you take time off. You’re always happy. Not that you weren’t before, but this is different. It’s like you’re drenched in love for that man, and wow, Carly. It’s such a great thing. Have you told him yet?”
Carly was struck mute, trying to figure out how Birdie could see all of that so quickly.
“Oh my God.” Birdie looked appalled as she closed the gap between them. “Do not tell me you don’t love him. It practically drips off you two. I’m your best friend—you can’t lie to me. Look me in the eyes and tell me. Am I off base? That would be weird. I’m never off base. I’m like a love ninja. A love guru. I can smell love a mile away.” She made a hurry-up motion with her hand. “Well? I’m dying here. Do you love him?”
“Yes!” The word burst from Carly’s lips like it had been trapped for years. “I love him! I love his face. I love the way he holds me, the way he talks to me. I love his long hair when we’re making love and it tickles my cheeks. I love the way he holds my freaking hand like it’s his greatest pleasure.” She looked at her best friend melting with her every word, both of them tearing up, and said, “I even love the way he mumbles in his sleep. He’s always done it. Like he can’t turn his brain off. I love him, Birdie. I love him with everything I am and everything I have.” She realized she was shaking. “But I can’t tell him. It’ll make it real, and I know it is real, and this sounds crazy, but it’s like my house. If I say it, and we realize we can’t make this work, it’ll crush me.”
“That man won’t ever crush you again. I believe that with everything I am and everything I have.” Birdie’s brows slanted, and she said, “Granted, I don’t have much, but I am a lot to handle, so that counts twice.”
“You’ve only just met him, Birdie. You can’t know that any more than I can.”
The bells above the door chimed. Birdie grabbed her hand, and with the most serious expression Carly had ever seen on her, she said, “You’re allowed to be terrified. But you have to trust me. You can tell him how you feel. He will not hurt you again.”
Zev walked into the kitchen, looking curiously at them.
Carly was still processing her confession and Birdie’s declaration. Birdie must have realized Carly was tongue-tied, because she lifted Carly’s hand higher, pretending to inspect it, and said, “Yes, peach is the perfect nail color for you. Or red, if you’re feeling saucy.” She dropped Carly’s hand and strutted across the room to Zev. “Thank you for taking care of that junk.”
He handed her the keys. “That was quite a lot of stuff.”
“I got a little carried away when I was cleaning out my place. Cleaning up is like opening a blank canvas and a dozen cans of paint. I got caught up in the excitement of all the things I could do with the space and just kept going.” She looked over her shoulder at Carly and said, “I’m going to open the register and let you two make out some more.”
“She’s a trip,” Zev said when she left the room, and pulled Carly into his arms. “Are you okay? You seem a little rattled.”
I just poured my heart out to Birdie, when I should be pouring it out to you, so yeah, I’m little rattled. “I’m fine, just thinking about all the things I need to get done. I’m excited to meet you later and work on the concretions.”
“It’s going to be a great day, babe. I loved spending this morning with you, working side by side, and seeing you in action.”
“You’ve been seeing me in action a lot lately,” she teased.
“That makes me the luckiest guy on the planet.” He embraced her and said, “Since luck seems to be our thing, maybe you should think about making Lucky Charms bars, like Rice Krispies Treats, but with Lucky Charms. I’m always around to taste test.”
Not always. The pit of her stomach sank with that reality, and by the look in Zev’s eyes, he was thinking the same thing.
“I know, babe,” he said, holding her tighter. “But whether you believe it or not, I’m not going to disappear on you. Not ever again.”
She wanted to believe him, and deep down, she did believe him.