What Matters Most

by Beers, Georgia

  “I’ve got nowhere to be,” Ree said, leaning an elbow on the makeshift bar and raising an expectant eyebrow.

  Resigned to her fate, Kelsey mimicked Ree’s position and said, “Okay. Remember a couple weeks ago when I asked you about meeting somebody and feeling...alarmingly drawn to her? Like, physically?”

  Ree gave a nod. “Of course. That was a fun conversation. Brought up some great memories for me.”

  “Well, I’d met somebody who had that effect on me.”

  “I gathered as much.”

  “We’d met a couple more times, but only in passing and we never really had much chance to talk. One of us was always on her way someplace else. But we finally made plans to sit and have coffee.”

  Ree’s smile was genuine and she grasped Kelsey’s upper arm, giving it a friendly squeeze. “That’s great.”

  “It was. Except she didn’t show.”

  “Oh. Damn.”

  “Yeah. And I was bummed. Like, more than I expected I’d be. And I saw Hannah that night, and she knew something was bothering me, so I thought maybe it was a good time to tell her.”

  “That you’d been looking to date others. Yeah, she needed to hear that, I think. Good call. How’d she take it?”

  Kelsey bobbed her head from side to side. “She actually did okay. I mean, I could tell she wasn’t happy about it, but she did okay. She was supportive and made me laugh and it was a good time. We talked over dinner and it was good.”

  “Okay.” Ree drew the word out, knowing there was more to come.

  Kelsey took a too-large gulp of her wine, then had a hard time swallowing it down. A quick glance around told her nobody was within earshot. “That woman was here today.”

  Ree’s brows furrowed as she processed the information, then shot up toward her hairline as she comprehended it. “She was?”

  Kelsey nodded, sipped again.

  “Is she still here?” Ree said in a stage whisper this time as she craned her neck one way, then the other.

  Kelsey laughed quietly. “No. She went home.”

  Ree gave a nod of understanding, then asked, “So…why is Hannah so bent out of shape?”

  “It’s her sister.” Kelsey tried to hide behind her cup, but watched Ree with wary eyes.

  “Her sister...?” Ree scrunched up her face like she was thinking and a beat later, her eyes flew open wide. Like, really wide. “Theresa?”

  “Shhh!” Kelsey said, using her open hand to try to quiet her friend.

  Ree clamped a hand over her mouth and took a moment to collect herself. “Sorry,” she said in a whisper. “I’m just surprised is all.”

  Kelsey made a face of agreement. “Yeah. Me, too.”

  “You had no idea?”

  “I didn’t know Hannah had a sister. Let alone, that one.”

  Ree nodded. “Yeah, Theresa’s...hot. Super hot. Definitely. I’ve only met her a couple of times. She and Hannah don’t get along.”

  “I got that impression, though I didn’t want to pry.”

  Ree shrugged. “I don’t have a ton of details. Theresa’s quite a bit older and they have different mothers. I think they each resent the other for whatever reason.” She took a sip of her drink and seemed to contemplate the situation. “So, what happened? How did Hannah find out?”

  Kelsey told her the story of the powder room, of Theresa astonishing Kelsey by simply...appearing.

  “Okay, well, if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.” Ree looked a bit incredulous as she took in the details of the story. “You were obviously meant to meet up with her at some point. Did you find out why she stood you up?”

  Kelsey grinned. “Yeah. We didn’t have each other’s numbers. She got stuck in a meeting at work, but had no way to call me or text me or anything to let me know. She didn’t even know my real name, and I didn’t know hers.”

  Ree shook her head as she chuckled. “That is just bizarre.”

  “I know, right?”

  “What happens now? Please tell me you got her number before she left today.”

  “I did. And I told her I’d call her. I mean, I really want to call her, but...” Kelsey made a face of confused uncertainty.

  “But...?”

  “Hello? She’s Hannah’s sister. Stay with me here, Ree.” Kelsey playfully pushed at her.

  “Oh! Right. Duh.” Ree scratched her forehead.

