Page 108 of Valor

“It’s a surprise,” he replies. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

* * *

“This is ridiculous.I am absolutely overthinking this.”

Kennedy laughs through the speaker of my phone, currently lying amidst an obscene amount of discarded clothes.

“Why did you have to go out of town today? It’s bad enough my brothers are gone. But you too?”

She laughs again. “Well, I wasn’t aware you were going to have a fashion crisis, and I don’t think they would be much help here.”

“No, they wouldn’t,” I admit. “But you should have known.” I groan and lie on the bed, plopping down on top of the clothes. “He’s going to be here in half an hour, and I have literally no idea what I’m going to wear.”

“You need to take a breath. This is Gibson we’re talking about. You two have known each other since diapers.”

“Thanks for that visual.”

“It’s true though. You were best friends all growing up, which means he knowsyou.The pressure isn’t on for this one. Impression has already been made. You can breathe.”

“Says you,” I mutter. “Okay. Fine. I’ll wear the green dress and heels.”

“Good. And wear your black cardigan over it. It’s super cute and will be dressy enough or casual depending on where he takes you.”

“Okay, thanks, love you, bye.” I end the call and push up to my feet. My reflection stares back at me from the mirror over my dresser. Black hair that has been washed and dried already but is still loose around my face.

I’ve never been one for makeup, but should I wear some tonight?

“You were best friends all growing up, which means he knows you.”

Exactly. How can she not see that that’s the problem? If I show up looking too casual, he’ll think I’m not taking the date seriously enough. But if I show up looking ridiculously overdressed, he’ll realize I’ve been in love with him for years and get scared off.

So where’s the balance?

I turn back toward my bed, my gaze landing on the green dress. The emerald fabric falls to my knees, the skirt loose and flirty. The bodice hugs, but not so much that I can’t breathe, and if I do as Kennedy said and add the black cardigan over the top, it would make it look just casual enough.

Okay. Done.

Green dress, strappy sandals instead of heels, black cardigan, hair braided, no makeup.

I check the clock. Twenty-two minutes to go.I can do this.

GIBSON

After nearly turning aroundand canceling half a dozen times out of sheer fear of losing the friendship I have with Lani, then realizing that if I cancel last minute I can pretty much kiss it goodbye anyway, I finally pull up in front of her apartment building.

“Okay, Gibson, you can do this.” I breathe deeply, trying to calm the nerves I’ve been carrying around ever since deciding I was going to finally ask her out in the first place. Seeing her sitting there in the sunlight this afternoon, I’d been helpless to deny myself any longer. Even if this goes up in flames, Ihaveto know.

Before I can even open my door to climb out, Lani steps out of her apartment and locks the door. The breath leaves my lungs as I stare up at her in a dress the color of emeralds.

I’m stunned by the sight of her, the beauty, strength, and resilience that is Lani Hunt. It’s why I’ve loved her nearly all my life. Why I’m hoping I can undo the mistakes of my past and earn a chance to be hers.

Lani is the very reason I get out of bed in the morning. She’s the only reason I didn’t leave Pine Creek after my very public divorce. I’d stayed, dealt with everyone looking at me with pity because I knew one day she’d come home and I wanted to be near my best friend.

The woman Ishouldhave waited for. The one who would have never broken my heart and tossed me to the side like yesterday’s takeout.

Get it together, Lawson. No bad memories tonight.

I push my door open as she hits the halfway point of the stairs, finally gathering my thoughts enough to realize that I need to get out and get the door for her. When she sees me, she smiles.

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