by Sarah Peis
Willa pointed to all the bags. “We should offer some of this to your customers. I’m sure they’d love it. And I also got a few bottles of champagne.”
What she really got was ten bottles. And glasses. I grinned at her sheepish expression. “This is perfect. Thanks so much, Wills. I wanted to do something like that but totally forgot in the rush to get everything ready.”
She grinned and picked up the box that held the glasses. “That’s what friends are for, to buy you booze and unhealthy food.”
We all walked back into the store, and Willa immediately set out the champagne glasses and filled them up. Stella was busy arranging the pastries that were already on platters—guess Rayna prepared for anything—and I cast a glance around the store to make sure everything was still okay.
There were a few customers browsing through the sales rack, and Chloe was busy talking to someone. I couldn’t tell who it was, but by the dazzled look on my employee’s face and the impressive backside I saw of the guy, I wasn’t going to interrupt her. Especially after I recognized the backside.
What the hell is Oliver doing here?
I turned toward the girls, hoping I could make a stealthy escape.
“Maisie, have some champagne,” Willa called out, and I cringed. Her loud voice carried across the room, and I was sure everyone would have heard her. I wouldn’t be surprised if the people next door came over for a drink.
I took the glass she held out but couldn’t keep the constipated look off my face. The smile on hers faltered, and she stepped closer. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“It’s nothing,” I said and downed the champagne. “Just smelled something bad.”
She didn’t believe me. I didn’t even believe me. But she let it go, and I hoped if I walked fast, I could make it out the door before Oliver caught up to me.
“Maisie,” he said, appearing next to me. “Your shop looks fantastic. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I said, probably now also sounding constipated and not just looking it.
Willa watched our exchange with wide eyes, and Stella narrowed hers at Oliver. I couldn’t move toward the safety of my friends because my feet wouldn’t work and my body was busy soaking in being near him again. He was standing close enough that I could feel his warmth and smell the stupid soap he used that I had always liked.
“Hi, I’m Oliver,” he introduced himself to the girls and Jameson, shaking each of their hands.
Jameson looked at me when I didn’t move or say anything, and I knew if I gave him a sign, he’d throw my unwanted guest out. But I didn’t need the drama. Kind of wanted it though, because it would have given me pleasure to see him out on his ass.
“And you must be Willa. Maisie talks about you all the time,” Oliver said, stupid dimply smile on his face. Who liked dimples anyway? “Good to see you again, Stella,” he greeted my traitorous friend, who smiled at him when just this morning she was ready to inflict pain on him.
He turned toward Willa. “How was your vacation? Did you like Pont à Bar and the boat trip?”
Why did he have to pronounce the stupid French town so well? Was there no justice in this world? Willa hadn’t put two and two together yet, so she was still nice to him.
“It was one of the best parts of our trip. You must be Maisie’s friend who knew the guy who owned the houseboats. Thank you so much for getting us in touch with him. He rented the houseboat to us for hardly anything.”
Oh no, she had that stupid dreamy look on her face. I bet she was thinking of the time she spent there with Jameson. She would be no help now. And yup, there she went, going all googly-eyed and dragging Jameson to my office. Guess I had to disinfect all surfaces again tonight.
“Where’s your fiancée? Didn’t want to bring her to your ex-girlfriend’s opening?” Stella asked, crossing her arms over her chest. I mentally high-fived her, glad my friend was back, her momentary infatuation over. I tried to cover the laugh that wanted to escape, and it came out as a cough. I did always like the direct approach the best. And as I said, the woman had balls.
“I’m not engaged anymore. And Maisie isn’t my ex.”
“That’s right, because to be your ex, we’d need to have been something to start with,” I cut in, eager to get this over with. At least nobody had noticed our whisper hissing.
Oliver turned to me, and his pleading eyes almost sucked me in. “You’re not my ex because as far as I’m concerned, we’re still together. And you would agree if you would just let me explain myself.”
I mirrored Stella’s stance and shook off the momentary lapse of hate toward him. My walls were back up, and I was ready to get this over with. “I let you explain yourself, but if I remember correctly, the explanation was lacking. And no, I do not want to let you give me another half-assed explanation. Now please leave. This is my shop opening. And if you care about me at all, you would know how important today is for me.”
“I came to show my support. And no, I’m not leaving. I’ll be here if you need anything.” And with that, the infuriating man sat down on my purple couch with silver ducks on it, looking not even a little ridiculous on the girly monstrosity.
“You okay?” Stella asked and led me behind the counter, out of hearing distance.
“I’m fine. I guess I should have known he wasn’t just going to give up. I must really give brilliant head for him to be so persistent.”
Stella just rolled her eyes at me. Guess it wasn’t one of my best jokes.
There were about three hours left before closing, and I doubted Oliver would last the whole time on the uncomfortable couch.
I tried to ignore him, I really did, but when my parents came in and somehow ended up on the duck couch, my breath faltered and my eyes started doing their weird blinking thing again.
