Page 81

I can’t help but laugh. “That’s true friendship, Andi.”

She nods. “And as for your plan…do what feels right. You do know what you’re doing. You know Lawson and more, you know yourself.”

I nod. I do. I know what I want, and I feel good about going after it.

“He calls me Pumpkin now.”

She shakes her head. “Yeah, he’s a total goner.”

I laugh, feeling happiness bubble up.

“And little pumpkin pies need whipped cream,” she says. “Don’t forget to pack that.”

I already had that on my list.

CHAPTER 16

LAWSON

Lydia: Well??? What did she think?

I look from the message on my phone over to where Sutton is standing with Nora, Astrid, and Andi. The look on her face is exactly what I wanted when I was stringing up the twinkle lights and placing the hay bales, pumpkins, and gourds around the space.

Lawson: She looks a little awestruck. But happy.

Lydia: *heart eyes emoji* *heart eyes emoji* *heart eyes emoji* Awesome! I’m so glad. The photos you sent were great, Law.

Lawson: Thanks for your help. I’ve seen a ton of twinkle lights, but never bought them.

Lydia: lol! Happy to help. Twinkle lights are definitely in my wheelhouse. If you want any other ideas for that space, let me know.

I watch Sutton as she turns a full circle and grins and nods at something Nora says.

Lawson: I’m pretty sure Sutton can take it from here. But thanks. You’ve got to come down and see it for yourself.

Lydia: Say less. I’ll be there for the next game, and now you have to take me out to the barn.

Lawson: You should just come to the barn party. It’s going to be great. Dancing, tons of food, I’m hoping Sutton goes for my idea of hayrack rides and a bonfire outside.

Lydia: YOUR idea for hayrack rides and a bonfire?

Lawson: Why do you seem so confused by that?

Lydia: Honestly? You were always only about hockey. Period. Just hockey. Even when your teams had teambuilding activities or extra social events, you moaned about it. And then there were the social events around my dance groups. You HATED those.

I feel a little pain in my chest. She’s not wrong. But she doesn’t totally understand all the reasons behind it. Was it because I was slightly antisocial? Yes. For sure. I went out for those hockey teams because I wanted to play hockey. Not because I was looking for friends. I had friends at school. And inevitably, my hockey teammates would find out that I had a gorgeous, vivacious younger sister who knew more about hockey than most of them. Lydia was like a magnet for hockey players. And she loved them all.

I had to constantly be on high alert to protect her from their nefarious intentions. Which she hated. Which caused us to fight.

That didn’t happen with the guys I went to school and grew up with. They had known Lydia for years, and more, knew me. They knew she was off-limits, and they respected that.

The reason I hated going to her social events was that, ironically, I felt guilty about her having to go with me instead of a real boyfriend. Our parents were just as protective of her as I was, and she was not allowed to date until she was eighteen.

Even then, they had very strict rules.

Not that she listened to them.

Me going along to social activities like hayrack rides, fairs, and bonfires meant she could go. But it reminded both of us that, one, she wasn’t allowed to be a “normal” teenager, and two, why not.