The Good Ones

by Jenn McKinlay

Maisy shined the bright light on it and watched as he shut the doors and then pulled the latch and the doors popped open.

  “Good,” he said. “I don’t think it was broken so much as Perry couldn’t find it.”

  He led the way out of the secret room and then turned around and offered her a hand out of the crawl space. Again, Maisy was struck by how small her hand felt in his. When she stood beside him, she handed him his phone and tilted her head up to glance at his face.

  “Well, I can honestly say everything about this day was unexpected,” she said.

  Ryder nodded, his gaze holding hers. “Agreed.”

  They met Perry in the hallway, and Maisy walked them out. Ryder said he’d have a new estimate for her within a matter of days. Maisy figured that gave her three to four days to get her reaction to him under control. She did not want to spend her summer, as Jeri said, pining for someone she couldn’t have.

  Still, even if Ryder Copeland refused this job, or it didn’t work out, she was glad she had met him and his daughter. It reminded her that she wanted more out of life and maybe, just maybe, opening the Happily Ever After Bookshop was her first step.

  Chapter Nine

  JAYNE Ann Krentz,” Savannah said. “Are we shelving her with her alter ego Amanda Quick or keeping them separate?”

  “Separate,” Maisy said. “Quick is her historical pen name while Krentz is contemporary. Besides, any true fan will know that she’s both.”

  “And Jayne Castle, too,” Savannah added.

  “Right,” Maisy said. She glanced around at the piles and piles of books that didn’t seem to be moving so much as being reshuffled. She tried not to be discouraged. Surely, they were making some sort of progress. Right? She glanced at Savannah and asked, “Is it wine o’clock yet?”

  Savannah, who had arrived a few days ago, tossed back her long red hair and glanced at her wrist, the one that did not have a watch on it. “Well, hey, look at that! It is!”

  She dropped the pile she was sorting back onto the floor and dusted off her hands. Then she rolled to her feet and held out her hand to Maisy.

  “Right on.” Maisy grabbed her hand and let her pull her to her feet.

  They both stepped back and surveyed the room. To Maisy, it looked as if they were never going to get it sorted, but she refused to give up. She had quit her job. There was no going back to teaching for her.

  When the announcement had come that Dean Berry was going to get the position of full-time professor instead of her, she had been stunned at first. Denial had followed swiftly after that. Surely, there must have been some mistake. Then, as the truth sank in, the rage came. He had one less master’s degree and two years’ less experience than she did. What he did have, however, was insider information from Maisy about the interview panel and what they were looking for—a scratch golfer, apparently—in a new hire. Oh, and he had a wife!

  The humiliation still burned in her gut like a lava pit of rage. Maisy had met Dean Berry online. They were both English professors and even though he lived in Raleigh and taught at North Carolina State, she had thought they could make their long-distance relationship work because they had so much in common.

  They had dated for a year. He coached her for her application for the full-time professor position at Fairdale University, all the while planning to nab it for himself, and Maisy had thought he was the most wonderful man she’d ever met. Right up until she came out of her interview and found him waiting to be interviewed and sitting next to him was his wife! She would never forget the feeling of ultimate betrayal. When he got the job, she had almost quit on the spot. Sheer pride had made her finish the semester.

  She was determined to make a success of this shop or go down in flames. She had enjoyed her students and loved her job, but now she had the freedom of being her own boss. She could make her own hours and be in charge of her days. If she had to work sixteen-hour days seven days a week, so be it. Still, the books.

  “Hey, don’t stress. We got this,” Savy said.

  She was taller than Maisy by a lot and when she looped an arm around Maisy’s shoulders and pulled her close, Maisy felt like a little kid being consoled by her big sister. The feeling should have chafed but it didn’t. She was so glad her friend had come. In the time Savy had been here they’d managed to organize and sort two of the upstairs bedrooms, and whenever Maisy felt like she was going to collapse, Savy picked her up and brushed her off and made her keep on moving.

  “So, when do I get to meet cowboy-architect guy?” Savy asked.

