“I like to see things spread out in front of me. And I don’t understand how you’re so dreamy. We’re all different.”
Ignoring them both, Paige stood up and walked to the coffee machine. “We don’t have long to pull this together. The rehearsal dinner is the last week of September. We’re meeting with her at the end of this week. Can you be there or are you committed to Matt?”
Frankie felt her heart bump and then she realized Paige was asking about her workload, not her relationship. “I can be there. I’ll talk to Matt and work around it.”
“And now we’ve sorted out the work, tell us about the weekend.” Eva refused to move from the desk. “At least tell us about the wedding. Was it very stressful for you?” The kindness in her tone melted Frankie’s resolve not to tell them much.
There was no one in the world with a bigger heart than Eva.
“I thought it was going to be stressful.” Frankie thought about gathering the flowers from Brittany’s garden and creating bouquets on the kitchen table. “But in the end it was fun.”
“Fun? Did you just say a wedding was fun?”
“People were welcoming and I didn’t expect that. They treated me like an individual, not like an extension of my mother. And the wedding itself was beautiful. I liked the informality. There were dogs running around, and kids playing—” And two people in love. “It was about the people not the event. They managed to keep it personal and intimate and about them.”
“And what about the rest of it?” Eva’s expression was wistful. “You and Matt. Why didn’t I see it ages ago? I guess because it was under my nose and you don’t always see what’s right there.”
“See what?”
“The two of you. How perfect you are for each other. I mean, you need someone you can totally trust, and Matt is the ultimate strong, honorable protector—”
“That side of him drives me insane,” Paige murmured, and Eva frowned at her.
“That’s because he’s your brother. You love that Jake is protective.”
Paige thought about it and shook her head. “No, that pretty much drives me insane, too. I am not good about being swaddled in bubble wrap. It makes me want to scream. I want to be left to make my own choices, thank you.”
“It isn’t about having someone make your choices,” Eva said quietly. “It’s about having someone who cares what happens to you. You have no idea how wonderful it is to have someone who gives a damn.”
“Yes, I do. And I’m sorry if I sounded as if I took it for granted.” Paige closed her laptop. “You’re right, I do love the fact that Jake cares about me. And I love the fact that Matt cares, too. But Eva, they care about you, too. We all give a damn. More than a damn.”
“I know.” Eva’s smile was bright. “And then there’s the fact that Matt is seriously hot—”
Paige returned her attention to her laptop. “No physical details, please.”
Eva slid off the desk. “Romantic details would be nice. I’ve waited so long
for this to happen.” She leaned forward and hugged Frankie tightly. “I knew that one day you’d fall in love. I knew it.”
In love?
Frankie stared at her friend.
“I’m not in love. That’s insane.” Panic uncurled inside her. “I don’t even know how that feels.”
Eva sighed. “It feels as if the whole of your life has been sprinkled with fairy dust.”
Paige looked up and shook her head. “Get your butt back to work, Cinderella.”
Frankie didn’t smile.
Love?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. My apartment is covered in dust, but I don’t think fairies put it there.”
“I’m saying that when you’re in love it adds a magical something to your life.”
“How would you even know?” Frankie felt a rush of exasperation. “You’ve never been in love.”