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Shopping was one of Sadie’s least favorite things to do. She’d rather do just about anything than spend her entire afternoon pushing a cart while Delaney rattled off things on a list that Sadie had to have for her dorm. Most of the items Delaney had written down seemed useless to Sadie, but she didn’t dare say that, especially not after she received a lecture about why one set of sheets wasn’t enough and shehadto have two.

Even Charlie seemed to be over their shopping spree. They’d been hopping between stores for the better part of five hours, and Sadie had no idea how they were supposed to fit all of the stuff into her tiny Mustang as they drove the hundreds miles to the university so Sadie would have a car. Charlie was right; they were going to have to rent another car. But again, Sadie didn’t dare bring that up. Somehow, she knew her mom buying all the random things was her way of processing Sadie going off to college.

So Sadie would let her have her moment.

Even if it was going to make her late for her meet-up with Dylan.

She had been reluctant to ask Dylan for help picking out Ellie’s birthday present. Sadie wanted to get it all on her own. But the more she thought about it—or, well, overthought about it—the more she wanted Dylan’s opinion on it before she bought it.

Sadie had found the ring in an antique shop in the Cove. The owner said it was from the 1920s, so Sadie instantly had a feeling Ellie would love it. What she didn’t know was how it would come across to Ellie if she gave her a Claddagh ring. She knew Ellie’s parents wore them as their wedding rings most of the time, so she didn’t want Ellie to think she was proposing.

Instead, Sadie had another reason for wanting to gift Ellie a Claddagh ring. She’d done research and learned that if the ring was worn on the right hand with the crown turned inward, it meant the wearer was in a relationship. But Sadie had no clue if it was something Ellie would want to wear.

Ugh. Stop overthinking.

“Mom, are we almost done?”

“I hope so,” Charlie answered for her. “I already don’t know where we’re going to put all of this stuff in the SUV, let alone in Sadie’s Mustang.”

“We’ll figure it out.” Delaney waved them off as she kept shopping. “We can rent a car and drive it down with the stuff then fly back. It’ll work.”

Charlie and Sadie shared a bemused look. It was Charlie’s idea initially, but Delaney assured her they could fit it all into one car. Sadie knew then she was wrong, and it was even more apparent with their cart full of items.

It was over an hour later before they finally arrived back in the Cove. Sadie quickly helped them unload all the bags into the house before heading out to meet Dylan. She parked her car in front of the antique store and waved at Dylan in the car beside her. They got out and met on the sidewalk.

“Hey.”

“Hey, thanks for meeting me. Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s okay,” Dylan shrugged as she put the keys to her car in the pocket of her shorts. “I’m just excited to see what you’ve picked out for our Eleanor.”

Sadie couldn’t help but laugh to herself at Dylan’s comment. “Well, hopefully you think it’s a good idea. I keep overthinking it.”

“I’m sure she’ll love whatever to pick out for her.”

“I hope so.”

“Dude, come on,” Dylan laughed. “Ellie’s like in love with you. You could give her a blade of grass and she’d keep it forever.”

“Well, that would be cheaper.”

Dylan chuckled, but her words echoed around in Sadie’s mind as they walked into the antique shop. Ellie loved her? Had she told Dylan that? Why hadn’t she told Sadie that? Was she waiting for the right moment? Or was Dylan just joking?

Sadie had no idea, so she chose to focus instead on the Claddagh ring. She pointed at it through the glass case as Dylan seemed to intently study it. Her intense stare made Sadie nervous. What if she was trying to think of a way to tell Sadie that Ellie would hate it or that it wasn’t an appropriate gift?

“Just tell me she’ll hate it and help me find something else,” Sadie dramatically sighed as she turned to walk away from the counter.

But Dylan grabbed her wrist before she could walk too far away and pulled her back. “Sadie. Stop.”

“Your face says she’ll hate it.”

“My face says I’m impressed you know Ellie so well.”

What?

Had Sadie heard her correctly?

Dylan had to be teasing her.