She walks toward me, those big golden eyes of hers widening as she takes in the scene.
“You mentioned your father wanting to finish the porch for your mom.” I shrug.
Tally blows out a breath and blinks a few times.
“Hell, please don’t cry.” I take the steps two at a time, pulling her to me as soon as she’s within reach.
Tally squeezes me tight, and I memorize the feel of her like this. How much longer do I have her? Fuck, I can’t think about it or I’ll be the one crying.
Tally wipes at her eyes before turning her gaze to me. “I’m sorry, this day has just—” She blows out a breath. “Thank you.”
I smile at her. “Baby, you never have to thank me. This weekend was all you. How many more messages did you get after I left?”
She laughs and rolls her body into my side, guiding me up the steps with my arm still wrapped around her. Then she smiles at one chair before settling into it. Her eyes close as she rocks. “So many. Everyone is asking me if I can make their wedding cake.” She blinks her eyes open. “Crazy, right?”
It takes effort to sit in the rocker beside her rather than pull her into my lap. “Why do you think it’s crazy?”
“Because I’m not a baker. I don’t have a degree. I’m just me.” She says it like it’s true. Like she doesn’t see herself the way everyone else does. The way I do.
“Tally, nobody ever has everything. Maybe some people have degrees, but they don’t have experience. Maybe some people have both but not the personality. There’s a reason your boss in Nantucket sought you out to help this summer. You’re talented. Don’t wish away all of these experiences because you don’t think you’re enough. It’s okay to take your dreams by inches and not by miles.”
Her rocking chair creaks as she jolts forward. “You really think I could do it?”
I reach for her hand, stopping her chair for a moment. “Tally, I think you could do whatever you set your mind to. So, tell me what you want. Tell me, if you could have anything, what would your perfect life look like? Because I want to help you make it happen.”
She bites her lip before letting a smile free. “Well, right now, I want to dance with my boyfriend on the porch of my daddy’s house.”
“Alexa, play country music,” I say to the device I set on the porch. Then I stand up and hold out a hand to her. “Eli asked me if I had a date to the Spring Fling.”
Tally takes my hand and lets me guide her away from the chairs. “Oh yeah?”
“Told him I’m going with you.”
She snorts. “Oh, you just assumed, huh?”
I glance at her. “You are my girlfriend.”
Her entire face lights up. “Well, then, I guess we’ll have to go shopping for a new dress.”
“Tally.”
“Come on, Cowboy. I need to look pretty when you get crowned Daffodil King.”
My head falls back and I laugh as I come to terms with all the things I’m going to do just so I can be crowned king and Tally can be on my arm, smiling like the damn queenof this town she deserves to be. “You’re lucky I really like you.”
“That’s good, because I forgot to tell you there’s a dance-a-thon at the Spring Fling.”
I cough out a laugh. “Hell, Wildflower. A what?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure it sounds like the worst thingever, but each couple picks a cause and whoever remains dancing the longest wins the pot of money for their charity.”
I tug her closer. “So I have to dance with you all night?”
She nods. “Your worst nightmare.”
I smile as I lean down and press my lips against hers. “I don’t know Tally. I can think of nothing better than having you in my arms all night.”
We twirl in a circle and I dip her right as Morgan Wallen’s “Spin You Around” starts up.
