I sat up, and she reached for my hand, holding it softly with her own. “You say Simon wouldn’t betray his brother, and I reckon you’re right about that. But what makes you so sure that if Simon loves his brother enough to sacrifice his own desires for Jamie’s happiness, that Jamie doesn’t love his brother the same way? You’ve heard me say it before, child. Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. If you’re determined to go through with this, at least go with your heart open. See what happens. Sure, it’s a risk. But God knows you, and He knows those brothers too. You might be surprised, if you put a little more faith in Him, to see where that faith might lead.”

A tear spilled over, dripping down my cheek and onto her worn, weathered hand.

“You’re going to be all right, Lane. You just wait. It’ll all be just fine.”

Jamie: Anyone free to take me to the airport tomorrow morning? Lane’s got a work thing. So she can’t.

Dave: No can do. Katie and I will already be gone by then.

Simon: What time is your flight? I can take you if it’s before 10.

Jamie: Flight’s at 8:15, so that will work. What’s at 10?

Simon: That’s when Lane is picking me up.

Jamie: Oh, right. That.

Dave: Um, what? What for?

Jamie: I hate everything about this.

Simon: It was your idea. I feel no guilt.

Dave: About what? What is going on?

Jamie: I can’t go to Asheville with Lane, but her grandma is coming all the way from Puerto Rico to meet me.

Dave: So Simon is going instead?

Jamie: Pretending to be her boyfriend.

Dave: Oh, dude. This is so good. Simon and Lane. I love it.

Simon: Is it really that hard for you to imagine?

Dave: Yes. Yes, it is.

Jamie: Nobody imagine anything. It’s temporary.

Simon: I’ll take you to the airport in the morning.

Jamie: Thanks.

Simon: You’re welcome. And don’t worry. I’ll only kiss Lane twice a day.

Dave: Ha, ha.

Jamie: So help me, Simon . . .

Dave: I’m so sad Cooper is missing this.

Simon: Me too.

Jamie: I hate you both.

Chapter 19