Page 30 of Practice Makes Perfect

“We’re allowed to come visit now?” my father asks. He mentioned wanting to see me but also wanting to give me space to do my own thing, so I told them they could come when I had everything all figured out. That still hasn’t happened, but I’m done waiting for that part of my life to come together because being with Carter is more important than having all of my so-called ducks in a row. My heart and my head knows what it wants as far as he is concerned. Everything else will come with time, and if not, that’s okay too. “Does that mean you have found your light?”

“Well, I guess that depends on how you meant that,” I tell him. “I’m still not sure what I want to do for a career, but for now I’m having a great time working at the shop and spending time with Carter.”

Shuffling noises muffle the speaker and I hear my mom’s voice louder than ever now. “You and this young man are dating, yes?” she asks. I can hear the hopefulness in her voice and luckily I get to confirm her suspicions.

“We are,” I confess. We are a lot more than that, but Carter gets to hear that before my parents do. “He’s really special and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“This is wonderful news,” my mom exclaims before her voice disappears. I can already picture her running down the hallway of their house to grab the landline and call all her friends to spread the word that I am finally off the market.

“Okay then,” I chuckle before my dad picks up his phone again. He sniffles on the other end of the line and I worry that maybe my news wasn’t as exciting to him as it was to my mom. Is he disappointed in my lack of direction professionally? He was always so driven that it wouldn’t surprise me. “Are you okay, Dad?”

“Yes,” he says through a watery laugh. “I am just so happy to hear you happy, Biliyana. You haven’t sounded like this since you were a young woman and it makes me proud to know that you’ve found something that lights you up.”

Suddenly feeling a bit emotional myself, I wipe a rogue tear from my eye and swallow thickly. “And you’re okay with it being a person and not a job?”

He huffs a breath. “It never had to be a job, and as long as this Carter person treats you well and loves you as you deserve, I am more than okay with it. In fact, I am going to get our jet prepped for a visit this weekend.”

My eyes widen at the thought of my parents descending on the two of us that quickly. “I’m sure he’ll be excited to meet you, but maybe let me clear that with Carter first.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Go do that because I want to meet the man that has captured my daughter’s heart.” After a quick goodbye, I end the call and smile down at my phone. If I had bothered to talk to my parents about all of this sooner, I might have been able to avoid the doubts that have plagued my mind since leaving Denver, but even so, I’m not mad at how things have turned out because they brought me to where I am now—in love with an amazing guy who loves me for me, someone he sees as equally as incredible as he is. With one important conversation down, I shoot off a text and prepare myself for the next one.

Ten minutes later, Jake appears at the end of the alley, nodding at me as he comes closer. He’s dressed for work and even though his office space is just a short walk away from Hodgepodge and I could have gone to him, I wanted to do this somewhere I felt comfortable. The shop and the apartment I share with Carter has become a source of comfort for me, and I need to draw on that as I confront my best friend. From the look of trepidation on his face, Jake knows he’s in trouble, I’m just not sure he knows why. He warned me away from Carter so often, making me doubt my own intentions, and while my reticence at telling Carter I love him wasn’t exactly Jake’s fault, his comments didn’t help either. When he gets a few steps below me, his expression turns contrite and he holds up his hands. “Before you start, can I say something?”

“Sure,” I tell him. My arms cross over my chest as I stare at him. Angry isn’t the word I would use to describe my feelings, but sad definitely fits the bill. I may have played up my party girl persona, but he’s supposed to know me better than that and the fact that he wasn’t very supportive of me stings more than a little bit.

Jake exhales slowly as he takes the seat next to me. “I know that I’ve been a bad friend,” he starts. Jake has always been good about knowing and admitting his faults, but I didn’t expect this. Hiding my shock is difficult, but I manage to do it as he goes on. “You’ve been going through a lot, and I haven’t made the time to really help you deal with any of that. The years I was in Denver and missing Maya like crazy, you were always there for me and I feel like an asshole for not returning the favor.”

With a sigh, I turn to him. “Jake, you have a kid and a fiancée. I didn’t really expect us to be hanging out all the time. Besides, I had someone else to keep me company and help me deal with things.”

Jake nods, his auburn curls bouncing slightly. “I know, and that’s the other thing I’m sorry about.” He brushes his hands down his slacks and smiles sadly. “I shouldn’t have interfered with anything that was happening between you and Carter. I was just so happy to finally have Maya and JJ in my life that I didn’t want anything to mess that up. But I should have known you better, known that even if you hadn’t wanted anything serious with him, you never would have treated him poorly. You’re not like that, and I’m really sorry that I let myself forget it.”

My head bobs as I exhale all my pent up frustration and sadness at him. “Wow,” I breathe out, giving him a once over Narrowing my eyes at him, I bump his shoulder with mine. “I didn’t expect you to admit all that and I’m a little irritated that I don’t get to yell at you now.”

Jake huffs a laugh and bumps me right back. “You can still yell at me if you want to.”

“Meh,” I say with a shrug. “It’s not as fun if I have your permission.” Even though he’s just taken the wind out of my sails, I’m not upset about it. If anything, I’m glad I didn’t have a blow-out with my best friend.

“Fair enough,” Jake adds, his smile looking less strained. “So, you love him, huh?”

Nodding, I gaze over at the workshop where I know Carter is hard at work on something incredible. No matter what he’s making it will be as awesome and awe-inspiring as he is. “I really do,” I admit. Pulling myself up, I turn and offer a hand to Jake and smile when he takes it. “I should probably go tell him that.”

Jake chuckles as we walk down the steps together. “Probably,” he agrees, pulling me into a hug. “But if you have the same look on your face when you’re with him as you do right now, I think he already knows.” Winking, Jake pulls back and walks away, disappearing into the alley.

Maybe Carter does already know that I love him, but he still deserves to hear it. Walking into the workshop, I smile when I see Carter carving symbols and figures onto the front of a door. With each piece he makes, he gets better and better and I have no doubt that soon he’s going to be even more in-demand than he is now. As long as he comes home to me at the end of the day, I’m more than happy for him. His lips purse as he blows across the surface of the wood, flecks of sawdust taking flight as he does. Since he’s using hand tools, I feel confident that I can interrupt him without getting another safety lecture, not that I’d mind one. Stern Carter is just as sexy as all the others, and I’m excited to get to spend my days and nights telling him that.

“Hey, you,” I call out as I make my approach.

His eyes meet mine and a smile spreads across his face. Putting his tools down and dusting off his hands, he reaches out and pulls me into his chest. “Hey,” he says, kissing me briefly. “This is a nice surprise. I thought you were taking the day off.”

“I am. I just had to come and tell you something.” Wrapping my arms a little tighter around him, I smile and try to convey how I’m feeling without words.

Carter clocks my expression and his eyes fill with hope. “Yeah?” he asks, his voice low and thick.

“Yeah.” Nodding, I raise up on my toes and kiss him deeply, with as much passion and love as I can pouring out of me and over to him. When we part, he looks slightly dazed and I feather my lips against his one last time. “I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and you are enough.”

Carter’s breath hitches and his eyes shine with happiness. “I love you, too, and thank you, Elskling.” He draws me into his chest for another hug and rests his head against mine. “Thank you for loving me, thinking that I am enough, and knowing that you are too.”

A contented sigh escapes me as we hold one another. “Sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”

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