It was excruciating, but I know I’m a better person for it. I think before I act, and I’m aware of all of my faults, of which there are many. And you’re stronger and even more self-confident. You’re smarter than I’ll ever be, Carls, and you’ve proven that you don’t need me in the way we used to need each other.”
“But you just said I need you now.”
“You do, but in a different way. And I need you, too, but not in that old way, either. You’ve started seeing life as this regimented, clearly defined, black-and-white element, and I’m here to remind you that the life you’ve created is not at risk of falling apart if you add a little glow and color outside the lines sometimes.”
“Okay. I can see that,” she admitted. “But you’re living our dream. Why would you need me right now?”
He took her hand, leading her toward the tent, and said, “I don’t have that answer yet beyond the obvious, that I have loved you forever and my life is a lonely, half-fulfilling dream without you in it. But we’ve got this week to figure it out, and I’m sure the answer will become clear. Starting with a little reminder about where it all began.” He stopped at the entrance to the tent, which was dark, and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Bear with me a sec.” He did something on his phone, uttered a curse, then said, “Got it!”
He tapped something on the screen, and all of the sparkling lights inside the tent lit up. Carly’s heart nearly stopped at the sight of Charlotte’s enormous round wicker daybed covered with blankets and several big, fluffy pillows in the middle of the tent and an enormous movie screen where the dance floor had been. Beside the bed, a projector and a laptop sat atop a table. An old-fashioned popcorn machine and a variety of fruits, nuts, candies, and granola bars—all the things Carly and Zev used to munch on while watching movies—sat atop a large table off to the side. Bottles of water, juice, and champagne bobbed in a cooler full of water.
“Zevy…?” she said breathlessly. “This is amazing. I thought you said they didn’t come to take down the tent.”
“That wasn’t exactly true. They did, but I asked them to leave it up. I wanted to surprise you.” He put a hand on her lower back, leading her into the tent.
“You definitely succeeded at that. I’m awestruck. When did you have time to do all of this?”
“Nick helped me set it up after everyone went to sleep Saturday night.”
“Nick?” Remembering that it was Nick who had given Zev advice about kissing her, she said, “He must think all we ever do is make out.”
“Actually, he gave me a hard time, just like he did the first time I went to him. He lectured me about treating you right and told me that I’d better not hurt you this time, or I’d have him to deal with.”
“Wow, really? He comes across as such a player. I wouldn’t think he’d care so much.”
Zev shook his head. “I’m sure Nick does his fair share of playing, but he’s always watched out for you. I never told you about how he caught me stealing Beau’s condoms the first time you and I wanted to hook up.”
“No way!” she said with a laugh.
“Oh yes. He took the ones I stole and gave me a lecture about what it means to have sex with a girl. He told me not to be a dick afterward or to run my mouth about it, that kind of thing. And then he told me that if I was mature enough to have sex with a girl, I was old enough to buy my own condoms to protect her.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup. And that’s not all. He wanted me to take complete responsibility, so he drove me to the drugstore to make sure I didn’t take the ‘pussy way out’ and order them online.”
“Oh my gosh. Are you kidding?” She laughed. “I guess I owe Nick a thank-you, too.” She hooked her fingers into his belt loops and said, “Thank you for doing all of that and for going to all of this trouble for us.” She glanced at the movie screen, and then it dawned on her when he’d set it up. “Wait a second. You did this Saturday night? After the wedding?”
“Yeah. Everyone left Sunday morning, and I didn’t want the others to know and