  “Soon,” Maisy said. She brushed off her hands, trying to look calm and composed. “I have to give Ryder an answer on the revised bid he dropped off by tomorrow.”

  “Oh, man, you’ve got it bad,” Savannah said. “You can’t even say his name without a dreamy look in your eyes.”

  “Pretty sure it’s just dust,” Maisy argued. She rubbed her eyes as if to prove her point. “He’s just a nice guy. Is it so wrong to appreciate a nice guy? I mean, they’re super rare, like Unicorn Frappuccinos.”

  “Which are disgusting.”

  “I kind of dig them.”

  “That’s because you like anything with glitter on it,” Savy said. “You’re the only person I know who thinks everything is better if you add a little glitter.”

  “I’m not wrong,” Maisy said.

  “You’ve got that stubborn look on your face. I can see there is no point in debating you.”

  “About Ryder or glitter?”

  “Both. Now, let’s go. I can hear our wine calling my name.”

  Together they made their way up the two flights of stairs to the third floor, where they were sharing the former domestic’s apartment, which mercifully had two bedrooms. The evening was warm so they’d left all the windows open and a beautiful cross breeze blew through the rooms, clearing out the dust and stale air, making everything seem fresh and new.

  “So, what was the total of Ryder’s estimate?” Savannah asked. Maisy opened the folder that contained the bid and handed it to her.

  Savy let loose a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money.”

  “I know,” Maisy said. “When I cashed out the annuity Auntie El left me, I knew it was going to have to be put right back into the house whether I want to sell it or turn it into a bookstore.”

  “Is Ryder in line with the other estimates you’ve gotten?”

  Maisy felt her face get warm. She fibbed anyway. “Yeah, totally.”

  Savannah stared at her. “Don’t. Do not. For the love of Spanx, do not tell me that you haven’t gotten any other bids.”

  “Okay, I won’t tell you.”

  “M, you have got to check this infatuation right now,” Savannah said.

  “I am not infatuated,” she protested.

  “Girl, I have known you for eleven years. You are so crushing on the cowboy architect.”

  “I’m not,” Maisy tried fibbing again. She was totally crushing, but she didn’t feel the need to dwell on it. “I mean, he’s married and with a kid. It would be stupid to get all fixated on a man who is taken.”

  “You’re kidding, right? Your whole modus operandi is to find the most emotionally unavailable man in a fifty-mile radius and make him the focus of your interest for months. The more unavailable, the better.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do,” Savy said. “The best relationship of your life was with dingleberry and he was just out to steal your job and was already married!”

  Maisy winced. She hated even thinking about that job-stealing troll.

  “I’m sorry,” Savy said. “But I think you like the idea of a boyfriend more than the reality of one.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Maisy said.

  “Really? Name one guy you’ve been involved with that wasn’t defective in some way.”

  “That’s not relevan
t to this discussion,” Maisy insisted. “Listen, I didn’t get many bids because it’s not as if there are a ton of restoration architects in Fairdale, North Carolina. As for liking Ryder, it doesn’t matter, because he’s married.”

  “Exactly. Which is why Ryder is even more dangerous for you. You’ll give him the job and then pine for him for months for no good reason.”

  “It’s not my fault he’s unavailable.”

  “No, but it is your fault that you are obviously smitten and you haven’t even tried to get bids from other architects, even if they’re not in Fairdale.” She gave Maisy a sympathetic look. “I don’t mean to be a hard-ass but if you don’t get at least two more bids, I’m going to do it myself.”

  “Fine,” Maisy said. She tried to sound as if she actually was fine with this option. She wasn’t. She couldn’t even imagine anyone but Ryder working on the house. He loved the house as much as she did. It was kismet. She was sure of it.

  “One of my missions while I’m here is going to be to get you into circulation,” Savannah said. “I’m thinking we’ll sign up for speed dating, maybe do some singles’ happy hours, and there’s a fun run we can do, too. A five-K just for singles.”

