Page 38 of Macaron Massacre
“She’s technically right.” Judith shakes her head. “But the truth is, you’re on the rebound, Lottie. Everett—mmm, he is nice, and I’m sure he’s wonderful boyfriend material, but your heart is still tugging in Noah’s direction.”
Her hippie boyfriend shakes his head. “She can’t see it.” He rolls his eyes to Everett. “Dude, you need to give her a breather. Her head’s not clear. She just had her heart put in the shredder. Of course, she took you up on the offer to make her feel better.”
Everett flits his eyes to me then Noah. “I would have supported her whether or not she landed in my arms.”
Another round of coos breaks out, and I’m swooning right along with them.
The blonde with the chignon lets out an exasperated sigh. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to step in and play the role of your best friend. I’m pulling the ripcord. No more Mr. Sexy. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to the Fox. But most of all, it’s not fair to you, Lottie.”
Keelie grunts, and I recognize that wild look in her eyes. She’s about to pounce.
“I’m the bestie around here, and if my BFF needs a man to help sleep off her louse of a married boyfriend, then I’m her biggest cheerleader. Sorry, Noah.”
“No problem, Keelie.” Noah scratches the back of his neck, probably wondering how I talked him into this minefield of armchair psychologists.
Meg meanders over and lands next to Judith. “So, what’s the consensus? How does my poor sister proceed without breaking her own heart all over again and the hearts of these two men?”
Nell appears in the room, settling herself between Meg and Judith, but I don’t dare pick up Noah or Everett’s hands in the event she decides to throw in her otherworldly two cents. I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to care too much for the consensus.
Judith takes a surveying look around the room as if she could read the minds of her fellow conspirators in relationship arms.
“It’s agreed, Lottie. You need to move slowly. You’ve jumped the gun with Mr. Sexy, and now you’re in a tighter knot than you were to begin with.”
Her plus one shrugs as he lifts a hand. “Or you commit to Everett and say goodbye to Noah forever. You can’t have it both ways.”
“I don’t want it both ways.” My stomach lurches as if maybe I do.
Judith’s mouth falls open. “So, you’re ready to say goodbye to Noah forever?”
I glance his way, and his eyes are pinned to mine. He looks vulnerable, and yet ready for whatever I might throw at him.
“Why does she have to choose?” a voice calls from the left.
“Because”—the blonde straightens her spine—“there comes a point when you have to commit.”
“I don’t know”—Meg squints over at the three of us—“Lottie was blindsided by Noah’s wife. They never had closure. Noah is right in a way. They’re acting as if they’ve just hit a road bump in their relationship. Everett’s a good fit for Lot, though. It’s a timing thing with the two of them.”
Keelie raises a hand. “I think the problem here is that Noah and Lottie never had an official breakup. The wife came into town and bam, it was like turning off a light switch.” Keelie leans over and picks up my hand. “But relationships—feelingsdon’t work that way. You don’t just turn them off because someone is suddenly unavailable.”
“She’s right.” Judith slaps her thigh. “You need to say goodbye to Noah—if for anything else, to be fair to Mr. Sexy—and to be fair to your own heart, too.”
Kill me. And personally? I think Judith has a thing for Everett.
I look to Noah then to Everett, praying that I’ll spontaneously pass out or dislocate my shoulder or anything at all that might detract from the moment at hand.
“Sorry you have to go through this.” Noah gives my hand a squeeze.
“You should be”—Everett steps in—“it’s your fault.”
Noah scoffs. “It might have been my fault, but you sure made certain it was to your benefit.”
This is probably the moment when I should say something profound. Something wonderful that puts both their hearts at ease, or I tell the world off and hide under the covers for the next thirty years with my cats. That’s always an option. But words seem to fail me at the moment.
Bear leans in. “You should probably say something, Lot.”
With everything in me, I steal a moment to glower at him. I clear my throat as I glance to the nosy crowd.
“Thank you all for your sage advice. I will mull it over, think, talk, and pray about the situation at hand, and I’m sure it will all work out just the way it should. In the meantime, I will be extra mindful of Noah and Everett’s feelings. While nursing my broken heart, I might have been a touch selfish in the process, and I apologize for that.” I take in a deep breath.