“I totally understand.”
“Where’s Mia tonight?” Emma asked.
“In Boston for some wedding stuff,” Cameron said. “I can’t believe the wedding is already next weekend.”
“That’s going to be so much fun,” Ella said. “I can’t wait for all of us to get on that bus Dad rented. Can you even imagine?”
“Nope,” Charley said. “I can’t.”
“What’s the plan for that?” Dani asked. “Lucas told me about it before the fire, but I haven’t heard the details.”
“We leave next Friday around noon,” Ella said. “The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are Friday night, and the wedding is on Saturday afternoon.”
“Landon asked me to go, but I have nothing to wear,” Amanda said. “I lost everything in the fire.”
“I can help with that if you don’t get a chance to shop,” Hannah said. “We’re about the same size. My closet is your closet.”
“That’s very nice of you. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
By the time Amanda left with Dani a couple of hours later, she felt like she’d acquired a whole group of new girlfriends—more friends than she’d ever had in her life, a thought she shared with Dani.
“I know what you mean,” Dani said. “I feel the same way. I have some good friends at home, but this group is something else altogether. They’re all so accomplished and smart and so generous. I love being around them.”
“I do, too. That was a lot of fun tonight.”
“It was.”
“How’s Lucas feeling today?”
“A little better every day. My biggest challenge is keeping him from doing too much too soon. He’s not taking well to convalescence.”
“He’s used to being very active.”
“Right, but I keep reminding him that this is temporary, and if he doesn’t chill, it’ll take even longer.”
“That’s true.”
“So things are good with Landon?”
Amanda smiled at the memory of the hours they’d spent in bed earlier. “Things are good. Yes.”
“I love that. He’s been so great since the fire, checking on us and bringing food and running himself ragged to cover his work and Lucas’s. I’ve become a big fan of my fiancé’s twin brother.”
“I’m a big fan of his, too. He’s done the same for me.”
“They’re both really good guys.”
“Yes.” Amanda thought for a second, trying to decide how much she should say to Dani. “Could I ask you something, just between us?”
“Of course.”
“Does it bother you that Lucas was super popular with women before he met you?” And then she thought better of it. “I mean, you knew that, right?”
Dani laughed. “I knew, and it doesn’t surprise me. I mean, look at the two of them, right?”
“Right.”
“But it’s more than just how handsome and sexy they are—and I mean that platonically where Landon is concerned.”
Amanda laughed. “I gotcha.”
“It’s how good and kind and sweet they are, too. Those things matter more to me than how Lucas looks. He was so incredible to me and Savannah from the very beginning. When he found us in that ditch, he took such good care of us. That impressed me more than anything. I think I fell a tiny bit in love with him that first night.”
“I had the same reaction to Landon the first night we went out.”
“But not to Lucas?”
Amanda groaned. “I love Lucas. I did even before the fire, but for whatever reason, it’s just different with Landon, and I know how bonkers that must sound.”
“No, I get it. When I look at Lucas, I see so many things that aren’t there when I’m talking to Landon. He’s become a very good friend, but that’s all it’ll ever be.”
“I find it fascinating that we can have such opposing reactions to identical twins.”
“Well, they are two different people, even if they look exactly the same.”
“That’s true. Did you think Hannah seemed a little annoyed about me seeing Landon when I’m going through this life shakeup?”
“I’m not sure I’d call it annoyed so much as concerned. From what I’ve seen, the Abbotts love to bicker and push each other’s buttons, but when it comes right down to it, they’d take a bullet for each other.”
“What must it be like to be part of a family like that?”
“Yours isn’t close?”
Amanda shook her head. “I have two much older siblings. I haven’t seen them in years.”
“Do you talk to them?”
“An occasional text or email, but we’re not close. Not like the Abbotts are. What about you?”
“I’m a one and only, but I have a best friend named Leslie who grew up next door to me who’s like a sister.”
“It’s good that you have her.”
“For sure. When I lost Jack, Savannah’s father, Les was the one who saved me. Others were there and tried to help, but she was the only one I wanted.”
“I’m so sorry you lost him.”
“Thanks. I think of him every day, and I see him in Savannah all the time. She smiles like he did.”
“I give you credit for surviving that.”
“I didn’t have any choice. I had a child to think about. I thank God for her all the time. She’s the one who truly saved me. Before she arrived, I didn’t think I was going to survive it, but she gave me a purpose and a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”
With some directional help from Amanda, Dani pulled into Landon’s driveway.
“Could I ask you something, Dani? And will you promise not to tell anyone I asked?”
Dani put the car in Park. “Of course. Anything you want.”
“Is the assistant manager position at the warehouse still open?”
“It is. We’ve had a lot of applicants, but no one who’s truly qualified yet.”
“I might be interested.”
“You’d probably be overqualified.”
“Maybe, but I’m looking to simplify my life, get off the travel bandwagon and put down some roots. I like it here, and I’d love to work for the Abbotts. I don’t have warehouse experience, but I know retail, and I think I could be an asset to you.”
“I’m sure Linc would go for it. I can ask him if you’d like.”
“Hold that thought for a short time, if you would. I need to figure out a few things before I decide for sure.”
“No problem. Keep me posted. We’re looking to have someone in the job by mid-August.”
“That timing would be ideal. Let me get back to you, and keep it between us for now?”
“Will do. You know where to find me when you’re ready.” Dani got out of the car to help Amanda up the stairs to the porch.
“Like Lucas, I’m looking forward to being back to normal so I won’t need help for the simplest things.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I say to him—chill out and relax while you can.”