by Valley Sams
Mac raised her own bumpy mug.
“To the two most important people in my life,” she said, feeling safe in the cozy veil of a good red wine. “You…” she turned to Brie. “Don’t you ever chase another man again. You let them chase you.” Brie smiled and laughed.
“Done,” she said. “It’s chocolate and online dating for me from now on.”
Mac rolled her eyes.
“Not exactly what I meant,” she said. “And you…” She turned her uncharacteristically gregarious attentions to Louis. He looked like a praying mantis, all arms and legs on the floor – the still healing bump on his forehead looking larger in the shadow of the candle light.
“I lo…” she began. Mac clapped her hand over her mouth, swallowing her words as fast as they threatened to pour out.
Louis’s eyes widened, a goofy smile spreading across his face.
“I’m sorry… you what??”
“I...”
“You what?” He sat up straighter, obviously enjoying her discomfort. Of course he knew… Mac thought. What was wrong in saying it out loud? What would happen if she did? Would her world crack in two? Would she be instantly locked into a suburban home somewhere with a child on each hip? It wasn’t a magic word after all…it was just a phrase. She loved him, obviously… So she should just…
“She loves your beard,” Brie interjected. “Adores it. Especially the parts that are bald from the tape. Can’t get enough of it.”
Louis flapped his hands in front of his face like a beauty queen trying to dry her tears.
“Oh my gosh, is that true?” He said, attempting to drop his accent in favor of a southern one. “Do you love it, do you really, really love it??”
“Yes,” Mac said, taking another sip of her wine. She looked at him over the crooked rim of her mug as he sent her best friend into hysterics with his terrible American accent, “I really do.”
