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Their eyes met then, and Joy realized the weight of what Lauren had said. “I love you, Lauren. You’re my favorite person in the world.”
Lauren grinned at her and said, “Same. But are you sure about me? What about Chester?”
They both laughed, and that helped to lighten the mood. Then Joy said, “So you told Blake about some strings. What’s next for you two?”
* * *
The next night,Lauren bent her head to put in her earring, carefully threading the wire through the hole in her earlobe. The doorbell rang, and her phone lit up and started playing the National Anthem. She and Joy had set the chime to that after Harrison had given them access to his security system app. The Fourth had been a few days ago, but apparently the patriotic songs would be available for the whole month of July.
The security app brought up the doorbell cam, and she saw Blake standing there. He wore a pair of black slacks and a light blue shirt, open at the throat. Her pulse sped at the sight of him holding a huge bouquet of white roses. She smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. She’d told him last night that she didn’t like red roses.
“Tacky” she’d called them.
The door opened, and Joy’s voice came through the app. “Come on in,” she said. “She’s almost ready.”
Now that Lauren had told her she’d lost her job, she’d also admitted she was going to sell her house in Sweet Water Falls and move here. Joy had cried a little, and Lauren understood. She’d sworn Joy to secrecy until they could have their Supper Club once Cass returned from her honeymoon, and she trusted Joy explicitly.
She didn’t want to think about how Bessie would react to the news, and Lauren had to once again coach herself that life changed. She needed to leave Texas, and she knew it deep down in her core.
After lightly brushing her fingers through her hair, she deemed herself ready, and she left her bedroom. To Joy’s surprise, Chester had called her, and they were going out tonight too. Lauren was glad she wouldn’t have to be home alone tonight, and she looked stunning in a white dress with big bell sleeves and a full skirt that looked like the perfect thing to wear for a stroll along the beach with a handsome man.
Blake had given Lauren only a few details about tonight, but he’d said they might be walking a lot. Because of that, she’d skipped the heels and opted for a pair of comfortable leather sandals. They went well with her eggplant shorts and the retro, short-sleeved sweater in beige, purple, and yellow she’d paired with it.
She picked up a pale yellow sun hat as she passed the couch. “Hey, you.”
Blake whistled, his eyes roaming to her feet and back to her eyes. “You are gorgeous.”
“I’m going to tell Chester to greet me like that when he gets here.” Joy grinned at her from the kitchen.
Lauren giggled and positioned her hat on her head. “Ready.” She slipped her hand into Blake’s and squeezed.
“Good to see you, Joy,” he said somewhat absently, and they left the house. Outside, Blake stepped in front of her. “Seriously, Lauren, I don’t know what I did to catch your eye, because you’re…” He swallowed. “Honestly.” He chuckled. “Out of my league.”
Lauren had heard that before, usually during a break-up. She shook her head. “Don’t say that. It’s not true.”
“Oh, it’s true.”
Frustration filled her. “Blake.” She exhaled, not sure what to say. She hated not knowing how to express her feelings, but she often didn’t. “Look, just promise me something.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Don’t break up with me because I’m ‘out of your league.’ I’ve been through that before, and I’m standing right here, saying out loud,Idon’t feel like that.Idon’t feel like you’re beneath me. There are no leagues. We’re just people, and we’re on even ground.” Her chest stormed, and she searched Blake’s face, desperate for him to understand. “Okay?”
His expression changed instantly, and he dropped his head. “Okay.”
“I’m not sure I believe you.” Lauren tried to slip her hand out of his, but he gripped her fingers before she could get them away.
“Okay,” he said in a stronger voice. “We’re just people, and we’re on even ground.”
“Yes.” She re-settled her fingers between his. “Now, I believe you promised me an amazing date.” She took the first step toward the edge of the steps. As they moved down them, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“I was thinking of this place down in Sea Pines,” he said. “Where the historical lighthouse is?”
“I’ve been down there,” she said. “There’s a big shopping center.”
“Yes,” he said. “Have you been on the harbor cruise?”
Lauren’s eyebrows went up. “There’s a harbor cruise?”
