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I’m not sure Beckett has ever interrupted someone else and given Sutton the floor.

“Um, thanks,” she tells him.

“Well, obviously you should be the one explaining this.” He shakes his head again. “And I realize this happens a lot. And I’m sorry.” He looks around the group, then back to her. “We talk over you a lot at practice, don’t we?”

She starts to shake her head and shrug, but her gaze lands on me. I give her a little nod.

She straightens slightly, then says to her brother, “Yeah. Sometimes.” Then she shakes her head again. “Okay, a lot.”

“I think I’m just so used to you being on the ice with me, I don’t really think about it. But tonight…” He looks around, glancing at the barn as well as the other people. “You seem really different tonight,” he tells her. “You’re really happy. Glowing almost. I can tell that you really love this. You’re really excited. And I’m sorry if I haven’t seen that before at the hockey rink. Because you’re really awesome at what you do for us there too. But tonight it just made me really notice. And all of this is going to be really awesome and I think everybody needs to shut the fuck up and let you take the lead.”

Holy shit.

I officially like Beckett Moore.

And I cast a quick glance at Andi, who is staring at Beckett with an unreadable expression.

I look over at Sutton again. In contrast, her emotions are clearly written across her face. She is stunned, but incredibly touched and happy.

And I am officially in love with her.

“Thank you, Beckett,” she says, her voice thick with emotion.

He turns to the group. “Sutton is now going to tell us how to do the Virginia Reel. And then we’re all gonna do it. And we’re gonna have a really good time.”

He says it as if instructing them to have a good time, with a slight warning that if they don’t, he might have more to say about it.

And fuck. I have to go.

I really, really don’t want to leave, but I have to go meet George.

I don’t want to say goodbye to her, so as they all line up and she starts to teach the dance, I slip out the door, feeling like at least she’s in good hands with a bunch of people who really love her.

Even if I don’t think any of them can love her the way I do.

CHAPTER 17

SUTTON

He’s fine.

I’m sure he’s fine.

He even said so when I texted and asked.

He even said, don’t worry about me, Pumpkin. That sounds like he’s fine.

But he left the dance practice early. And didn’t say goodbye. That’s very out of character.

And… I miss him.

How can I miss him? I just saw him. And I see him all the time.

Maybe it’s the lack of closure. The lack of a goodbye.

But I think it’s also the fact that I asked Hudson and Teddy if Lawson said anything to them, and if he was all right, and Teddy had shrugged and said maybe he was sick or had a headache or something.

So now that’s in my head.