I am mid drink at her last comment, which is so absurd coming from her that water shoots out my nose when I laugh. “Presley!”

“I’m serious!” Presley hands me a napkin as we both giggle. “You’re one of my best friends, and I love you far too much to see you give up a chance. So, go date Cooper. Who knows, maybe y’all will hit it off. What if he’s the man you’re meant to be with?”

I look into her green eyes that gleam with love and understanding. “What if things go bad?”

She shrugs. “Well, there’s no way you’re going to find out if you don’t try, is there?”

My eyes travel over to where Cooper is dancing with his mama. His smile is bright as he effortlessly spins her around the dance floor. I remember the feel of his strong arms under my hands, and I think about what Presley said. What if he is the guy? What if I spent all that time waiting for Trent to mature, only to miss out on a man right in front of me?

Cooper’s gaze shifts to mine, and I duck my head quickly. Of course, I’d be caught—again.

I slowly lift my eyes toward my best friend, avoiding Cooper at all cost, and Presley stands there biting her lip. “Don’t say a word.”

She raises her hands. “My lips are sealed,” she says, smiling at me.

“I’ll think about it. Maybe,” I relent, even though I know I shouldn’t. The last thing I need right now is another man. Then add in that he’s Cooper Townsend, and it makes it the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.

“All right,” Presley grins. “Now, let’s dance!”

The music shifts to a line dance I know all too well. She grabs my hand and we rush out.

I spend the rest of the night smiling and enjoying my best friend’s joy, because if anyone does deserve this day—it’s her.

* * *

“G race !” my mother yells into the receiver. “Is that you, sugar?”

Mama went away on her girls’ trip with Mrs. Kannan, Mrs. Townsend, and Mrs. Hennington. Once a year, they take a vacation, drink God only knows what, and pretend they’re still young. It’s adorable and a little ridiculous when they get back to show us pictures. The image of my mother getting a lap dance in New Orleans will be forever seared in my brain.

“Yes, Mama. I’m here, there’s no need to yell. I’m not deaf—yet.”

“Well, we’re all the way down here in Mexico.”

No matter how many times I tell her, she doesn’t grasp that I can hear her no matter how far away she is.

“The phone works just fine in Mexico. Are you havin’ fun?” I ask as I flop onto my couch.

“Of course we are!” She scoffs, as if I should know better by now. “The girls and I are going on some kind of parachute sailing tomorrow. Macie said it was either that or snorkeling. You know how I feel about gettin’ my hair wet, so I said fine to the para-thingy.”

I stifle a laugh. She’s nuts. They all are, but for her to be more worried about her hair than being suspended in the air by a parachute over the water . . . I can’t with her. “Well, Mama, it sounds like that was the sensible choice.”

“I’m sure we’ll have fun. You know us, we find trouble no matter where we go.” Oh, I know that. “Since your father is off in his la-la land . . . I need a favor.”

“Sure, what do you need?”

My mother has called once a day with her need for favors. Since school let out a week ago and I’m on summer break, she’s turned her honey-do list over to me. I’m not sure who enjoys these trips more, her or Daddy. He takes the week she’s gone and locks himself in his hunting cabin. No cell phone, no television, and no people. He calls it his slice of heaven.

I think next year I’m going with him.

“I need you to go to Vivienne’s and grab somethin’ from Cooper. I meant to take it when I was there before we left, but it slipped my mind.”

My stomach drops. “It can’t wait?”

“No, Grace.” She huffs. “It can’t wait. There’s no reason you wouldn’t want to help your mama, is there?”

I’m surprised it took this long for her to meddle. I should be happy they didn’t rope me into making a thousand cupcakes. “And does Cooper know I’m comin’ over to pick up this item you need?” I twirl my hair as I wait for her to produce her crappy lie.

That’s the thing that gets me every time, the old women—my mother included—in this town who feel it’s their civic duty to meddle in everything, and they aren’t even good liars. They come up with the craziest things, and half of them don’t make sense. Yet, no matter how ridiculous the plans are, the people in this town go along with them. It’s insane. We’re all freaking nuts.

“I’m not sure, sugar.”

“Mama,” I warn.

“Now, Grace. I’m asking for your help. If you’re too busy, then I’ll have to send smoke signals to your daddy, who will be all too unhappy to be interrupted.” My head falls back as I groan internally. “If you’d like me to do that, I will, and then you can deal with him.”

If guilt trips were an Olympic sport, my mother would have a gold medal. “Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll go over there and see Cooper to get this very important item that you still haven’t mentioned what it even is.”

“You’re so good to me.” Her voice is back to chipper. “I have to go, they’re starting the karaoke party! Adios!” She disconnects before I can say a word.

It’s been two weeks since Presley’s wedding, and I’ve done a pretty damn good job of avoiding both Cooper and Trent, which in this town is a pretty difficult task. Cooper hasn’t reached out at all since that day, not that I expected him to, but Trent hasn’t been quiet. Then, as if my thoughts summon him, my phone beeps with a new message from the commitment phobe himself.

Trent: I get it. You’re done, but we were friends. You were my best friend. I know you don’t want to talk now, and I’ll respect that. Just know if you ever need me . . . I’m here. I’ll always be here.

Why does he do this to me? I want to scream and cry and throw something, but then, in the next breath, I want to run to him. This isn’t easy for me. It’s especially not when he says things like that. It would be a lie to say I don’t miss him. I do. I may be done waiting around for him, but I’ll always love him. He’s embedded in my heart and soul. The only problem is his love doesn’t heal, it’s toxic, and I have to eradicate it before it kills me.