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“How much wine have we had tonight?” She held up the bottle with an awkward laugh.
Mike ran his fingers through his hair in that way he did when he was agitated. “I didn’t think any topic was off the table for us, but your boobs seem to be...” He closed his eyes, his cheeks going ruddy.
“Off the table? Yes, they are. Literally and figuratively.”
It was a joke, but it fell flat. She kept trying to lighten the moment, but she was making it worse instead. She had no idea how to salvage it.
After a long silence, Mike finally gave a harsh laugh. “Jesus, Zoey. I don’t know what happened just now, but...”
“I do. I’m supposed to be your pal. One of the boys. But I’m guessing you don’t sit around and talk to the guys about periods or the size of your...” She was not making this any better. “...of your...um...parts.”
Mike grew suddenly serious, walking around the workbench to where she stood. His eyes were dark and surprisingly solemn.
“You’renotone of the boys. And you’re far more than a pal, Zoey. I don’t talk to the guys aboutmostof the things you and I talk about—the silly stuff or the serious stuff. I never want that to change.”
Why did he think he had to say that? Zoey didn’t want anything to change between her and Mike, either. She grinned and shoved his shoulder. It served two purposes—it broke the mood and got him a little farther away. She didn’t mind having a serious conversation with Mike, but this felt different. His closeness was making her skin prickle with an unusual awareness of the man. As a man, not just a friend.
“Is there really any off-limit topic for us after all these years?” she asked, desperate to get things back to normal. “Good grief, we had chicken pox together. And we had that awful stomach bug together in middle school, remember? I was staying overnight with Mary, and the three of us spent the night fighting over the upstairs bathroom because your parents wouldn’t let us use theirs!”
Mike laughed so hard it echoed in the small shop. “Oh, God, what a horrible night! I can’t blame Mom and Dad for keeping us at a distance—we weresosick and it wasnotpretty.”
Laughter made things feel right between them again. Mike patted her on the shoulder on their way out the door, and his hand lingered there.
“Never change, Zoey. I need you just like this. I needusjust like this. It’s important to me.”
His words sounded oddly desperate. Why was he so concerned about their friendship tonight? What was he afraid of?
“I’ve had enough change to last me a lifetime.” She smiled. “And you know I’ll always be here for you.”
His eyes deepened or softened or did...something. As if he was surprised. Or moved. Had she done something to make him doubt their friendship? Was it something his grandmother had said? They stood there for a beat before he nodded, stepping away.
“Good.”
She turned out the shop lights and headed toward the house with a wave while he walked to his car. As always, he waited until she was inside and had flicked the outside light at him before he drove off.
It seemed important to prove nothing had changed, so she sent a text when she thought he’d be home.
Z: What do a push-up bra and a bag of chips have in common?
It was a few minutes before he responded.
M: I’m terrified to ask.
She giggled.
Z: When you open them, they’re both half-empty.
M: Zoey
He followed it with a rolled eyes emoji.
Z: Come on, it’s funny!
He didn’t answer right away, so she followed up.
Z: Too soon?
She hoped he wasn’t still embarrassed about the boob comment. She’d been serious about not wanting any subject to be off-limits...depending on the context. Her phone pinged.
