I snatched the heart-shaped box out of Perry’s lap, earning me a stuck-out tongue.

“Pay attention,” I said. Bridal books and magazines were circled all around me. “I’m taking this more seriously than you.”

She grabbed her chocolates back, giving me a look that’d put a toddler to shame, and popped one in her mouth with the wrapper still on.

“Ugh,” she garbled, pulling the black paper through her lips.

“Serves you right.”

I slid a heavy book across the floor and it smacked into her knees. I was sitting cross-legged on my living room floor, cold oak hardwood under me, and the least she could do was try to pretend she was interested.

Perry sighed and picked up the hardback, rifling through it. “Seriously, Jills?” She flipped the book around, showing me an inside page of a woman wearing a bridal safari hat. “This is what you want me to wear?”

“No, what I want is to know what your damn problem is.”

My voice rose higher than intended, and from an outsider peeking in, it’d appear like I was the bridezilla, and she was the maid of honor trying to calm me down before I breathed enough fire to incinerate the place.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just not that into it right now.”

“You don’t have the luxury not to be into it, Perry. This wedding is less than four months away, and it’s going to happen whether you’re ready or not.” I stuck my finger towards her face. “And I suggest you get ready. Got it?”

I took a deep breath. I needed to take a step back and chill something other than my ass. I definitely was taking all this more seriously. Maybe too seriously, but really? The only thing we’d managed to accomplish so far was narrow down a dress and scarcely avoid getting kicked out of another bakery. There was only so much cake they’d allow you to sample, claiming to be undecided.

Something was up, and she wasn’t divulging. I picked up a magazine, paging through. I’d taken time off work to get these details nailed down, not to watch her scarf on two-week-old Valentine’s Day candy while I lost my shit.

“What do you think about this for a bouquet?” I flashed her one of the glossy inserts. “Gorgeous, don’t you think?”

She glanced up to see me holding an advertisement for allergy meds, featuring a large bundle of ragweed.

“Yeah, that’d be fine.”

She said it with a straight face, and I refrained from throwing it at her head. She was finally getting married to my brother after six-and-a-half years—the frickin’ love of her life—and it should be a monumental occasion for more than just one person in this room.

“Dammit, Perry.” I stood up, crossing my arms and towering over her. “You’d better start talking right now or—”

I had to sit back down; I felt a bit faint. Oh my God. What if she was having second thoughts? Was the impossible actually possible? What if she’d fallen out of love and it’d happened without me realizing it? Holy fuck. They were my favorite ‘together forever, happily-ever-after’ couple. Well, one of them, but—

“Ow!” I rubbed between my brows, noticing the culprit that had homed in right on my monster-sized line. I picked up the nut-spiked chocolate ball. Man, those things were sharp. It was like a little mace weapon. “What the hell?”

“Sorry, Jills. Had to do it. I saw that look on your face, and I knew exactly what you were thinking. And shame on you. How could you? You’re supposed to be my best friend.”

I scooted over and put my hand on her leg. “God, I’m sorry, Perry. But you really are acting weird here. Have been for weeks and you’re not filling me in, which is so unlike you.”

“That’s because I don’t know myself, but I swear it’s nothing bad. Honest. I still can’t imagine anything other than being with Stephen forever, and I still can’t wait to get married, but… I don’t know. Maybe I’m just getting bored with it all?”

“Bored?” My mouth dropped. “I thought this was supposed to be your dream wedding with your dream guy. Bored?”

“Maybe that was the wrong word. Overwhelmed?”

“Overwhelmed? I’ve been doing everything. Making phone calls, researching venues, dropping everything at a moment’s notice to go on your emergency cake-testing missions.”

“Hmm… okay, maybe overwhelmed isn’t quite right either. But isn’t it your maid-of-honorly duty to do whatever I want so I can rest up and look pretty for my big day?”

She gave me a sweet smile, and I gave her back a look that showed exactly what I thought about that. She parted with her sugar, setting the box aside and giving me a hug.

“I’m sorry, Jills. I’ll start getting more into it. I swear.”

“But shouldn’t it come automatically? Not something you have to force.”

“I know. I’m just in some pre-bridal slump or some crap like that. I’m sure it’ll pass soon. But I swear on our undying friendship that it has nothing to do with your brother.” She pulled back and narrowed her eyes at me. “And what the fuck? How could you even think such a thing? You know how much I love him, and for you of all people to even think I have cold feet…”

I opened my mouth. Yeah, she was right, but in my defense, she had not been acting like herself. Still, I didn’t mean to offend her.

“…but I do have a freezing ass. What the fuck, Jills? Is your heater broken now too? I know you’ve cut down your hours since Mr. Hard arrived on the scene, but I’m sure you still make boatloads. Certainly enough to fix the damn thing.”