  “I’m not sure what to do.” She sipped her wine, then sidestepped out of the way when a man approached. Kelsey smiled at him, watched as he mixed himself a vodka and Seven, then gave her a nod before heading into the kitchen. Kelsey picked up where she’d left off. “I mean, isn’t there some unwritten rule about dating your friends’ siblings or something?”

  Ree took a moment and gazed off into the distance, looking like she was mulling it over. After several long moments, she said, “I think that’s about dating your ex’s sibling. I’m not sure it carries over to just friends’ siblings.” When Kelsey opened her mouth to reply, Ree held up a hand. “However, Hannah thinks of you as more than a friend, even if you don’t think about her the same way, so this could get a little dicey.”

  Kelsey groaned. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” She swallowed, chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Ree, this girl. She’s...” Kelsey gazed off for a moment as she tried to find the words. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I’ve never been drawn to somebody like this. It’s a little unnerving.”

  Ree’s expression softened and she closed her hand over Kelsey’s forearm. “I know. I can see it on your face.”

  “Right? So just writing her off because of feelings that Hannah has, but I don’t...I don’t know if I can do that. I mean, should I have to?”

  “Are you willing to give up Hannah’s friendship?” Ree raised her eyebrows in question.

  Kelsey blew out a breath, unsurprised by the question. “I don’t know.”

  “Because it might come to that. I’m not saying it’s fair, but I’ve known Hannah for a while now, and I’m not sure how well she’ll take the object of her affection dating not just her sister, but her sister that she doesn’t like very much. Put yourself in her shoes.”

  “I know. I know. You’re right. I just...” Kelsey shook her head. “I guess I need to think about it, make a decision.”

  Ree nodded. “Should we head back out?”

  Kelsey wrinkled her nose. “I think I’m gonna just head home. I have no desire to deal with the dagger eyes from across the table anymore, you know?”

  “I get it.” Ree gave her a hug. “I’ll give her a little crap about it, don’t you worry.” She turned to head through the kitchen to the back door when Kelsey stopped her.

  “Hey, Ree?”

  Ree turned back, eyebrows up, friendly expression on her face, as always.

  “Thanks. For listening. For the advice. For everything.”

  With a quick nod, Ree said, “You’re welcome. Keep me posted.”

  “I will.” Kelsey watched through the window as Ree headed back to the table and took her seat. Hannah bent toward her, obviously asked her something, then looked up at the house. Kelsey took that as her cue, found her purse, and was in her car in under a minute.

  Home and quiet sounded perfect right about now. Home, quiet, and some serious brain racking.

  Because right now? She was at a loss.

  ***

  Darkness had fallen by the time Kelsey reached her apartment. She battled guilt over not having said goodbye to Hannah before she left, but honestly? She had no idea what to say to her. And if she was going all in with the truthfulness, she had to admit she was a little bit annoyed with her. It wasn’t Kelsey’s fault Hannah had feelings for her, was it? Kelsey had been up front about where she stood. Maybe not from the very beginning, but she’d never led Hannah on. So Hannah being angry at her now seemed...misguided? Unfounded? Not fair?

  The night was humid, even for Kelsey’s southern blood, and she was thankful her apartment had air conditioning. Annoyed she h
adn’t turned it on before she’d left for work that morning, she hit the button the second she walked in. It wasn’t central air; it was a unit built into the wall and was louder than she would’ve liked, but it did the trick, and within a half hour, her little abode was comfortable enough that she stopped sweating.

  Laptop in hand, she flopped onto her deep green suede couch, situated the throw pillows around her, and propped her feet up on the trunk that doubled as a coffee table. She had a few e-mails she’d left unanswered so she could make Hannah’s barbecue before it got dark, and now seemed as good a time as any to take care of those. Plus, she hoped doing some work would keep her mind off Lisa/Theresa.

  Which turned out to be a very silly assumption.

  The instant she stopped typing her e-mail response and gazed up into the empty room, Kelsey’s mind was filled with the breathtaking image of blue eyes, blond waves, and that killer half-smile. Then there was the voice. And that laugh!

