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“I’m telling you,” Everly says. “And no offense. You are good. Like really good.” She points at her plate. “But that monkey bread was to die for.”

“Oh my God!” I exclaim, unable to help it now. “That was my monkey bread!”

Everyone at the table freezes, and all eyes are on me.

“I made that bread. I also made the cinnamon rolls they all devoured and raved about at Bruce’s until he kicked them out for talking about someone else’s food like that. And I’ve made every single one of those casseroles that Lawson and Brewser have gotten!” I stand up quickly and point a finger at my chest. “I am Lawson Landry’s stalker!”

Nora stares at me. Andi groans. Astrid’s fork clatters against her plate as she sits forward. Quinn grins. And Everly says, “Get the fuck out of here!”

I look at her. “What? You know I have a crush on Lawson.”

“Yeah.” She nods. “But I didn’t think you had stalking in you.”

I sigh and slump back into my chair. “Well, I’m not great at it.” I shoot Nora a look. “Obviously stalking someone with casseroles is weak.”

Nora instantly looks apologetic, and she grabs my hand. “Sutton! That’s not what I… well, I mean I didn’t… I never…” She sighs. “I’m so sorry I hurt your feelings.”

“It’s not weak. She’s also giving him little gifts and notes and…he likes it,” Andi says.

“Wait…you knew about this?” Nora asks, looking at Andi.

Andi gives her a sheepish smile. “I kind of found out accidentally. But yes, I’ve known for a little while.”

“You know what?” Everly asks. “For anyone else it might be weak, but for Sutton it’s…”

I lean in. “Yes?”

“Perfect,” Everly says.

“Right?” Andi asks. “That’s what I said.”

“Yeah, okay,” Nora says, nodding. “It is.”

“It is?” I ask.

“It’s very nurturing. And it’s your love language,” Nora says. “Though I still don’t really think it’s stalking. It’s…you really liking Lawson and trying to tell him.”

“But he doesn’t know it’s me,” I say. “And I’ve been trying to do more than just casseroles.”

“Have you?” Everly asks, leaning in. “Like what?”

“Sexier things. Like the girl who likes Beckett.”

“Please, please, tell me you have not mentioned kids. Or dogs,” Andi says.

“No! Nothing like that.”

But damn, I bet Lawson is so great with dogs. I already know he’s good to kids. I’ve seen that a hundred times with his young fans.

“Then what?”

“I realized I needed to be… bolder.”

He basically told me to do exactly that in his kitchen the other day. Bold. That was the word he used. And he said Beckett’s stalker has been clear about what she wants. And that I need to do the same.

“How are you going to do that?” Astrid asks, looking extremely interested.

“Well…”