  “Fun run? That’s an oxymoron, you know.”

  Savannah laughed and said, “It’ll be great. You’ll see.”

  “Oh, man, what have I done?” Maisy asked. “You’re going to commandeer my life, aren’t you?”

  “Just the parts that need it,” Savy said. She pointed to the folder with the bid. “Now, put that away. I declare tonight to be movie night. You know what that means.”

  “Yes, and it’s glorious!” Maisy said. “Pajamas, cookies, ice cream, potato chips, and wine. Am I missing anything?”

  “What movie are we watching?” Savannah said. “Has to be a chick flick. That’s a rule.”

  “Okay, but nothing that will make me cry,” Maisy said. “I’m battling enough tears over Auntie El as it is on a daily basis.”

  “Okay, then,” Savannah said. She walked over to the small kitchenette and opened the pantry. “Love Actually?”

  “Too Christmassy,” Maisy answered. She ducked into her bedroom and changed into her pajamas, which consisted of a pink Bazooka gum tank top and matching pink plaid cotton bottoms. “How about 10 Things I Hate About You?”

  “I can’t,” Savannah said. “I’m still grieving for Heath Ledger. I’ll cry.”

  “Understandable,” Maisy agreed. She returned to the kitchen and took over pouring the wine while Savannah ducked into her room to change.

  “Four Weddings and a Funeral?” Savannah returned in pajamas much like Maisy’s except they were green and sported a vintage 7 Up logo.

  “No, I always cry at the funeral part, plus I feel bad for Duckface,” Maisy said.

  “She does look like a duck, though,” Savannah said.

  “Which is why I feel bad for her.”

  “I’m running out of ideas.”

  “We must look to the Cusack. He’s the go-to romcom guy.”

  “Must Love Dogs or Say Anything . . . ?”

  “No, even better,” Maisy said. “The Sure Thing.”

  “Oh, yes! A Rob Reiner film for the win. Daphne Zuniga and John Cusack, two broke college kids crossing the country in search of a ‘sure thing.’ Fabulous!” Savy held up her hand for a high five, and Maisy complied.

  Agreed on their film, they set to work dishing ice cream and putting the chips into big bowls while cuing up the movie. The cramped living quarters consisted of two small bedrooms, the kitchenette, and one main room that was a shared common area. The room was sparsely decorated with the couch and television Maisy’d had in her old apartment.

  She had taken the opportunity when she moved to declutter most of her belongings, realizing she really didn’t need to keep her arts and crafts projects from the third grade or the volcano from her middle school science fair, which never worked when it was supposed to, opting to go off in the middle of someone else’s presentation and spraying Maisy’s science teacher right in the face. The D she got in that class had not been a big surprise.

  The move had been cathartic, although she supposed it could be argued that she had just traded her own stuff for Auntie El’s. Whatever. Auntie El had cooler stuff.

  Savannah had just started the movie when the sound of banging ruptured the quiet and Maisy’s pre-movie anticipation.

  Savy raised one eyebrow. “Are we expecting anyone?”

  “No,” she said. “The only person likely would be Jeri, but she has a PTO meeting.”

  “We’re in our pajamas,” Savy said. “Maybe if we ignore them, they’ll go away.”

  “It might be important.”

  “Then go answer it.”

  “But it’s two flights down and then back up.”

  Savannah drooped her head on the back of the couch. “Fine, we’ll RPS for it. One, two, three, shoot.”

  They shook their fists three times. Maisy went with paper, knowing that Savannah always played rock. Except for when she didn’t, which was right now. Savannah’s split-fingered scissors cut Maisy’s paper.

  “Two out of three,” Maisy said.

  “No.”

  Maisy made a face and rolled off the couch. “Don’t eat all of the chips.”

  “Then don’t take too long or I’ll only leave you the crumbs.”

  Maisy picked up her pace. Savannah was tall, which meant she was able to pack away more chow than a vertically challenged gal like Maisy. Besides, Maisy hated the potato chip crumbs and Savy knew it.

