“Yes.”
“Afterward, I started feeling ... overwhelmed by Zander. Every time I was around him it was like I was weaker instead of stronger.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
A long moment slipped past. “What doesmmm-hmmmean?” So far, this therapy session stunk.
“You’re scared. Naturally, what happened on Thursday reminded you that you can die and that Zander can die, too. Mortality is terrifying. And loving someone from the bottom of your heart is terrifying, too. So you ran into your rabbit hole to hide from the kind of transparency that could crush you to smithereens.”
Britt gathered words to refute Nikki’s diagnosis. At the last second, though, she held them back. Nikki might not be completely wrong.
“I’ve had my eye on you, and I’ve seen one boyfriend after another pass through your life,” Nikki said. “It seems to me that you’ve kept them all at arm’s length.” Nikki pulled a small Sweet Art box from her purse and opened the lid to reveal four truffles. “I’m going to speak to you in the language of chocolate because it’s what you understand. Here.” She nudged the box in Britt’s direction. “Take one.”
“No, thank you.”
“Take one.” Roller derby Nikki returned and aimed a fiery expression at Britt.
“I thought these were for you and Clint.”
Nikki scoffed. “I bought a bigger box for Clint and me. This is the box I was planning to eat in the bathtub tonight.”
Britt selected one of her newly debuted peppermint truffles.
“Take a bite,” Nikki ordered.
Britt did so. She tasted the flavors and textures. Swallowed. Lifted the truffle to her mouth to pop in the remaining bite—
Nikki slapped what was left of the truffle from her hand. Britt squawked as it went flying into the air, tumbling end over end, then landing in the grass.
“What did you do that for?” Britt asked.
“To teach you an object lesson.” She pointed a freshly painted coral nail at the chocolate remnant. “Your experience with the chocolate didn’t end very well. Did it?”
“No.”
“Are you sorry that you took a bite of it when you did?”
“I ... No. I’m glad I got to eat some of it before you committed chocolate-icide.”
“Precisely. You and I, we need to embrace the love that comes our way for as long as it lasts. If we let fear interfere, we’ll miss the sweetness. And the sweetness is too, too good to miss.”
Here was someone who’d dared love—and all the frailties that came with that—and experienced heartbreak twice. Even so, Nikki was willing to dive in again. Her dad, her sisters, Leo, Clint. They’d all been willing to dive in again. Meanwhile, Britt quaked at the idea of diving in even once. “I’m sort of awed by your ability to enter into something that leaves you so defenseless.”
“I’m never defenseless. I have God.”
Britt glanced toward the chapel where Nora and John had married. Her taste buds still registered dark chocolate and peppermint. This therapy session hadn’t stunk as much as she’d first feared. Yet an obstinate part of her still refused to reverse her stance, to break down, reach out, and call Zander.
She’d sent him a text this morning, saying that she’d see him at the ceremony at the Pascal Museum on Thursday, whenYoung Woman at Restwould be formally returned. He’d responded with one word:Fine. Nothing more. Which is how she intended to leave things between them until Thursday.
Nikki rose and adjusted her shirt. “Clint!”
He ambled across the lawn toward them.
“Hi, handsome.” Nikki welcomed him with a kiss on both cheeks.
“Hey,” Clint said bashfully. “Hi, Britt.”
She unfolded herself from the bench. “Hi, Clint.”
