Page 85 of Lucy Loves Him Not
“You and your brother planning to talk again soon?” I knew this was a big deal, even if he was playing it cool.
He nodded. “Yeah, I think? The conversation actually felt easier than I’d expected. I’d always been hesitant to call him, feeling like it might feel awkward or weird since it’s not something we’d done much. It was actually fun. We talked about random stuff. He was even talking about flying out. Maybe this fall we’ll go to a Cowboys game.” Then he shrugged. “But who knows.” Rain started sprinkling on us again.
“We’ll get him out here,” I said as if it was a sure thing that Sweet River wasAdam’splace. That to see Adam, people would have to fly out here where I was.
I reached up and brushed his rainy curls out of his eyes. He grabbed me suddenly and spun me around in the summer shower, making me laugh. He dropped me to my feet and I pulled his face close to mine, sharing a soft kiss.
How could I go from wishing he’d never come to town to dreaming, hoping, praying he’d stay?
“Guys, it’s the Fourth of July. I know it’s been an insane workday, but we’ve got to get over and watch somefireworks,” Victor said as he slammed the tailgate of his truck closed. The sun was setting as Victor, Olivia, Adam, and I packed things up. “We’ve got to celebrate and have some fun.”
“Maybe we could crash someone’s party?” I offered, trying to remember what was going on in Sweet River tonight.
“You know what? I know a place,” Victor said. “Get in.” He waved toward his truck. Olivia climbed into the front seat while Adam and I squeezed into the back. Knee to knee, arm to arm. I was fine if we stayed back there the whole time.
“We need food first,” Adam said pointing to me. “I’ve seen what happens if this one gets hungry.”
“It must be a sister thing.” Victor let out a low whistle. “Liv’s the same way.”
Olivia and I didn’t deny it.
We swung by an old hot dog stand that was basically a town institution, a small hole in the wall nestled over by the library.
After we secured our dinner, Victor revved his truck out of the city and out into the wide, open country. He took a rocky turn down a ranch road, the truck bouncing. Victor was blaring some country song over the radio. Adam weaved his fingers through mine.
Victor neared the edge of a hill, turned the car around, and backed the bed up so we had a view of the cityscape below before putting the truck into park.
We climbed into the bed of the truck, joking over the sounds of a party on a ranch down below as we dug into our hot dogs and stuck straws into our icy sodas.
Olivia hung her legs over the side of the truck, looking out into the night. Victor was watching her from his spot sitting on the rim. Adam was leaning against the back window and I contentedly rested my head on his shoulder as I chewed a salty fry.
As the sky darkened, the party below us began their fireworks show. Dazzling pinks, purples, reds, and blues shimmered across a canvas of black. We went quiet as the fireworks cracked perfectly in our line of sight. Adam threaded his arm around my bent knee. He was warm, solid.
We could hear the partyoohingandaahingalong with us. One sparkly, orange firework fizzled out before it even really got to begin.
I nestled against Adam’s shoulder. I’d claim the spot next to him. I’d enjoy whatever we had even if we fizzled out before we got our chance to light up the sky. The match had already been lit. There was no stopping us now.
“You know,” Adam said, under the searing booms and cracks. “All day, I’ve been thinking we need something to honor your grandma at the festival. She was such a part of the festival for so long. We need to do something in her memory.”
Olivia glanced over her shoulder at us. “I love that idea.”
“It’s a little late in the game for anything big, but maybe we can ask the choir to sing one of her favorite songs to kick off the show?” Adam offered.
Olivia clapped at that idea. “Lucy, what song do we think she would like?”
I was nodding along and started brainstorming song ideas, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop seeing the painting of Grandma by the lake.
Thirty-One
Olivia
LUCY. Victor said that ADAM MIGHT BE MOVING ???
how am I hearing this from him and not you?
Gracie
NO