  Don’t get me started on that laugh and how badly I want to hear it again, how badly I want to be the cause of it...

  And that was the last of the e-mailing because it was replaced by remembering.

  And daydreaming.

  And wishing.

  And desire.

  Kelsey inhaled a full breath and let it out very slowly.

  Theresa had said so much that Kelsey wanted to explore, to delve into. Why didn’t she and Hannah get along? When she’d guessed that Hannah wanted more from Kelsey than friendship, Theresa had said, “Typical Hannah.”

  What did that mean?

  Was she close to her mother? Did she get along with her father? What had made her move to New Jersey, and why had she chosen to return?

  There was so much. Kelsey wanted to know all of it. Everything. And more.

  She picked up her phone, scrolled to Theresa’s number, added her last name. Typing “Keene,” the same last name as Hannah’s, was...odd, and she stared at it on the screen for several moments.

  “Theresa Keene.” Kelsey wet her lips. “Theresa Keene.” She let it roll around her tongue, tasted how the name felt in her mouth, and immediately wondered what Theresa’s middle name was. Then she laughed out loud at herself.

  She had it bad.

  “Screw it,” she said, and hit Send. The phone rang three times before it was answered.

  “You called,” Theresa said quietly and, if Kelsey was reading her tone correctly, with pleasure.

  “I said I would.”

  “True.”

  “I almost didn’t,” Kelsey said, the words out before she even realized she was about to say them.

  “Yeah? How come?”

  “I was torn.” Kelsey’s own honesty surprised her.

  “Between?”

  “My loyalty to Hannah and...” She hesitated only a second before continuing. “My desire to talk to you.”

  “And desire won, I see.” Theresa sounded pleased.

  Kelsey could hear the smile in her voice. “It almost always does.”

  “Hang on,” Theresa said, “while I jot that down for future reference.”

  Kelsey chuckled and then there was a span of silence—not uncomfortable, which amazed her.

  “I was hoping you’d call,” Theresa said finally, and her tone was low and husky. Sexy.

  “Inevitable, since I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”

  “Good.”

  “What happens now?” Kelsey asked. At this point, she was reasonably sure Theresa was on the same page as her, but she needed her to make the next move. Kelsey had made the phone call. Now it was Theresa’s turn.

  “Well,” she said calmly, slowly, as if she was purposely dragging it out. In a good way. “Now, I think we go on a date. Yes?”

  Kelsey felt one corner of her mouth quirk up at the same time a delicious tightening happened low in her abdomen. “Are you asking me on one?”

  “I’m getting there.” At Kelsey’s laugh, Theresa went on. “I was thinking more than coffee. Dinner. A nice dinner. What do you say?”

  “I don’t know,” Kelsey said, taking her turn to drag it out. “I mean, are you going to actually show up?”

  “Oh!” Theresa said, as if she’d been stabbed, then broke into that wonderful laugh. “I will never live that down, will I?”

  “Not if I have any say, no.”

  Their laughter died down and Theresa said seriously, “I will absolutely show up. I promise.”

  “Then yes. I would love to have dinner with you.”

  “Fantastic. How’s Tuesday? I have to work late Monday.”

  Kelsey clicked to the calendar on her laptop, saw she had a meeting in the afternoon, but that was it. “I can do Tuesday. Where?”

  “I have a place in mind, but let me call and see if we can get in. Can I let you know on Monday?”

  “Ooh, a secret location,” Kelsey said with delight.

  “How do you feel about Italian?”

  “I feel very, very fondly about Italian. Doesn’t everybody?”

  “You haven’t had Italian until you’ve had this Italian.”

  “I don’t know...you’re really cranking up my expectations. Dangerous.” Kelsey heard the flirtatious tone without realizing she’d used it.

  “You don’t scare me,” Theresa said, and her flirtatious tone put Kelsey’s to shame.

  And just like that, I’m wet, Kelsey thought, bringing a hand to her mouth in aroused surprise. God, this woman.

  “All right, let me make some calls and I’ll text you the name and address of the place. Sound good?”

