Page 91 of The Matchmaker Club

17

Dinner Disaster

Today was dinner party day, and Lainey was kind of freaking out, making sure everything would be perfect. Lucas canceled the ATV day with Ben, Rod, and Ed and instead went to learn how to nurse a fawn.

I never did get him the night before. He had decided to write his reply letter, and it wasn’t the right time. I didn’t ask him what he wrote. I knew it was something he had to do on his own.

Lainey sliced into a peeled apple, preparing apple crisp for dessert. “So, what’s going on between you and Lucas?”

I stiffened at her question. We wanted to keep whatever was going on between us private for now, until we figured out what it was or where it would go. I tore off one end of a green bean, then the other. “What do you mean?”

“You both seem, very… content with each other.” She carved the apple chunk into slivers. “It’s almost like you can read each other’s minds.”

I grabbed another green bean from the strainer. “I know we’re different, but I just get Lucas, you know?”

She tossed the slices into the baking dish. “Do you love him?”

My stomach fluttered. I popped off the end of another green bean. “Definelove.”

She put a hand to her hip. “You know what I mean.”

“I don’t know what I feel.” I rinsed off the beans. “All I know is that he’s meant to be here right now.”

“And you’ll be okay when he leaves?”

I swallowed, my stomach sinking at the thought of him not being around here anymore. “I’m fine.”

“If you say so.” She cut into another apple and didn’t mention Lucas again. “Could you grab a stick of butter out of the fridge for me?”

“Sure.” I opened the refrigerator door to find only a half stick of butter in the side compartment. The only other option was Grandma’s whipped butter. Probably her honey butter. “Um, don’t freak out or anything, but we only have half a stick and some honey butter.”

She looked up at the clock. “No time to go into town. The honey butter will have to do. At least I got what I needed for the macaroni and cheese.”

“Do you need me to help with anything else?” I asked.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Okay, I’m going to head up and get ready.”

Lucas walked through the front door just as I was heading to the stairs.

“How’s our little friend doing?”

He smiled. “Good. Has a cast already and ate like a champ.”

“Did you plant your reply letter?”

“Yes. Did it on my way home.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. I’m okay.”

I rubbed his arm and gave it a squeeze. “Guests will be arriving in about an hour. And I may need your help with this Matchmaker thing.”

He chuckled. “I’ll be ready.”

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