Page 65 of Ardently Yours

Me: You don’t trust me to be up in the middle of the night with a boy?

Nic: Do you trust you? LOL.

Me: Well, for your information, we talked, and we were able to just bond and bake, and it was really nice.

Jane: Bond???

Nic: What kind of bonding are we talking about here?

Me: Relationship bonding.

Jane: Oh no.

Me: Not that kind of relationship bonding. Get your minds out of the gutter.

Nic: You’re the one who typed relationship bonding. LOL.

Jane: Nic is right. You did.

Me: I meant that it was nice. It’s just that he and I spend a lot of time together, but last night was different...

I hit send, but I don’t know what to add to that because I don’t know if I should tell them everything we talked about last night. I don’t know if I’ll sound crazy. Will people think that what we have isn’t real because he and I don’t have history like Billie and I did?

Or because we weren’t flirting with each other for years like George and I were? I don’t know. But I do know that I don’t want to spoil the feeling of knowing that we both feel the same way. So I’ll keep that information to myself for now.

Nic: And...???

Jane: Yes, don’t leave us hanging, Liz.

Me: And I’m staying until he’s ready to come home.

Nic: Hey, we understand. I’ll make sure to let Jay know as well, and I know he’ll probably let Edward know. Though the guys do have their own group chat, so they’ve maybe already been talking about everything. I just want to let you know that if you guys can’t make it for the wedding stuff, we understand. And I love you so much, and I just want you to be okay. I’m happy that Will has you with him.

Oh no. Wedding stuff. Nic’s bridal shower and bachelorette slumber party are coming up.

Jane and I have been working on it for months, and Nic wanted it to be a combined event because she doesn’t like parties thrown in her honor. So we did our best to create something she’d really love. It’s supposed to be just us at her house, in the childhood bedroom she grew up in, having a sleepover like we used to.

I even set up the online gift registries, and people have been sending gifts to both Jane’s apartment and my house. We’ve been collecting everything so we can bring it to the party for Nic to unwrap. But now that I’m here, and with the party for tonight, I realize that I don’t want to miss it.

But I also want to be here for Will. And I don’t want to rush his father’s healing process either. But Nic is my best friend. I’m her maid of honor. I simply cannot miss this event.

And Will is in the wedding too. I don’t know if he’s going to choose to come back for it, but I know I have to be there. So if I have to stay here with him for a bit and then travel back and forth, then that's what I’ll do.

Me: I’m not sure if Will will be coming back for the bachelor party tonight. I’ll talk to him. But I am definitely going to be back for the slumber party. We worked really hard on this, and you deserve to have your night. I’m going to go check in with Will now, but y’all please be praying for him and his family, especially for his dad.

Nic: Praying. Will you keep me updated? And know that if you have to sit this one out, I’ll understand.

Jane: We’re here for you. We love you, and we’re definitely praying.

I close out of the group chat and go to the family group chat that I use from time to time with my sisters and my parents.

Me: Hey, all. I know I’ve gotten a few messages from you. I left in a hurry last night with Will because his dad was rushed to the hospital. We’re back in Chicago right now, and his dad is still in the hospital. We’re going to go get some updates today, but I’m here to support Will. I won’t be back in town for a bit, and the cafe is going to be closed for the day. I plan to be back tonight for Nic’s party.

Mama: You left town without telling us??? How could you do something like this?

Papa: We will be praying, Lizzie, and we love you.

Just like I suspected. Mama was bitter, while Papa was sweet. And even though Papa’s response was sweet and touching, he didn’t check Mama. He just ignored her like he usually does.