Page 13 of Belonging: KT & Lolo (Good Hope: The Next Generation #2)

Lolo tilted her head, her smile playful. “Where’s the fun in that?”

When Lolo slipped into the passenger seat of KT’s Jeep, she caught him eyeing the gift sack in her hand.

“A bottle of wine. I wasn’t sure what she liked, so I went with a Merlot.”

“Solid choice.” He hesitated. “I didn’t bring anything.”

“You don’t need to. Your presence is present enough.”

He quirked a brow, mock serious. “Wow. You beat me to the line.”

Lolo grinned. “Only because I knew you were thinking it.”

As he started the engine, KT glanced at her shoes. “No bunny slippers?”

“They’re resting at home,” she said, smoothing the hem of her sunflower-print dress. “They only come out for very special occasions.”

“This doesn’t count?”

“I didn’t want to outshine the birthday girl.”

KT laughed as he pulled onto the highway. “Where does Daisy live?”

“Near the town square,” she said. “Brynn said it’s the little white cottage next to theirs. You’ll see it.”

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was anticipatory, like a moment just before the first stroke of charcoal hits the page.

Then Lolo asked, breezy on the surface, “Think any of your Good Hope girlfriends will be at the party tonight?”

KT shook his head. “Since I got here, it’s just been you.”

The softly spoken words landed harder than she expected.

He glanced back at the road, a half smile tugging at his mouth. “And dating you almost got me arrested.”

“I believe you suggested the fairgrounds,” she countered.

“And you made trespassing feel like performance art.”

“You’re the one who started monologuing about shadows and duality.”

“Guilty,” he said, fighting a smile as he slowed at the end of the street. Then he looked at her fully. “But you’re the one who made it feel like magic.”

That shut her up—in the best way.

He killed the engine and hopped out to open her door. She took his offered hand, warm and familiar, and felt something spark straight to her chest.

“Still want to go in?” he asked.

She nodded, fingers tightening around his. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

Music pulsed as they followed the path around the house to the backyard, laughter rising over the hum of conversation. A long table under strings of fairy lights overflowed with pizza boxes, drinks and a balloon-topped sheet cake. Children shrieked as they played pin the tail on the donkey.

Daisy spotted them first. “You came!” she squealed, bounding over in hot pink sneakers and a glittering Birthday Queen crown. Her white eyelet dress swirled around her knees.

She pulled Lolo into a quick hug. “You brought KT. And wine! I love you both.”

Lolo handed over the bottle. “I hope Merlot’s okay.”

“It’s perfect.” Daisy turned to KT. “Thanks for coming.”

“Happy birthday,” he said with a smile.

“Food, drinks, cake—help yourselves!” Daisy waved toward the table, already bouncing away to greet someone else.

Brynn appeared beside them, radiant and relaxed. “Lolo! So glad you’re here.” She then shifted her attention to KT. “And the man of the hour. KT, good to see you again.”

“It’s been a while. Not since Dakota’s wedding.”

“Your sister was such a beautiful bride,” Brynn said warmly.

“She was.” KT turned to Lolo. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Club soda?” she said, squeezing his arm.

“Coming right up.”

As he stepped away, a redheaded boy ran up to Brynn. “Mommy, can I play pin the tail with Mya?”

Brynn tousled his hair. “Of course, sweetheart. But first, I want to introduce you to someone.”

She looked at Lolo. “This is my son, Parker Brody. Parker, this is my friend Lolo Kendrick.”

Lolo crouched slightly. “Nice to meet you, Parker. I bet you’re good at party games.”

He gave a crooked grin. “I’m gonna win a prize.”

“I believe it.”

As he took off toward the game, Lolo straightened and turned to Brynn. “You’re a natural. ”

“Thank you.” Brynn’s smile was soft, then shifted knowingly as her gaze tracked KT at the drink table. “So…what’s going on with you two?”

Lolo followed her gaze—KT was laughing at something Jake had said, Callum beside him, relaxed and at ease.

She looked back at Brynn, her smile warm, but tinged with wonder. “Honestly? I’m still figuring that out.”

They hadn’t even reached the drink table when KT reappeared beside Lolo, two club sodas in hand.

“Bubbles for you,” he said, offering her one. “No twist of lime. I didn’t want to assume your citrus preferences.”

She laughed, grateful for the drink—and the excuse to look at him again. “I’m open-minded when it comes to citrus.”

“Good to know.” His gaze dipped briefly to her lips before lifting again. “I’ll file that away.”

As they moved toward the food table, Daisy’s voice rang out from the center of the yard. “Cake in ten minutes, people. Don’t wander too far!”

A breeze lifted the edge of Lolo’s skirt, and KT instinctively stepped closer, shielding her from the wind without saying a word. His hand grazed her lower back, just a touch, but enough to scatter her focus.

“You okay?” he asked, leaning in slightly.

She tilted her head toward him. “I’m fine.”

His lips quirked. “You looked…lost for a second.”

“Just thinking.”

“Dangerous habit,” he murmured, eyes still on hers. “Careful, or I might ask what about.”

She took a sip of soda, trying not to smile. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I would.” His voice was quiet. “But only if you wanted to tell me.”

Before she could respond, Zoe waved them over to the long picnic table.

“We’re making plates!” Zoe called. “You two better grab something before the kids inhale it all.”

KT glanced at Lolo. “Pizza?”

She nodded. “Surprise me.”

He returned with two slices—one sausage, one veggie—and handed her the veggie without asking. Lolo arched a brow.

“Guessed right?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She took a bite. “You’re good.”

“I’m observant.” He leaned against the edge of the table, watching her as she ate. “Also, you wrinkled your nose when you saw meat with fennel.”

She laughed. “I did not.”

“You did. It’s very subtle. But it’s there.” He bit into his own slice. “I notice things.”

They ate side by side while the sun dipped lower in the sky, the fairy lights beginning to glow. Music swelled. The backyard shimmered with movement and chatter and the kind of joy that wrapped around you like a warm quilt.

At one point, Lolo turned to say something and found KT already watching her. He didn’t look away.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he said, and then, “Everything.”

Before she could process that, Daisy called out, “Time for cake!”

Everyone gathered around the table and sang.

KT stood behind Lolo, close enough that she felt the heat of him along her spine. When she turned to whisper a joke, their faces came unexpectedly close. She could see every gold fleck in his blue eyes.

She swallowed. “You should be careful.”

He tilted his head. “Why’s that? ”

“Because if you keep looking at me like that in front of a cake and twenty witnesses, I might do something reckless.”

A slow smile curved his mouth. “Promise?”

She flushed, but didn’t look away.

Daisy blew out her candles. Everyone clapped. Someone passed slices of cake. The moment broke, but something between them had shifted. Quietly. Unmistakably.

Later, while kids chased each other with balloons and the grown-ups lingered near the cooler, KT caught Lolo’s hand.

“Walk with me?” he asked.

She nodded.

They moved toward the edge of the yard, into the soft hush between music and moonlight.

“I like this side of you,” she said as they stopped beneath a string of lights that framed the side gate.

“What side is that?”

“The one that notices fennel. The one that shows up with soda and blocks wind gusts for a woman.”

He smiled. “I like the version of me you bring out.”

Though the party continued behind them, in that quiet space between lights and shadows, something real settled in.

Not defined. Not labeled.

But very much there.