Chapter 26
MAISIE
“You’ll never guess who stopped by yesterday and had lunch with my mom and I.” I’m sitting at the dining table with Wren as she finishes frosting my mom’s cake for tonight.
“Hmm.” She furrows her brows in question as she concentrates on the cake.
My mom’s birthday party is tonight, so we’re working on last minute decorations as well as figuring out how to bake a cake. I keep reminding myself as long as it’s edible, that’s all that matters.
“Henry,” I say quietly, not wanting to say it too loud.
I’m still in shock at how well the impromptu lunch went yesterday. My mom clearly loves him and though she loves everyone, this one feels different.
“The Henry that you’re totally crushing on but won’t actually admit to?” she states, still not looking up from the cake.
“That’s a loaded question.”
“Is it?” She finally looks up and I haven’t seen her look this serious in… well, ever. She clears her throat and I stop her before she can talk.
“Are you about to have a therapy session with me again?”
She grins as she starts. “You’re allowed to have fun.
You’re allowed to love and get your heart broken.
You’re allowed to step out of your comfort zone but you don’t allow yourself to.
You're so terrified of the ending that you won't even allow yourself to press start on the beginning.” She stands from where she’s sitting and walks behind me, wrapping her arms around my back.
“You barely know him but you’re also not allowing yourself to.
This man has already memorized your coffee order, agreed to do this silly little Fuck It List, and literally spent the day with you cause you weren’t feeling well.
” She sighs. “Sometimes things show up when we least expect it to, including people. Just think about that.”
I’m not sure what to say, so I just grab her hands and squeeze them tight to let her know I hear her.
“You love and care so much for others, I want you to allow in love for yourself too.”
“I know,” is all I can muster up to say. She’s right, though, I’ve spent most of my life prioritizing others and their happiness without allowing myself to prioritize my own. “Thank you.”
“Back to this lunch you had,” she walks back to her seat, “how was it?”
I can tell by the tone in her voice that this isn’t silly Wren I know and love, but a genuine question coming from her.
“Honestly? It felt normal in a sense. It was… comfortable and familiar, which was weird since he’d never been over to my mom’s before, but he looked like he belonged.”
“I know you said you’re only friends, but is that what you really want?” she asks, and then adds, “Because personally, I would love for you to climb him like a tree.”
Laughing, I throw my hands over my face, that’s the Wren I know.
“Can I be honest?” I ask.
Wren looks at me in response but doesn’t say anything.
Taking a deep breath, I say what I’ve been scared to.
“I like Henry. A lot. But it scares me how likeable and loveable he is, and how much I like being around him. He brings out a side of me that I haven’t felt before,” I confess.
“I’m scared that the feeling I have being around him is going to become a natural feeling, something I get used to, and then he’s going to leave. I don’t know if I can handle that.”
“I know it’s scary,” Wren reassures me. “But I think you need to let go of the negative connotation of the what-ifs and start thinking of the positives. Use these next few weeks to just live and have fun, stop thinking about what your feelings will be, and just be in the present,” she says.
“And if that happens to be boning Henry Bellwood, then so be it!”
“I don’t know how you can be Dr. Phil one moment, and the next…” I wave my hands in the air, “I don’t know, you just have a way with words.”
“It’s what I do best.” She laughs back.
“I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
“Your life would still be bright… but duller without me.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” I snort.
“Doesn’t need to, just know I’m happy that we decided to sit at lunch together in school one day and the rest has become history.” She pulls me in for one more hug, ending our little therapy session. “Is he coming to your mom’s party tonight?”
“I’m pretty sure, yes.” And by pretty sure, I am positive, but I can’t let her know that him showing up is all I’ve been thinking about.
“I know this party is about your mom but we have to find the hottest outfit in your closet for tonight,” she insists. “Something that screams ‘I want to be friends but I wouldn’t mind riding you like a horse.’”
“Wren, you are really something.”
We spent the next few hours setting up decorations, plating food, getting ourselves ready, and taking shots.
Wren nearly tore apart my whole closet and decided on making me wear a denim mini skirt, a black tank top that shows off my figure, and my cowboy boots specifically because, “it gives off the illusion that you know how to ride, literally and figuratively!”
Wren's words, not mine.
“Tonight is going to be so fun! Remember to let loose, don’t think too much. And if you want to have fun,” she winks, “allow yourself to!”
“I need another shot because I’m already overthinking this outfit.” I adjust my skirt. “Is it too much?”
“Being hot is never too much,” she looks at me up and down, nodding, “and you are hot!”
We see people start trickling in so we make our way to the yard between my mom’s house and mine.
I see that Kevin has arrived wearing the shortest shorts I’ve seen him wear and a T-shirt with a drunk photo of my mom printed on it from our Christmas party last year.
Safe to say she had a bit too much spiked eggnog.
“Someone is looking extra sexy tonight!” Kevin whistles at Wren and I as we make our way to where the party is getting started.
“Thank you, it’s nice to see you,” I reply while giving him a hug, Wren joining in.
“She does look sexy, doesn’t she?” Wren agrees with Kevin, giggling to herself.
“I hate to assume it’s for the male gaze but is there a special out of town hottie coming down tonight?” Kevin lets go of our embrace and then winks.
“And what if there is?” With my hands on my hips, I question him.
“Then I won’t question if you two are suddenly gone from the party,” he jokes in response, high-fiving Wren as he does so.
Rolling my eyes and laughing along, I walk toward my mom who is finishing up putting down the final plates of food. I can’t believe she’s already fifty, it feels like just yesterday she was spending her fortieth birthday with me at the zoo.
She’s wearing a sparkly pink dress, a tiara, and a pink sash that says “Birthday Princess” on it that was definitely made for a kid, but nothing stops my mom from getting what she wants.
“Happy birthday, Mom.” I come up behind her with a hug. “The decorations came together so nicely, this looks so good, and you look so good!”
“Nothing a little sparkle can’t fix, plus you know I love being the center of attention.” She winks as she turns around to plant a kiss on my head.
“Is there anything you need me to do before more people show?” I ask.
“I think we’ve got everything settled! Make sure to slow down on the drinks, both you and that one over there,” she points to Wren, “already have complexions the color of a tomato!” She pinches my cheeks as she walks away to start greeting people who have shown up.
I can’t speak for Wren but I know my cheeks are blushing because of a certain someone who is showing up at any moment.
Henry
We’ll be there soon. Can’t wait to see the pretty face again.