And they weren’t just having a polite conversation. My dad was laughing at whatever Oliver had said, my mom did her weird hair toss that told me she liked him, and then he got up and went to the refreshment table, getting three beers. The audacity.
I stomped over when my parents were busy greeting Willa and Stella. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hissed, narrowing my eyes at Oliver.
“Talking to your parents?” he asked, like this was Jeopardy.
“And why would you do such a thing?”
“Because they’re your parents.”
“Exactly. They are my parents. They have nothing to do with this thing between us.”
“Beautiful, I told you we’re not over. I know you still have feelings for me. And I’ll be fighting for us as long as I know you do. So just accept that I’ll be their favorite son-in-law by the time tonight is over.”
“You would be their only son-in-law since my brother is single.”
“See, we’re already sharing more about ourselves. Now, if you excuse me, I promised your parents I would give them some advice on their investments. And I always keep my promises.”
He walked off with a wink and left me standing in the middle of the store.
“What happened? Do I need to get Jameson?” Willa came up to me and handed me another glass of champagne. I took it and chugged it in one go.
“Whoa, maybe you should ease up on the drinks. You are technically at work.”
“I promise this will not be a repeat of the alpha beta something something party.”
“Thank God,” she said and shuddered.
Stella joined our huddle. “What did I miss?” she asked.
“Maisie considered taking her clothes off and jumping off the roof.”
“There’s no pool here. Terrible idea,” Stella said.
Willa nodded. “And it’s too high to make it without injury into the trash cans, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Seriously? I’ve had about two drinks over a few hours. I think I can control the urge to jump off the roof.”
The rest of the night was much easier. My parents didn’t stay long, but my mom hugged Oliver before they lef
t, and my dad shook his hand. That was the official nod of approval. I glared at him when he grinned at me.
Instead of coming over and gloating like I expected him to, he resumed his position on the couch. I released a loud sigh when the last person left and I turned the sign to Closed and locked the door. I had survived the first day of what was hopefully many more to come.
Both Stella and Willa also had to leave, albeit reluctantly. But after assuring them I would be fine and could handle myself, they stopped apologizing. Willa made the I’m watching you gesture to Oliver when she walked out, putting her middle finger out a little more than necessary to do it. I had given her the CliffsNotes on the Oliver drama, and she was ready to trip him and pour glitter all over him. To all our relief, Jameson talked her out of it.
Stella flipped him off without pretending to be doing something on her way out the door.
Now the store was quiet—too quiet after the busy day—and I felt awkward straightening up clothes while Oliver moved furniture back into place.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said when I saw him get the broom out.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. You look tired. The sooner you get everything sorted, the quicker you can go home.”
“Chloe is still here, and I pay her to help me.”
“She’s busy balancing the cash register.”
“She won’t be long.”
“Good. That means you’re that much closer to finishing up.”
I huffed but stopped arguing. If he wanted to sweep the floor, then I’d let him sweep the goddamn floor.
It took no time at all to finish up, and I was grateful for the help, if I was honest. The last few days were catching up with me, and I was so tired, I wouldn’t be surprised if I could fall asleep on the couch in the shop. It looked like a trendy and comfortable piece of furniture but felt like you were sitting on a brick.
“All done. I left today’s numbers and the money on your desk,” Chloe said, dragging my tired eyes away from the couch.
“Thanks, Chloe. You were awesome today, couldn’t have done it without you,” I said and unlocked the front door again to let her out.
“No problem, boss. I think I’m going to love working here. See you tomorrow.”
She skipped past me, and I watched her get into her car that was parked outside. I knew the crime rate in Humptulips was low, but you could never be too safe. Once she drove off, I locked the door and walked to my office.
Everything was where she said it would be, and I locked the money in the safe after I glanced at the numbers. They weren’t bad at all, and if I kept even a fraction of the customers we had today and made them regulars, I would break even by the end of the year.
“Do you need to do anything else?” Oliver asked, leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pocket, looking like he was posing for a photo shoot.
I stared at the desk and forced myself to stop wishing things were different. “Nope. All finished.”
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he said, surprising me. I’d expected another attempt at an explanation.
“I didn’t drive,” I said but grabbed my bag and walked to where he was standing.
“How did you get here?”
“Stella picked me up. I’m just going to walk home.”
“I’ll drive you.”
Locked in a car with Oliver, surrounded by his scent? No, thanks.
“That’s okay, it’s a quick walk. The fresh air will be nice after being inside the shop all day.”
He followed me out the back door and watched me set the alarm. “Then I’ll walk with you.”
I turned and walked down the back alley to the main street. “No need. I know the way.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“I want to make sure you get home safely.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he shook his head. “No. I’m not budging on this. And there is no way you can change my mind. Now instead of wasting time arguing, you can just accept that I’m walking home with you.”
“Fine. Do what you want.”
