Page 94 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Aw, darlin’. Well, you were sick. I’m sure he understood. How was the soup?”

“Excellent. And it helped so much. I was too tired to make anything.”

Louise settled back on my couch with her own slice of pizza, never once wrinkling her nose at my sickly state. “I imagine. But Spencer just…he wanted to take care of you. Isn’t that so sweet of him?”

“Yeah,” I admitted, my own conflicting feelings whirling inside of me.

“That’s it? Come on, sugar. Don’t you want to gush to me about how tender he was, how he brought you that bowl of soup. Did he stroke your hair? Now, I know you probably weren’t upfor any canoodling or kissing, but still…did you cuddle? Did he rub your back? I want all the details.”

“I’m sorry, we just…ate soup and playedMystic Realms.”

Louise let her pizza slice slap against her plate, her features turning stony. “He didnotmake you play that game.”

“I enjoyed it,” I said, my expression brightening as I recalled the experience. “We had fun.”

“Really? Well, sugar, you two really are as well-suited as I thought. I hate that game.”

“Oh, it’s not so bad. We found some rubies, then built a little house for me. It was nice.”

Louise grinned at me. “Look at you. There’s all that gushing. And I think even some blushing.”

She giggled at her rhyme.

“I’m just…warm from the sickness.”

“No, you’re not,” she teased. “You’re falling in love!”

I licked my lips, staring down at the red pepperoni on the pizza. I couldn’t admit my feelings to myself, let alone Louise.

“Aw, this is just fantastic, darlin’. I’m so happy for you. And for Spencer. He’s getting a gem of a woman. Oh my stars. I can’t say how excited I am. Now, when do you think he’ll be down on one knee? Soon?”

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself, Lou,” I answered.

“Nonsense. He’s falling head over heels for you. I’ll bet it won’t be long. End of summer at the latest, but I’m going to say on the Fourth of July. Stars, fireworks, a shiny ring. Oh, I can’t wait. Now, I understand you’ll probably have to pick your sister to be your maid of honor, but if I could sneak into the bridal party as a bridesmaid, I’d be ever so grateful.”

I heaved a sigh, recalling the morning with Audrey. “At this moment, if I was engaged–which I still maintain is a long way off–I’d prefer you as my maid of honor.”

“Ohhhh!” She squealed as she pounded her feet against the floor. “Eve! I’m so excited for this wedding.”

“It’s not happening yet, so contain yourself.” She shot me a knowing glance, and I quickly changed the subject. “So, what went wrong on your date?”

“He wasn’t really looking for commitment. He wanted to keep his options open. I don’t like a man who can’t commit.” She turned up the volume on the movie, signaling for me to be quiet.

“Lou,” I pressed, needing the answer to one more question, “have you ever wondered what would happen if you just…stuck with Spencer?”

She chuckled as she bit into her pizza, answering while she chewed. “Misery, that’s what, darlin’. We are not well-suited.”

“Oh,” I answered, wondering how true that was. Partners in rom-coms never thought they were well-suited either.

“Eve?” Louise asked.

I twisted to find her staring intensely at me. “Darlin’, this isn’t a romantic comedy. I’m not going to fall for Spencer. I want my own happiness, and it’s not with him. He’s a great guy, but he’s not for me. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said, trying to find confidence in her words, but I only found more sorrow. He was a great guy. A great guy that I was falling in love with, but I could never have.

CHAPTER 23

LOUISE

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