I grin at him. “This is perfect. Thank you, hardware sunflower.”
Clay frowns. “I’d almost forgot I was wearing the costume for a second.”
I laugh and pull him into a real hug, squeezing him close. “I’m really going to miss you,” I whisper in his ear before I can think better, although it’s only a fraction of what I need to say to him.
When I ease back again, Clay nods. “Yeah. It’s going to suck to say goodbye to you, Nicky.” He scrubs his hand over his face and then takes another gulp of his beer. “You got a whole party to entertain,” he says, his voice gravelly as he pushes the last of the sentiment away. “Don’t let me hold you up.”
I glance back across the garden, where everyone I know is pretending that they’re not staring at me and Clay.
“I do see a few people I should greet,” I say, but I’m not done with him yet. “You sure you’ll be okay on your own for a bit?”
“I’ll do the best I can.”
I tear myself away and, after a few quick greetings, find Kavya, Finn, and Sue off to the side. Kavya’s floral suit is as spectacularly chic as she described, Finn has found a daisy-printed jumpsuit that fits him perfectly, and Sue is sporting my favorite of her sundresses, the long one with the luscious peonies print. They’ve each added accessories of their chosen flowers, too, like the peony in Sue’s hair and the daisy brooch on Finn’s lapel.
“A stunning display of flower fashion,” I say as I approach.
Kavya nods in acknowledgment of me. “We were just dissecting every gesture as you and Clay talked.”
“Kavya!” Finn objects, but quickly shrugs. “I mean, not every gesture.”
“It is awfully sweet that he wore that flower costume for you,” Sue says.
Nance approaches from behind me. “Talking about Clay’s flower costume?” she says. Stopping beside her wife, she smooths down the front of her Hawaiian shirt. “He gets a little credit there. I’ll give him that.”
I glance his way. Clay is hunched up at the bar, drinking a beer by himself.
“He’s a good guy,” I tell them all.
“A shame he’s leaving town,” Sue says. “You two have been good for each other. And he’s a very skilled carpenter.”
Nance drinks from a can of beer. “I’ll give him credit for that, too.”
“Clay and I are good for each other,” I admit.
Finn lightly clears his throat. “And as two people who are good for each other...”
All four of them give me expectant looks.
“What?”
“Hell, Nicky,” Nance says, “how many romcoms have you watched? His grouchy butt makes you happy. And he’s obviously giving it to you good in bed. Why not give him a chance?”
“Not exactly how I would have put it,” Finn adds brightly. “But I agree with the sentiment.”
“It’s not that easy,” I object. “Clay has big dreams about starting his own carpentry crew back in Missouri.” I sigh as my thoughts begin to spiral again. “I do intend to tell him how I feel, but Clay has never wanted a relationship. I’m afraid it’s not going to go well.”
“You won’t be telling him thathewants a relationship,” Nance says, mildly exasperated.
“You’ll be telling him thatyouwant a relationship,” Sue concludes.
“Exactly,” Kavya adds with a nod.
I lift a finger in the air, my emotions threatening to boil over. “Not at the birthday party,” I announce. “It’s my thirtieth birthday, and I am not going to mark the occasion with some dramatic love scene! I will address all of this at a more convenient time.”
“Oh wow,” Kavya deadpans. “The L word.”
I throw my hand over my mouth. “That’s not what I meant!”
