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CHAPTER 52
Honey
Dawson had to leave early this morning. An emergency came up at work, and he didn’t go into further detail as he quietly tucked me back into bed, kissed me on the forehead, and left.
I’m sitting in a bar now, in a yellow pantsuit, scrolling through my tablet as I show Daphne the few design ideas I’ve come up with.Thank you, Pinterest board. “I want it to have chic Italian décor,” I tell her.
Daphne and the bartender have been eye fucking for the last hour we’ve been here. And after two drinks, she’s anyone’s. Though he is cute—not that I think Daphne has a particular type—and part of me is envious of her free spirit. I wonder if I could be like her and sleep with multiple men. I mean, I want to say “yes, I can,” and could have that much fun “tasting the menu” as Daphne called it once. But I know I’m not that type of person.
“Can we also add how much I love how girl-boss youare right now?” she says as she takes a sip of her Long Island iced tea. “And those Louis Vuittons? Damn, girl, you’re going all out. Do you have a business meeting after this?”
I laugh. “No. But we are having dinner with my parents in about two hours. And I felt like showing them a new side of me. Rya always looks so smart and stylish, and I love her wardrobe, but I always thought that style was only for someone like her. So I’ve stepped out a little.”
“You didn’t steal this from her wardrobe, did you?”
I laugh.What are little sisters for if not raiding their sister’s wardrobes?“No, I did some shopping this morning.”
She gasps. “Without me? Blasphemy. Oooh, what about that one!” She points out a shop front as I scroll through properties on my tablet. I stop immediately to check it out.
“This one?” I ask, looking at the super run-down joint.
“That location is great,” she exclaims. “I remember going there as a kid. It used to be a candy store, but then the wife got sick and passed away, and shortly after, the husband closed up shop. He wasn’t willing to sell despite how prime the location is. He would have been offered so much for it. Maybe the old man finally croaked.” I give her an unimpressed look, and she raises her hands with an awkward laugh. “What? I know it’s a sad story. But it’s a really good location.”
“I mean, I guess I’m not against ripping out something old and refurbishing it into something new,” I muse.
“Yeah, and I can help. Like, not with the labor side of things, but, you know, with advertising and bringing in customers for a grand opening. Your girl here has over one hundred thousand followers. We can really blow some shit up. Plus, you have a hottie boyfriend who’s dealt with renovating heaps of places. You can’t possibly fail!”
I laugh and take an appreciative sip of my wine. Who would have thought six months ago I’d be here, with what feels like my first genuine friend, scrolling through real estate in New York, and with a hot as fuck boyfriend.
Daphne giggles at the bartender as they continue to talk. Apparently, they used to go to the same high school. And who isn’t a sucker for the idea of a second chance? Although, supposedly, he used to be the nerdy type and has clearly had a serious glow-up.
“I’m finishing up now, but maybe if you’re not busy later, I can take you for dinner?” he asks her hopefully.
I bite back a smile as I take a sip of my drink. He’s obviously been listening in on my conversation and knows I’m meeting with my parents later. It’s their last night here, and Crue and Rya are returning to join us. It will be round two for Dawson and my father to try not to kill each other.
“You can have her now if you’d like.” Iinterrupt them as they exchange numbers and potential meet-up times.
Daphne looks at me over her shoulder. “Are you sure?”
I smile at her and see the thank you in her gaze. “Dawson is supposed to meet me here in the next hour or so, and I’m busy starting an empire,” I joke, but I love how those words sound. If it goes well, I could franchise, maybe? Or am I getting ahead of myself?
“Yeah, that’d be cool,” he says eagerly. “Let me just punch out.”
“Oh my God, do I look cute?” she asks, and I roll my eyes.
“You’re always beautiful. But no sex on the first date,” I tell her.
She throws her head back and laughs. “Why stop a good thing now? You might be locked down, but I am not.”
I laugh and wave her off. She downs her Long Island iced tea and meets him at the entrance.
I pick up my phone, surprised that Dawson hasn’t responded to my earlier photograph. I’d sent him a pic as I explored the anal beads again this morning by myself. Usually, I receive an immediate response.
I try my hardest to push away the sinking feeling in my stomach.
I’m just being paranoid.
CHAPTER 53
