The Forever Girl (Wildstone, #6)(91)

Maze shut the door and raised a brow. “We’ve got an ally. Okay, babe, your call. What are we doing?”

Caitlin drew a deep breath. “There really are reasons why I like being with Dillon.”

“Name them.”

“He makes great coffee.” She searched for more. “Oh, and he’s really good in bed.”

“You do realize you just ranked his coffee-making skills above his sex skills, right?”

Caitlin sighed. “He was there for me when no one else was, and that means a lot. And,” she went on when Maze winced and opened her mouth, “I don’t blame you for not knowing. That was on me, not you. Please don’t feel bad for me, because I don’t. My point is that Dillon and I got close during a time when I was particularly vulnerable, which I hate to admit. And I really did think things were good between us, or at least had the potential to be good. But last night I watched you and Walker slow dancing after the rehearsal dinner, swaying in a loose embrace, staring at each other, and even from across the patio I could see how much he loves you. He kissed you, and his hands slid up your arms and cupped your face, and you nearly melted into a puddle. You probably would have, but he caught you and held on to you.” She shook her head. “I’ve never melted like that, not once. And I want to melt, Maze.”

Maze drew a shaky breath. “Look, I’m no example. Last night Walker asked me to get off the fence about us one way or the other. And the thing is, I want him. I want him for . . . forever, but did I tell him that? No. Because I’m stupid.”

“You’ll tell him. When you’re ready.”

“Yes. But I’ll probably wait too long and mess it all up, so please don’t use me as your ruler. And also, you’re still forgetting something vital when you list the reasons for marrying Dillon. The L-word. Pretty big omission, don’t you think?”

Starting to feel a little defensive, Caitlin stood up and shoved the torn wedding dress to her hips. “How relevant can it be when you can’t even say the word? Maybe I should take a page from your book and run from it at every turn. Or sit on the fence about it.”

“Hey, don’t turn this on me,” Maze said. “I can totally say it.”

“Yeah?” Caitlin tossed up her hands. “Then say it. Say ‘I love you, Cat.’”

Maze opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed her mouth, looking shocked. “Oh my God,” she finally said, shaking her head, putting a hand to her mouth. “What is that?”

“Told you!”

Maze’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you always have to be right?”

Caitlin went palms up. “I don’t know, probably the same reason you always run from love. We’re both so stubborn it makes us stupid.”

Maze stepped back like Caitlin had slapped her. “And why can’t you just let a person be who they are? We’re not all fixer-uppers, you know, Cat. Some of us are fine just as we are.”

Caitlin shoved her dress to the floor and punted it across the room.

“If you take off any more clothes, this conversation is over.”

Caitlin looked down at her white lace bra and undies. “Well, excuse me, but all I’ve got to put on is a short silk dressing robe. I need some more clothes. Why didn’t I think ahead?”

Maze sighed and shrugged out of her bridesmaid dress. “And you want to know what I know about the L-word? I know how to blow it up.” She threw her dress at Caitlin and it hit her in the face. “As you already know!”

Caitlin caught the dress and stared in regret at Maze, also now in nothing but her bra and undies. “That’s not true.”

Maze drew a deep breath. “Look, the truth is I do know things about . . . those three little words everyone likes so much. For example, I know it’s too easy to say for most, but I also know it’s almost impossible to follow through on. Think about it, Cat, how many people have followed through for you?”

She stared at Maze, who was standing there furious and worried in nothing but her undies because she’d literally given Caitlin the clothes off her back. “You,” she reminded her BFF softly. “Plus my mom, my dad, Walker, Heather, Michael . . . everyone, Maze.”

“Well, of course everyone follows through for you. You’re Caitlin effing Walsh. You’re sweet and kind and don’t make stupid choices.”

Caitlin lifted her hands and gestured to herself. Her half-naked self.

“Well, one mistake doesn’t count,” Maze said.

Caitlin stared at the stubborn, loyal, incredible, always honest Mayhem Maze and felt her heart melt. “You mean everything to me. I hope you know that. I love you, and I know damn well you love me back, even if you’re afraid to say it because love’s been hard on you.”

“I am not scared. Take that back.”

“So you’ve told Walker you love him then?”

“You know I haven’t.”

“Because you’re afraid he’s going to leave you.”

“That’s not why.”

“Why then?” Cat pushed.

Maze went hands on hips. “We don’t have time for this! Put my dress on.”

Caitlin shoved herself into the bridesmaid dress. It was a better fit than her wedding dress had been, mostly because she had breathing room. Well, except in the chest. Her breasts were bigger than Maze’s and still making a run for it, busting out of the thing.