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"Is that a threat or a promise?"
"In Texas," she said, leading me toward her Mother and what looked like my first real family dinner in months, "that's both."
CHAPTER 22
Lili
The taste of Edward's lips still lingered on mine as we broke apart, the entire town of Cedar Creek watching us like we were the Friday night movie at the drive-in.
My heart was beating so fast I was pretty sure everyone could hear it over the fiddle music still playing from the rodeo speakers. The evening air was thick with the smell of cotton candy and dust, and somewhere in the distance, I could hear the low of cattle settling in for the night.
"Well, sugar," I whispered against his mouth, "I reckon you just put on a bigger show than the Fourth of July fireworks."
His gray eyes crinkled at the corners—genuine laughter that I hadn't seen in far too long. "I believe that was precisely the point, darling."
The folks were giving us some space but still stealing glances like they couldn't quite believe what they'd witnessed.
Edward Grosvenor, in his thousand-dollar suit and cowboy boots, standing in the middle of our little rodeo grounds declaring his love for me like some kind of fairy tale prince who'd wandered into the wrong story.
"Come on, honey," I said, tugging his hand before anyone else could corner us with questions or congratulations. "Let'sget out of here before Mrs. Patterson decides she needs the full scoop for the church newsletter."
We practically ran to my rental car, Daphne close behind us with a grin so wide it could've lit up the whole county, Mama said she would come back with Mrs. Patterson. We piled in like teenagers escaping a party we weren't supposed to be at, and I couldn't stop laughing as I started the engine.
"That was..." Edward began, then shook his head. "I cannot quite believe I just did that. In front of half the county, no less."
"Believe it, honey." I reached over and squeezed his hand. "And for what it's worth, it was perfect. Even if you did look like you were about to faint when Bobby Ray handed you that microphone."
"I was terrified," he admitted. "But not of the crowd. I was terrified you'd tell me it was too late."
I pulled into Mama's driveway and killed the engine, turning to face him fully. "Edward Grosvenor, after everything we've been through, you really think I'd give up on us that easy?"
His answer was another kiss, softer this time but no less intense. When we finally came up for air, Daphne was making exaggerated gagging sounds from the backseat.
"Alright, you two," she said. "Save some of that for later. I need to talk to my friend here."
An hour later, after we'd talked ourselves hoarse and cried ourselves empty, Edward had disappeared with Mama into the kitchen—something about her wanting to "have a word" with him that made him look like he was facing a firing squad instead of a conversation with a woman who barely came up to his shoulder.
Daphne and I were sitting on the front porch swing, sweet tea sweating in our glasses and fireflies just starting to blink in the gathering dusk. The ice in our glasses clinked softly as we rocked, and I could smell Mama's gardenias blooming along the porch rail, their sweetness mixing with the faint scent of Edward's cologne.
"I owe you an apology," Daphne said quietly, her usual bubbly energy subdued. "A big one."
I studied her profile in the golden light. "Daph—"
"No, let me say this." She turned to face me, tears already gathering in her eyes. "I was so hurt when I found out about you and Edward. Not just because you didn't tell me, but because I felt like... like I'd been replaced. Edward's always been my person, you know? The one who understood me, who protected me. And then suddenly he had someone else who was more important."
My chest tightened. "You could never be replaced, honey. What Edward and I have, it's different than what y'all have. You're his sister, his family. I'm just—"
"You're the woman he loves." Her voice cracked on the last words, and I could see her struggling not to completely break down.
This was Daphne at her most vulnerable—no social masks, no practiced charm, just raw honesty that made my own eyes sting. "The woman who makes him happy in a way I've never seen before. And instead of being thrilled about that, I was jealous and petty and... God, Lili, I said such awful things."
I reached over and took her hand. "We both said things we didn't mean. I was scared and guilty and feeling like I didn't belong in y'all's world anyway. But that doesn't excuse lying to you for weeks." The truth was, I still wasn't sure I belonged. Three weeks in my hometown had reminded me who I was underneath all the fancy dresses and charity galas—just a small-town girl who sold garden tools on late-night TV. But maybe that was enough. Maybe it had always been enough.
"You want to know something funny?" She laughed, but it was watery. "I kept pushing Edward to date, kept telling him he needed someone in his life. Then when he finally found that someone, I lost my bloody mind."
"To be fair, I don't think you expected that someone to be your best friend who had been supposed to be staying in the staff quarters."
"No," she agreed. "Definitely didn't see that plot twist coming."