Debra’s phone buzzed again on the couch, but she ignored it.
Maeve glanced over at it. “Would that be her by any chance?”
“More than likely.” Debra huffed a laugh. “She hasn’t stopped all morning.”
Maeve grinned. “Show me.”
When Maeve lifted her brows at Debra’s hesitancy, Debra sighed and grabbed the phone, turning the screen towards her. Maeve read the most recent message and immediately burst into delighted laughter.
Thinking about your mouth again for the millionth time today. Professionally, obviously!
Debra groaned. “Oh, my God.”
“Debra!” Maeve slapped a hand over her own mouth as she gasped. “She’sobsessedwith you!”
Debra’s cheeks immediately heated. “She’s…expressive.”
“Mmhmm. That’s one word for it.”
Debra set the phone down again and leaned back, her gaze drifting up to the ceiling. God, it was ridiculous to feel this way. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be borderline in love with Billie Brown before she arrived here this evening.
“Hey.” Maeve rose to her feet and sat on the edge of the coffee table, directly in front of Debra. “I’m really happy for you, love.”
Debra looked back at her best friend of twenty-five years, the honesty in her eyes there for anyone to see. “Yeah?”
“Of course.” Maeve nodded. “And I’m not saying this because I want you to jump headfirst into another relationship, I’m saying it because I’ve watched you survive for years. You deserve to live.”
A comfortable silence settled between them, and then there was a knock at the door. Debra’s heart jolted like it already knew who was waiting on the other side. It could only be the one person she was aching to see right now.
Maeve’s brows lifted. “Were you expecting someone?”
“No. Not yet.” Debra rose to her feet, her pulse thundering in her ears. She crossed the hallway, that now familiar warmth spreading throughout her. When she opened the door, she smiled so wide that it practically hurt. “Billie…”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Billie stoodin Debra’s doorway with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a grin on her face, already amused at herself for being here. She wasn’t meant to be. Not until later, anyway, as planned this morning. Instead, she’d found herself at work, unable to concentrate, craving to be here with Debra. She’d checked the schedule, decided that Nina could take care of the rest of the day, and walked straight out the door while shouting something about errands that would take her to the end of the day.
She’d then rushed home to change, stopped by the florist on the way over, and now she was standing there…at Debra’s door, aching to reach out and touch those beautiful lips. “Hey.”
“H-hi,” Debra said with one of those gorgeous smiles. “You’reveryearly.”
“I know. I’m aware of time.Vaguely.”
Billie glanced over Debra’s shoulder to the hallway behind her. That was when she saw a second pair of shoes and a coat tossed over a chair.
And then she heard a voice from inside.
“Well? Is it her?”
Billie lifted a brow as her eyes landed back on Debra. “Is it who?”
“Sorry.” Debra cleared her throat. “My best friend is here. Maeve.”
“I see.” Billie wasn’t sure what she should do now. She’d come here with the plan of Debra being alone, but she wasn’t, and Billie wasn’t used to walking in on two best friends who were likely to be discussing her. “You have company.”
“I do.Unexpectedcompany.”
“I, um…I picked these up for you.” Billie held out the flowers in her hand and smiled. “I’ll come back later.”
