put that mint oil on her vajayjay, I swear to God, I almost peed my pants.”
“I did pee my pants,” Lynsey confirms with a giggle. “Having a baby totally messed up my bladder control. But the wet pants were worth it because we had so much fun with Norah.”
I shake my head sadly because I knew she would fit in with my friends without even trying. But it doesn’t silence that voice in my head that says, “But what if I hurt her?”
“It might happen,” Kate says urgently as she walks over and grabs my arm so I look at her. “Both Lynsey and I have had moments where our relationships looked like they were doomed. But have you forgotten that you were the guy helping us put it all back together?”
I cringe as I think back to that stupid carburetor Kate, Lynsey, and I drove up into the mountains to find for Miles when Kate had screwed up royally with him. And hell, I took a punch to the face from Dr. Dick on Lynsey’s behalf, so I guess it’s easier for me to help them with their problems than it is for me to accept their help with my own.
“We’ll help you through all the bumps, Dean,” Kate adds, pinning me with so much sincerity I almost can’t believe it’s her. “Because every day you give your heart to someone, there’s a chance you won’t get it back. But every time they give you their heart in return…it makes the risk totally worth the reward. We all take risks with love every day.”
“God, that was beautiful.” Lynsey sighs.
“I’m a writer,” Kate says firmly.
I shake my head at her ridiculousness. “What if it’s too late? She’s doing everything she can to stay away from me. She’s going to fucking Paris for a few months.”
“Then go with her. Or wait for her. Or do long distance. But don’t let her go and meet a hot, sexy Parisian man and come home with a guy who has a bigger baguette than yours.”
“God, did you have to paint that visual?” Lynsey cringes with her nose wrinkled.
“Yes. I told you, I’m a writer,” she deadpans.
“So, what can I do then?” I ask, trying to redirect their focus because I’m starting to feel something intense in my gut that might have been there all along, but I ignored it because I didn’t realize what it was every time I looked at Norah. Grandpa always said your gut knows what your head hasn’t figured out yet.
“Her grand opening is tomorrow, right?” Kate asks, turning away and beginning to pace in my kitchen.
“Yeah, and she has a TV interview in the morning she wanted me to go with her to until I fucked everything up.”
Kate rubs her hands together conspiratorially. “In a romance novel, that’s the perfect moment for an epic grand gesture. Who’s ready to plot?”
“Okay, the chamber of commerce people are going to be here for the ribbon cutting any minute. Places everyone,” I call out to the staff we’ve hired to help for the grand opening today.
It’s nearing four o’clock, and our grand opening celebration is from four until six, starting with a ribbon cutting, a short welcome speech by me, and then free croinuts for the first hundred people who walk in the door.
“Oh my God, Norah, the line of people is wrapped around the building now! There has to be over a hundred out there.”
“I told you to stop updating me about the line, Rachael,” I exclaim and begin to fan my face to stop the crazy lip sweat that’s forming. “I’m sweating like a pig here. I knew Denver was going to be bigger than Boulder, but I didn’t know it would be like this.”
“The sweat is giving you a nice sheen because you look beautiful, girl,” Rachael says, appraising my white pantsuit. “This is what you wore for your TV segment earlier, right? How did that go? We were too busy here to watch.”
“It was amazing,” I squeal excitedly, forgetting all manner of professionalism on a day like today. “I made fresh croinuts on camera. And the hosts and I had great chemistry. The producer said they are sending a TV crew out to film the ribbon cutting to air on their five o’clock news.”
“Holy shit, a morning segment and an evening news segment? That’s incredible,” Rachael exclaims, looking as excited as I am.
“I know.” I exhale and try to collect myself. “How’s the staff doing? Everything ready to