I shook my head, smiling. She’d already forgiven me. “It’s not broken, and you should be fine. You’re sitting on two blankets.” And she was covered in two more.

“And my ass is still blue. Could you please just check? I think I’m starting to see my breath. Although, if it is busted, good luck getting your pigheaded self to fix it. You seem to have a stubborn streak when it comes to major household appliances.”

I rolled my eyes, laughing, and went over to the thermostat. It was fine. Sixty-two degrees. I liked it cooler in winter. It made for better sleeping, especially when a certain body was pressed against me all night. Any hotter and I was liable to combust.

“Nope, nothing’s broken,” I said, digging through the basket on the floor of my hall closet. I hauled out another blanket and tossed it to her. “And as far as I know, my a/c is still working perfectly too. Would you like me to check?”

“You’re hilarious.”

“If you’re that cold, I could start a fire. I’ll just have to run out to the shed and collect some wood and—”

“No, I’ll suffer.” She stood up, draping the heaviest blanket around her shoulders. “But I’m not going to do it without hot chocolate. When I come back, we’ll talk wedding shit. Promise.”

“Okay.” I picked up the nut ball. “Here, you probably want this back.”

She stuck out her tongue. “Blech. What’s the purpose of ruining chocolate like that? If I want nuts in my mouth, I’ll—”

“Go make your drink,” I said, interrupting her before she could finish her favorite pastime of reminding me how active a sex life my brother enjoyed. “And throw this away if you’re not going to eat it.”

She caught my toss. “Try the truffles, Jills. It’ll give you an orgasm. I had three just sitting here.”

“I already get plenty. And I get to keep my stable blood sugar levels.”

“Suit yourself. More for me.”

Perry scrounged up all the crinkled candy wrappers to add to the garbage and headed to the kitchen. I slid over and pushed the lid down on the pink and red jumbo box, puffing up a squeal of air. I was impressed. It was the last day of February, and she still had some pieces left.

“How’d you ever manage to keep yourself from finishing the box yet?” I yelled to her.

She stuck her head around the corner. “Because it’s my second one.”

I smiled; Stephen knew her so well. Her perfect Valentine’s Day gift was a double order of anything sweet, hold the flowers. She was the only one I knew who’d be able to pound down so much crap and show up at the altar looking like she’d just spent three weeks at a rejuvenation clinic.

My cell dinged and I glanced over at the table, the text lighting up the screen and warming me more than any hot drink.

Taking Hazel ice skating tonight. You in?

I caught sight of the igloo taking up residence outside my back window, and my face brightened further. Chase and I built it during our most recent snowstorm the previous weekend. He got a chance to prove his point that yes, you really can build one warm enough to get naked inside if you get creative with your body heat.

I shifted around, straightening and then crossing my legs again. Would I always feel like a horned-up teenager when I thought of him? God, I hoped so.

“Let me guess,” Perry said, coming back with one of my mugs that could double as a soup bowl. It was piled high with whipped cream. I kept a family-sized can in the fridge at all times just for her. “There’s only one person who could make you look so dumb.”

“Thanks.”

“I meant that in a good way.” She slurped up a mouthful of cream, plopping back down on the floor.

“You can sit on the couch, you know. I’m just down here because it’s easier for me to spread out everything and keep track of it.”

“No, I’m better now.”

My phone dinged again, spurring on more goofiness inside.

I love you.

“Is he telling you about all the freaky stuff he wants to do to you tonight?”

I looked up. “What? No. He’s asking about going ice skating with Hazel.”

I shot off a quick reply: I’m in. Can’t wait. Love you too.

“It’s fine for her to be doing that stuff with her globamacallits?”

“It’s glomerulonephritis, and she’s doing great. It hasn’t progressed.” That little girl we’d practically adopted made me walk on sunshine. There could be no option where she wasn’t doing great. I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“You’re really happy, Jills. I love seeing you like this.”

“Yeah, me too.” I placed my phone back on the table. Nowadays, I was walking around with a heart the size of Perry’s box of orgasms.

“And fuck, I can’t believe we’re going to be official sisters soon.”

“Fuck is right, so let’s get this wedding planned, okay?” I slapped a Modern Bride mag on the floor. We were so behind schedule it was laughable. If it weren’t so nerve-racking. With the icy winds and the poor little trees that looked like they’d snap under all the heavy snow, it was easy for Perry to be in denial about how quickly the day was creeping up on us. “Now, about that officiant. Did Stephen ever—”

Ding.

That time when I glanced over, my lips curved high for a different reason.

“Chase again?”

I looked at Perry, feeling like my heart had just grown another fifty sizes.

“No. Daniel’s coming home.”