I’d been on the shy side as a kid, and then to have Magnolia embarrass me in front of my class more than once, it’d become easier to try to disappear, stay off her radar. She’d gotten in trouble enough times that she learned to taunt me in private. When Holden and his family had moved to Nashville in fourth grade, I’d basically lost my only friend. I’d seen him a few times between then and high school when he was back in town for the weekend or during the summer, but it wasn’t until he’d been sitting in my science class in ninth grade that we really reconnected and I got my friend back.

“I’m sorry she’s treated you badly,” Anna said, her tone empathetic.

“I personally am glad it’s you sitting with us tonight and not her,” Olivia said with a shrug to Anna, who I got the impression wasn’t mean to anyone ever.

“Thanks,” I said again on an exhale, more than ready for a new subject.

“Cheers to our new friends,” Maeve said, holding her glass up, looking flushed and just like a birthday girl should. “I’m happy you two joined my birthday night.”

We all held up our drinks, stretched to clink them in the middle of the table, and drank to the toast, laughing and, I’d admit it, feeling really good. Not necessarily from the alcohol, although it provided an underlying warmth. Rather, the longer I sat here, the more I understood that these four who’d grown up in Dragonfly Lake, who I’d not trusted just because they’d grown up here, were caring, genuine women, in spite of their tolerance of Magnolia. And they seemed to accept me. Maybe it started because I’d married Holden, and they were all friends with him, but in spite of my ingrained insecurities, I didn’t feel any ill will from any of them. I’d grown up fearing Magnolia’s treatment of me, but now that we were adults, these four—and probably most others—didn’t seem to have it in them to be cruel or condescending or snobby because my family was so poor.

“What are we toasting to?”

At the sound of Holden’s voice behind me, my happy level climbed. When he wrapped his arms loosely around my neck from behind and leaned over and kissed me right under my ear, my blood went hot and an ache started between my legs. Just like that.

I grabbed his arms with both my hands and held on to him, not ready for him to step away, as the whole table greeted him with obvious affection.

“Kemp’s with me,” Holden said. “Lost him already.”

“He’ll come say hi if he knows what’s good for him,” Olivia said teasingly.