In a bad Yoda imitation, he said, “Understand you, I do.” Then he started humming “Here Comes the Bride,” which had her blushing harder while laughing.

They found her family in the dining room, the pair of them still laughing and walking arm in arm.

Finally, a real couple. A woman in love, a man in like and in lust.

And for now, Justine could deal with that.

CHAPTER 32

Dear Aunt Truth: I think I love him, but I don’t know what he feels for me. What should I do? I don’t want to ruin our friendship.

Dear Frady Cat: If you love him, tell him. Love doesn’t ruin friendships; it defines them. As the Doctor would say, “What’s the point in two hearts if you can’t be forgiving now and then?

“So let me recap your weekend,” Katie said over lunch Monday afternoon. “Mikayla tried to bitch up and protect her man, but you wouldn’t let her act all high and mighty by being super nice. Then she caught you sucking face with Xavier, which nailed how much you don’t want Mitch back.”

“Yeah.” Best moment ever. And Justine had Xavier to thank for it.

“Your father told you he loves you at the wedding. That right there is miraculous.”

“I know. But my mom and Angela weren’t overly sentimental, so they made up for my dad’s weirdness.”

“Right.” Katie grinned, a dimple showing. “But the end-all to this miracle event, beside you catching the groom doing the right thing by his new bride, is that you finally came clean with Xavier about dating for real. This after marathon nookie in a dream hotel room.” Katie sighed. “It’s like a Disney movie married a porn flick and gave you a weekend you’ll never forget.”

“Not exactly how I would have put it. You have a unique view of the world, don’t you?”

“You have no idea.” Katie munched on her salad. “So now that the wedding is taken care of and your studly neighbor is servicing you, what’s left?”

“Katie.”

“Of course. Frank. How’s work going?”

“And…you had to bring up work.”

“Sorry. But we had to catch up on your daily misery at some point.”

Justine groaned. “I’m spending so much time trying to get up to speed on Laura’s job—I’m sorry, I mean my new job—that I’m behind on the one I had. Have.” Justine frowned. “I actually swallowed my pride and asked Frank for a helper, at least to get me caught up with her projects. He said no. So now I’m behind on the new tasks, the old tasks, and I have a ton of emails and phone calls to return. By the time I get home, I’m so exhausted I eat then go to bed. Or I just go to bed. Alone,” she said before Katie could say something about Xavier…which she did anyway.

“That sucks. No more happy fun time with Xavier.”