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“Hey, ladies. I’m sorry I’m so late.” Piper slid into the booth to sit beside Chelsea. “How are we?”
“Doing great, thanks. How about you?” asked Mary Ellen.
“I’m okay. It’s been a long week.”
“I’ll bet,” said Mary Ellen. “I don’t envy you having to fly the sales guys around. I mean, Connor and Lyle are fun, but they’re exhausting after a while.”
“And we all know Cam gets jealous about it,” said Chelsea with a smile.
“Aww.” Piper looked so happy. “I still find it hard to believe that he gets jealous. I mean, I don’t have a jealous bone in my body, but you’d think if either of us was going to get that way, it’d be me. I’m so lucky.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes. “I hope when the two of you get married, you’ll finally get over that. He’s just as lucky as you are. You each found your perfect match.” She grinned. “Just like Grant and I have found ours.”
Mary Ellen nodded. She was so happy for her friends.
Piper turned to her. “And is it true about you and Antonio?”
“Is what true?” Mary Ellen stalled for time. She wanted to know what Piper meant.
Chelsea laughed. “Everyone knows you’ve seen each other every night this week. We’ve all heard the rumors about him parading you around town in your underwear. What Piper and the rest of us want to know is—is it for real?”
Mary Ellen shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly parading around town, I just—”
“Nice try,” said Chelsea. “You know what I mean. I wasn’t asking if the rumor was for real. I was asking if the two of you are for real. It sounds like the perfect whirlwind romance.”
Mary Ellen smiled. She couldn’t help it. “Honestly? It feels like the perfect whirlwind romance.” She sighed. “But how can it be? He’s the way he is—he might whirl his way onto someone else next week. And I’m the way I am. I’m still a practical, down-to-earth midwestern girl at heart. I’m not one to be swept off my feet in a whirlwind.”
“I don’t see why not if it’s what you want,” said Piper.
“Damn, I thought you’d be the one to back me up.”
Piper gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but I’m living a happy whirlwind of my own.”
Chelsea grinned. “You already know I’m not going to back you up. I say be brave, let that practical heart of yours ride the whirlwind and see where you land.”
Mary Ellen made a face. “I’d love to but knowing my luck, I’ll land right on my ass in a world of hurt.”
Piper shook her head. “I don’t see that happening.”
“What do you know? You haven’t even been here this week.”
She laughed. “Perhaps not, but I’ve talked to Cam every night, and I’ve been getting blow-by-blow accounts about it.”
Mary Ellen had to smile. She loved that they cared about her, even if they were less cautious about her and Antonio than she was. “Anyway. I thought this was a girl’s night. We’re not here to talk about men.”
“No,” said Chelsea. “We’re here to talk about what’s going on in each other’s lives. I’m busy at work, happy with my man and all’s well. Piper’s had a tough week flying people around, but is still happily besotted with my brother, even if she is dreading the big wedding, which is looming.”
Mary Ellen shot a look at Piper who nodded. “It’s all good, just a bit daunting. I can’t wait for us to be married, but the wedding’s so big and …” She shuddered.
“I’ve told her she should back it off. It’s not like Cam cares. He's just doing what he thinks is right because he thinks you,” Chelsea looked at Piper, “are good with it.”
Piper sighed. “And I am. I’m just a little nervous. That’s all, and I really don’t want to talk about it. I want to forget about it tonight.”
“See?” Chelsea turned to Mary Ellen. “We’ve covered what’s going on in our lives. All that’s left is to talk about what’s going on in yours, and that happens to be the one and only Antonio Di Giovanni.” She smiled sweetly. “So where does it go from here?”
“Can’t we just date and see where it goes? Why does it have to go anywhere?”
“Because he’s besotted with you, and because you’ve pined for him for years, and because you make such a great couple. That’s why.”
