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“I was just as crazy about her as she was me. I didn’t think I was good enough, so I pretended I didn’t care as much as she did. Hell, I pretended even to myself.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, you weren’t shit back then, and not now either.”
I kicked at his chair. “Rem, I’m serious. She was gifted, and Mama had to fight to keep me out of special education. I really didn’t think Snookie would like me if she knew. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I worry she won’t see me the same.”
The teasing light in his hazel eyes dulled. “Jace, come on. That wasn’t Spirit when we were young. I doubt that’s her now. As far as she was concerned, your shit didn’t smell.”
“Easy for you to say. Do you know how I felt being the oldest, and both of my younger brothers could read better than me? It was fucking humiliating.”
Remi interjected, “Or how hard it was to follow the older brother who was an athletic genius and has the business acumen of a Wharton grad?”
I grinned. “I see what you did. Threw that big word in the mix to throw me off.”
He frowned. “Wait, you don’t know what acumen means?”
A thought popped into my head, and I pushed up to my feet with a smile. “It means I’m astute and shrewd in making quick judgments, especially in business.”
“Where are you going?”
“Have an idea that might pacify Spirit until I can fix the sign.”
Remi complained loudly, “I’m hungry, and you don’t have shit in your frig for guests.”
I yelled back. “You walking around like you in your home. Figure it out.”
“If I was home, I would be naked,” he shouted as the door closed.
I laughed as I hurried to the restaurant, hoping to get there before she stopped by after getting her hair braided.
AS I PULLED UP TO THE restaurant, my stomach dropped when I saw her Tesla. She must have finished early. I jumped out of my car and rushed inside as she asked for me. “Ha any of you seen Jace?”
One of the workers replied, “He called the company and asked about the sign. They said they only followed orders. He seemed upset, then he left.”
I made my presence known. “I’m back. Let me explain about the sign. We can have an artist paint Embers by Kimble over the backsplash of the bar in time for the grand re-opening.
The scowl on her face already told the tale. She thought I did it purposefully. I led her to the small office in the back of the kitchen. She slammed the door behind us.
“Baby, wait.” I faced her. “We can get a new sign in a couple of weeks.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I asked you for one thing, and you still did what you wanted.”
“Not true. I made a mistake.”
“What? Is it a mistake because we’re a couple now, and you don’t want to hear my mouth? Don’t want me angry and pissed because we share a bed now? You knew exactly what you were doing. You were hoping you could convince me of what you wanted. I keep telling you, I’m not that girl anymore. Why do you think you can shit on me and what I want? This isn’t just about me. It’s my grandmother’s legacy. This restaurant was her idea, and she passed it on to me. My family is coming next week. It’s bad enough they don’t know it’s a cannabis-infused restaurant. Now I have to tell them our family name isn’t even included.”
I stepped closer to her. “Wait. Why haven’t you told them the truth about the restaurant? I thought you got over that hang-up.”
“It’s not a hang-up for people who don’t believe in mind-altering substances. It’s a choice. Just as you accused me of judging people who use, you judge people who don’t use or are against using marijuana. You remember calling me a prude?”
I brushed my hand over my hair badly in need of a cut. “The bottom line is you’re a grown woman with the right to open any restaurant you choose, and you shouldn’t have kept it from your parents.”
Spirit raised her voice. “None of this was even my idea, and that fucking sign that’s up damn sure isn’t my idea.”
Incredulously I asked, “You’re still ashamed of what we’re building here? Are you ashamed of me because I do smoke weed, and that’s never gonna change. I can’t go back to the excruciating pain or the meds that made me feel less than myself.”
She shook her head and turned away from me. “This is why I didn’t want to fall in love with you because I’m so fucking weak when it comes to you. So eager to please you, I’ll do whatever you ask, even if it’s against what I want or believe.”
I moved close to her again, forcing her head back to see my face. “Why do you keep saying shit like that as if I’m manipulating you in some way? I haven’t done anything but been here with you since January in the trenches. Handling shit, you couldn’t handle with the contractors. Helping you buy furniture and supplies. Trying new recipes because you’ve asked me to. We’re on time because of me. You love your new restaurant because of me. Your staff had three months off with pay because of me. You agreed to this restaurant because it was the best proposal and not because I manipulated you.”
