and amiable charisma.
Caroline had taken his seat, relaxing into easy conversation with Evan, Griffin, and Theo. When Evan left, Griffin remained behind to talk with Caroline, a sleeping Theo resting on his shoulder at their private table. Apparently, neither of the two were ready to end the night just yet.
Dakota and Ginny hung out with some mutual friends near the entrance, seeing them out. Georgia knew if she snuck upstairs, they’d lock up behind her. And as she turned to do just that, a wave of dizziness overcoming her, she found Lake—blurry, but inexplicably perfect—waiting for her at the kitchen door. A healthy distance maintained between his face and the door.
“It was a great event, Georgia Snow.” He smiled, holding the door open for her and following her through the kitchen.
She nodded, lacking the energy to say anything but hoping he’d follow her just the same.
He took her hand in his, interlocking their fingers as if they did so all the time. Then they walked hand in hand to the door leading to her apartment staircase. Heart racing with every step, Georgia wished she were coherent enough to enjoy all the mystical hand holding, but all she could focus on was the fact that her bed was one hundred whole steps away, and she’d have to climb up them if she wanted to ever go to sleep again.
“So,” Lake said, clueless to her suffering, “you want me to kiss you silly, huh?”
She groaned but couldn’t think of a single verbal jab to hit him with. Instead, she opted to rest her head against the friendly, solid hallway door, leaning her body there, too, then twisting to look up at the devastatingly handsome man rubbing his thumb against her hand. She liked to think she looked at him with charm and an air of mystery, but the look on Lake’s face when they made eye contact suggested otherwise.
“Woah, Georgia. Are you okay?” He cupped her cheeks in his huge hands.Had they always been this big? His hands were so nice. Nice cool hands.She shut her eyes and really enjoyed the feel of them on her burning cheeks. “You look terrible, and you’re so hot.” He moved one hand from her cheek to her forehead, the other sliding behind her neck.
She hummed and managed to cough out a soft laugh as she opened her eyes and found Lake’s so close to her own.
“Ha.You’rehot.” She felt outside of her body.Had Lake actually made her weak at the knees?She sunk into the touch of his hands. “You really know how to sweet talk me, don’t ya, Lakeland Lovett. Laaaakkkeeeland. Lakeland.”
She practiced saying it out loud. His name fit perfectly on her lips. She wished she felt more up to seeing whether hislipswould feel perfectly on her lips. Sadie was right. She was crazy! She should have kissed Lakeland Lovett long before she felt delirious with fever.What if she missed the chance now?Her eyes brimmed with tears at the thought.
“Oh, baby, no,” Lake said, bending down and scooping her up before she could argue otherwise. “I’ve got you, okay?”
When he pushed open the hallway door and began the climb up the never ending stairway, she realized she wouldn’t have to walk those daunting steps on her own. So, she curled into him and let him carry her away.