  “Sounds perfect,” Kelsey replied.

  “I’m really looking forward to it.” Theresa’s voice was quiet now. Serious.

  “Me, too.”

  They said their goodbyes and disconnected, and Kelsey sat for long moments with the phone resting against her chin and a big, silly grin on her face. She only had one question.

  How in the world was she going to make it through the next forty-eight hours?

  CHAPTER NINE

  IF IT WASN’T FOR the promise of the evening, Kelsey would have gladly crawled into bed, under the covers, and avoided the remainder of Tuesday, written it off as a horrible, useless day and waited patiently for Wednesday to come along and save her from the hideousness and frustration.

  There were bad days. That was life. That was also retail. A career, a livelihood that depended on customers was always hit or miss. Kelsey knew this. She’d been in retail all of her adult life and some of her teenage years. Customers could be unreasonable assholes and you had to sit there and take it, the majority of the time, if you wanted your business to maintain a good reputation. In the age of social media, it only took one or two tweets from an angry customer to completely derail your sales. People tended to believe everything they read on the Internet, so one impossible-to-satisfy client could completely unravel your success. Horrific, but true.

  Kelsey had become a pro at steeling herself, at smiling and nodding and not retaliating at all when a customer told her that a product sucked or that her store sucked or that she sucked. Offering them free stuff tended to head that irrational anger off at the pass, and on this particular Tuesday, Kelsey found herself offering free stuff to four customers. Four! Exorbitant and unprecedented.

  She was shaking her head as she walked toward the back of the store, having sent Disgruntled Customer Number Four away with no less than twenty dollars’ worth of free lotion to replace the “defective” lotion she bought last week.

  “Customers,” Jeanine whispered, as Kelsey passed. “Aren’t they awesome?”

  “No, they suck,” Kelsey said just as quietly, because the last thing she needed was some other customer tweeting that the owner of Common Scents thinks her customers suck in general.

  It was close to four o’clock when Kelsey dropped herself into her chair in the office and blew out a huge, overworked breath. Overall, she loved her job. Adored it. Was intensely proud of being a small business owner. But on days like t
oday, with four unsatisfied customers and the letter that had arrived in the mail, she wondered if she shouldn’t just throw in the towel and find herself a simple desk job. Something where she answered phones and filed papers and didn’t worry about paying her bills and didn’t take any of it home with her at the end of the day.

  The letter in question was still sitting on her desk where she’d left it—okay, crumpled it up and threw it—after she’d read it earlier this morning. Its envelope was on the desk as well, the return address touting it being from Stone & Jeffers, Attorneys at Law.

  The letter detailed that one Mrs. Betsy Siegler had purchased the building at Kelsey’s address from her mother, effective two weeks from today’s date. More information would be forthcoming.

  Betsy Siegler had struck after all.

  “I would like no more information to forthcome,” Kelsey muttered to the empty office. “I would like Mrs. Betsy Siegler to fall off the face of the earth and leave me and my shop alone.” With a huge sigh, Kelsey watched the security monitors, observed as one customer sprayed a body mist into the air and sniffed, as another rubbed lotion from a tester into her hands and held it up to her companion to smell, saw Jeanine restocking the foaming hand soap. Unexpectedly, her eyes welled with tears as she thought about how hard she’d worked on getting the shop up and running, and how alarmingly possible it was that she’d have to shut it down inside of six months because the rent was too much for her to afford.

  Again, she thought about how her father would have a loud “I told you so” ready and waiting, and he’d deliver it with pleasure and gusto. She was sure of it. And she dreaded it.

  Spinning her chair around so it was once again facing front, she rubbed her forehead and willed herself to stop worrying about something she couldn’t control. She’d worry when she had to...which would probably happen soon enough. Until then, she should focus on sales.

  The ding of her phone pulled her back to the present, indicating a text. It was from Theresa and couldn’t have come at a better time. Kelsey smiled as she picked it up.

  The name Rinaldi’s and an address were staring at her. She was about to punch it into her Maps when a second text came through.