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I grin. I have, of course, replayed that kiss over and over and over in my mind. And I’m really proud of it. Not just that I initiated it, but that I absolutely participated.
Sure, he basically took over almost immediately. But my tongue and hands were definitely involved.
“Yeah, we were out at the barn, and I was just amazed at how incredible he is and everything he’s done for me, and I don’t know, it just felt right.”
She leans in and puts both hands on my knees, squeezing. “That is so awesome. I’m so proud of you. What did he do?”
“Kissed me back.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet.”
“He basically picked me up, put me against this wooden beam, and really, really, kissed me back.”
Andi looks absolutely delighted. “So it was good?”
“So good. He was really, truly turned on.”
Her expression softens, and she squeezes me again. “Of course he was, Sutton. He wants you. He really likes you. You have to stop being amazed by that.”
“I know. It’s just hard. It’s been a long time since I…” I don’t even know how to say it.
But Andi does. “Went after something you wanted that didn’t have anything to do with anyone else? Like your brother, or this town?”
“Yeah,” I admit.
“Well, if it helps,” Andi says, sitting back. “It’s not just you. I’d say Lawson is getting something out of this too.” She gives me a sly smile.
I laugh. “Well, I want him to get a lot out of it. I want this to be really good.”
She shakes your head. “Honey, you don’t need to worry about that. He really likes you. He’s not expecting you to be some sex kitten in the bedroom. He just wants you.”
“Yeah, I am guessing by my early stalker attempts he realizes that I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“And he won’t care.”
“Maybe. But,” I add quickly. “If it can’t blow his mind, I want it to be fun and flirtatious, and…memorable. That’s kind of on brand for us. So I don’t want to just walk up to him and say ‘let’s go home and fuck’.”
Andi shakes her head. “Honestly, hearing you say the word fuck is shocking even to me. You’re right, that’s not really your style.”
“I was thinking the barn and twinkle lights and mini pumpkin pies.”
She’s studying me. “Do twinkle lights mean something? Your voice changed when you said that.”
I smile. “Yeah, we were talking about twinkle lights yesterday at the barn when he was telling me all the things he imagined for fixing it up. For a dance studio. And hosting dances out there and things like that.”
“Lawson Landry has thought about how to fix the barn up with twinkle lights?” she clarifies.
I nod.
“Oh, honey, he is not going to care how good you are in bed. He is so falling for you.”
My heart flips over in my chest, and my belly swoops. “Really?”
“Really,” she says. “And I’m so happy for you.”
“You are?” I ask, skeptically. “You aren’t really into all this love stuff.”
She sighs and looks a little sad for a second. “I’m actually totally into real love stuff. Like what Nora and Alex have, and what Astrid and Declan have. It’s the fake love. The guys who don’t really know what that is, or care. The people who take it for granted.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s Lawson. And trust me, if it is, I will kill him, put his body inside a life-sized plaster mold, and plant him in the middle of the park.”