  She ducked and weaved between stacks of books as she jogged lightly down the first flight of steps, crossed the landing, and began down the second flight. She ran her fingers lightly over the banister, keeping it in reach in case one of the books tripped her up. Note to self: get the books off the stairs. They were a hazard.

  Since she was in just her pajamas and it was getting dark outside, she flipped on the porch light and peered through the peephole before she opened the door. To her surprise, Perry was standing there. She was holding the book Maisy had given her and looking forlorn. Maisy moved her gaze from side to side. Perry appeared to be alone. Maisy let out a sigh of relief, as she was in her pajamas, refusing to acknowledge the twinge of disappointment that came with it.

  “Perry, is everything all right?” she asked as she opened the door.

  Chapter Ten

  PERRY shifted from foot to foot. She looked nervous so Maisy smiled at her, hoping to put the girl at ease. Perry looked more alarmed than comforted and Maisy wondered if she had something stuck in her teeth. She surreptitiously tried to check with her tongue while she waited for Perry to say something.

  “I finished the book!” Perry said. She thrust the copy of Pride and Prejudice at Maisy as if it were hot.

  “Oh, great!” Maisy took the book. “What did you think?”

  “I loved it,” Perry gushed. “It was sweet and charming and Elizabeth Bennet is the best heroine ever, like how she doesn’t let Darcy get away with his rudeness and how she stands by her family even though they are horribly embarrassing.”

  Maisy grinned. “She is wonderful, isn’t she?”

  Perry nodded. She twisted her fingers together in front of her waist. She looked as if she wanted to say something but she didn’t know what.

  “I’m going to take a wild guess here,” Maisy said. She wagged the book at Perry. “This was your gateway drug, wasn’t it? And now you’re looking for another hit.”

  Perry glanced over each shoulder and then pushed her glasses up her nose. She leaned in close and in a low voice, she said, “So, can you hook me up? No one has to know.”

  It took Maisy a second to realize Perry was teasing her, and when she did, a surprised laugh barked out of her. Perry gave her a shy smile and Maisy decided she liked this kid—a lot. With
her free hand she grabbed the teen by the arm and hauled her into the house.

  “Take anything you want,” Maisy said. “Take a bagful or a truckload, whatever will get you through the day.”

  Perry danced on her toes. “Thank you.” Then she glanced around at the piles and piles and piles of books. “Um, I’m not sure where to start.”

  Maisy sighed. “That makes two of us.”

  They stood together, taking it all in, when a voice called from above, “John Cusack is on deck, what is the holdup?”

  “Keep your pants on,” Maisy yelled back. “I’m doing my very first reader advisory here.”

  “Ooooh, aren’t you fancy with the booksy terms,” Savy said. Then she noticed Perry and said, “Hi.”

  Perry’s eyes went wide. Small wonder. Standing on the landing above them, with her fiery hair now in a ball on the top of her head, and wearing a tank top that showed off her muscular physique, Savannah looked like an Amazon.

  “Hi,” Perry chirped.

  Savannah tipped her head to the side and then glanced at Maisy with a curious look. There was no dodging it—all she could hope was that Savannah didn’t say anything mortifying.

  “This is Perry Copeland. She’s Ryder’s daughter,” Maisy said. “Perry, this is my roommate and social media strategist, Savannah Wilson.”

  “Hang on. I don’t do intros from a floor away.” And with that Savannah sat on the banister and slid her way down to them. She wobbled once, making Maisy yelp, and she kicked over two piles of books, making a mess, but she landed on her feet on the floor beside them, looking so pleased with herself that Maisy didn’t have the heart to yell at her.

  Savannah held out a hand to Perry. “Nice to meet you.”

  Perry looked even more owl eyed, but she took Savy’s hand and said, “That was so cool.”

  “Thanks, I’ve been wanting to try it forever.”

  “Please tell me you’ve gotten it out of your system,” Maisy said.

  “Absolutely,” Savy said. “For now. Plus, I think I got a splinter in my butt.”