Page 52 of True North

“Finally. We’ve only been waiting forever,” Phoebe declared loudly, shooting me a teasing wink.

As I headed for the table, I pulled the phone out of my back pocket and looked at the time before arching a brow in her direction. “I’m five minutes early.”

Dakota jabbed her elbow into Phoebe’s side. “Ignore her. We only got here a few minutes ago ourselves.”

Lennon jumped in then. “But in the spirit of getting right to the juicy stuff, we went ahead and ordered for you already.” She pointed at the large paper coffee cup sitting in front of the only empty chair. I sat down between Lennon and Dakota, picked up the latte, and took a healthy gulp. “Thanks guys. I really needed this; I’m dragging today.”

“Mmhmm,” Lennon waggled her brows. “I bet you are.”

“Papa Law’s keeping you up late at night, huh?”

I cut my eyes at Phoebe as the caffeine worked its way through my system. “You have a real talent for making every word that comes out of your mouth cringy.”

She placed her hand on her chest and faked a misty-eyed look. “That’s so sweet. Thank you,” she said, making us all laugh.

“Okay, okay.” Lennon flapped her hands, silencing the rest of us. “Enough of the teasing. Let’s get to the good stuff.” She rubbed her hands together maniacally.

Just to screw with her, I took another long, leisurely sip before scrunching my face up in mock confusion. “What good stuff.”

“Don’t you play that game with me, Iris Beatris Maxwell.” I suddenly regretted telling my friends my middle name. “You know damn good and well what I’m talking about.”

I let out a laugh and collapsed back into my chair with a sigh of defeat, though I felt anything but defeated. In fact, despite the lack of sleep the last few days (because, yes, my man was definitely keeping me up late), I had so much energy I was practically vibrating with it. That was how happy he made me.

“Okay, fine. What do you want to know?”

The questions came in rapid fire. Everything from how he treated me (those types of questions I was more than happy to answer) to the length and width of North’s dick (that bit of information I fully intended to keep to myself).

Of course, when I refused to answer the last one, Phoebe slunk back and crossed her arms over her chest with a pout.

While she did that, Lennon studied me closely. Out of all the women sitting at that table, she was the one I was closest with. Not because our bond was any stronger than it was with the others, but because I’d known her the longest. She’d been the first to notice my infatuation back when it was still embarrassing to admit it, mainly because I was convinced he didn’t have the first clue I existed.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you, babe?” She might have phrased it as a question, but she could see it for herself.

A ridiculous smile stretched across my face. “I really am,” I admitted, earning a squeal from her that was so loud I had to lean away on a wince to protect my eardrum.

“I’m so happy for you, honey. I know how long you’ve been pining for the man.”

Phoebe nodded in agreement but then added her own personal brand of support by saying, “I’m glad he pulled his head out of his ass and realized what’s been standing right in front of him this whole time.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “Funny thing about that. He told me the other night that he’s been obsessed with me since he moved to town and noticed me the very first day.”

Dakota’s hand came down on the table as she exclaimed, “I knew it! I told you that guy totally noticed you, didn’t I?”

There was no lying, she certainly had called it. Several times. Each time she pushed me to pull up my big girl panties and make a move myself.

I looked down at my cup as I twirled it in a circle on the table. In all the bright, sunshiny happiness that had been my life these past few days, there was one dark spot that popped up when I really stopped and let myself think about it.

“He makes me happier than I’ve ever been. But that also scares the hell out of me.”

Dakota reached over and placed her hand on top of mine. “Why, honey?”

“Because I’ve already fallen for him,” I admitted. I told them about what had happened with Angela and how badly that had affected me. As painful as it was to recount, I told them the story about my ex I had only shared with my mom and North, so they could understand why it had been so easy to fall in love with the man.

“I mean, he’s basically made it impossible not to love him,” I confessed. “But is it too fast? What if I’m setting myself up to be hurt again?”

When I summoned the courage to look up at my friends, all three of their eyes were misty with unshed tears. They weren’t just my friends. They loved me, and hearing what I’d gone through hurt them.

“But has it been fast?” Phoebe asked. “Really?”