Clayton and the girls had sent messages cheering her on. Ruth had sent a fist emoji, calling her strong. Birdie’s message hit the hardest: “Proud of you.”
Shame twisted in her gut. She wasn’t strong. She wasn’t someone to be proud of.
God. She couldn’t face everyone right now, not after all the hours they’d spent helping her.
She hesitated before texting Clayton:hi. i’m tired. can poppy stay overnight?
Clayton responded almost instantly:of course! how did it go?
She replied,ok. i’ll pick her up tomorrow
He texted right back,copy that. see you at ruth’s birthday party
Shit. Ruth’s birthday. She’d almost forgotten.
Tomorrow she’d have to put on a brave face. For Ruth. For everyone.
Even if she felt like a failure.
CHAPTER 32
CLAYTON
Clayton leaned against the porch railing as he stared into the night. The air was thick with the scent of honeysuckle, the distant sound of crickets filling the quiet between him and Nolan. His brother sat on the porch swing, one booted foot pushing against the wooden floor to keep it moving in a slow, steady rhythm.
“You’re really going to do it?” Nolan finally asked, his tone skeptical but not unkind.
Clayton exhaled sharply through his nose. “Yeah. Tomorrow at Ruth’s party. Can’t keep playing this game with Jamie. I need her to know.”
Nolan folded his arms, studying Clayton like he was trying to figure out if he was serious or just caught up in the moment. “And what exactly are you going to tell her? That you’ve been in love with her this whole time?”
Clayton dragged a hand through his hair, frustration tugging at his chest. “Something like that.”
His brother chuckled, shaking his head. “Heck of a plan.”
“You got a better one?” Clayton shot back.
Nolan’s expression turned a shade more serious. “Look, man. Jamie’s different. She’s not some girl who’s going to fall at your feet because you croon a love song in her direction. She’s tough. You know that.”
“Yeah, I do,” Clayton said, his voice quieter now. “I love that about her. She doesn’t let me get away with shit. She calls me on it. But she also—damn, Nolan, she makes me want to be better. And if I don’t tell her now I might lose my chance for good.”
Nolan nodded, the swing creaking softly as he shifted. “Then I guess you’d better make sure she knows you’re serious. No half-assed confessions. No games. Just tell her straight up.”
Clayton hesitated for a second then let out a breath. “It just isn’t me, you know.”
Nolan lifted his brow. “What do you mean?”
“The girls,” Clayton said, his voice heavy. “They love her, man. They light up every time she’s around. She knows how to handle them, how to talk to them without treating them like babies or some afterthought.” He shook his head, his throat tight. “When Jamie’s with them it feels easy. Like it’s supposed to be.”
Nolan was quiet for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. “That’s a big deal.”
“Yeah.” Clayton swallowed hard. “And that’s why I can’t screw this up.”
Nolan studied him and let out a low whistle. “Youreallyare gone for her, huh?”
“Yeah,” Clayton admitted, no fight left in his voice. “I really am.”
The weight of tomorrow pressed down on him, but for the first time in a long time it felt like the right kind of pressure. The kind that might finally push him toward something real.