Cue the most awkward fifteen minutes of my life. Neither one of us talked, the only sound our steps on the sidewalk and the occasional loud exhale.
We finally made it to the house, and I opened the front gate. “Thanks for walking me. Bye,” I said and opened the latch.
Oliver’s hand on my arm stopped me from walking away. “I’m not giving up on us.”
“You can do whatever you want. But you should know that I don’t trust you anymore. And for a relationship to work, you need trust.”
I didn’t give him a chance to say anything else before I speed-walked to my front door and disappeared inside.
“I’m not putting that in my mouth.”
“Honey, you’re really pale. And your aura hasn’t improved at all. You need the protein,” my mom encouraged me. She was at the stove, making me pancakes after I spent last night in my old room. Sometimes you just needed to go back to your parents’ house to make yourself feel better. And to remember why you moved out in the first place.
“It looks like sludge. And smells even worse.”
“It’s good for you.”
“Still not drinking it.”
My mom sighed but gave up trying to convince me to drink one of her homemade remedies. She was forever experimenting with recipes and making everyone try them.
“Now I know you didn’t tell us everything last night,” she said.
That was because I hadn’t.
“But don’t you want to talk about what’s really bothering you?” she continued.
I most definitely would not. She already thought I was one breakup short of losing it completely. If I told her I’d been repeating past mistakes, she would probably send me to her sister’s commune in California. And that was something I did not want to happen. We had spent every summer there growing up, and it always surprised me that my brother and I turned out somewhat normal. Well, he didn’t, since he was a judgmental ass who refused to talk to me for seducing his best friend. At least those were his last words to me. I may have paraphrased because there was a lot more swearing involved. But fine. I was only his sister.
Mom put a stack of pancakes in front of me. “If you don’t want to talk, at least eat something.”
I eyed the blue pancakes and wondered what was in them. She must have caught my look because she put her hand on my shoulder. A gesture that wouldn’t mean anything good for me. Now I really wanted to know what was in those pancakes.
“I experimented with the batter. It’s vegan, gluten free, sugar free. I put blueberries in to add some flavor but forgot they were in there and mixed it all with the electric mixer. They turned the batter blue. But they’ll be just as good as they would if the blueberries were whole.”
Well, the good news was the color was just from blueberries. The bad news was that she expected me to eat cardboard. I suppressed the sigh that wanted to escape and put two pancakes on my plate. They should document the sacrifices I was willing to make for family peace.
I looked around for the maple syrup but only saw lemons and natural peanut butter. I looked up at Mom, who was still standing next to me, watching me with an encouraging smile.
“I’ll just grab the maple syrup,” I said, pushing away from the table to go look for it.
My mom’s grip tightened, and she pushed me back down. “There’s no maple syrup. We’re going sugar free. If you knew how much damage sugar did to your body, you’d stop buying all those pastries from Rayna’s shop.”
“There’s no maple syrup?” I gasped, looking at my pancakes, unsure of how I would get them down with lemon juice or peanut butter.
“Stop scaring my favorite daughter and just give her the maple syrup,” my dad said, walking into the kitchen. He gave my mom a kiss when he walked past, swatting her ass.
Gah, gross.
“I was just trying to get her to take better care of her body.”
/>
“My body is as healthy as ever,” I chimed in. Meaning I was just as unfit as ever and one brownie away from a sugar coma.
“If you paid attention to the signs of distress your body was giving out, you would stop eating that unhealthy stuff.”
My dad handed me the maple syrup, and I poured a healthy amount over my breakfast.
“Food is the only good thing in my life right now. Don’t take that away from me,” I mumbled between bites, trying not to talk with my mouth full.
“Honey,” my mom said, gearing up for another lecture. But I knew she wouldn’t get far because Dad was here. And he was always in my corner. I was a daddy’s girl through and through. No regrets.
“Sweetheart, I think now is not the time to give Mairead a lecture. Just be grateful she returned home in her time of need.”
“Geesh, Dad, you make me sound like I’m knocked up and jobless.”
“If you were, then that would be okay. We love you no matter what. And you’re welcome to move back in. Your room will always be there for you.”
I finished my last bite and hugged my dad, who was busy picking black seeds out of his breakfast. Bless him, he never said a word about Mom’s cooking, no matter how much it smelled and tasted like someone had thrown up in it.
He held me tight and kissed my head. “Now remember, when you’re ready to tell us who pissed on your parade, we’ll be here. Anytime.”
“I know, Dad. And thanks. I love you guys.”
“And we love you. Now take over the world and make bucketloads of money. I’ve got my eye on an RV, and I need your money to pay for it.”
“If I ever make enough money to buy you a ridiculous-looking RV, I will definitely do so.”
I knew he was joking about me buying them something. He wouldn’t ever let me buy them anything, even if it was just a cup of coffee. I would always find ten dollars stuffed into my bag afterward. Still hadn’t been able to figure out how he’d get the money in there without me seeing it.