AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, shit,” I mutter as I set the flowers that I brought, and apparently didn’t need, on the table. Everyone sets down their wares, and we hurry over to our friend. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Was Holden mean to you?” Polly demands. “’Cause I’ll kick his ass into next week.”
“She may be small,” Abbi adds, “but she’s mighty.”
“No, he just came in to bring me these flowers and say congratulations. That’s not it. It’s mine.” She gives us a watery laugh and wipes the tears from her cheeks. “It’s just hitting me, you know? Over the past couple of months, it was just an idea, something to think about, but now, it’s real. This is all mine. Well, Ryan’s, technically, but I’ll pay him back.”
She sniffs and accepts a napkin from Erin, dabbing at her eyes.
“Sorry, guys, I’m so happy; it just all caught up to me.”
“Well, of course, it did,” Abbi says. “Owning your own business is a big deal. But this is going to be amazing for you.”
“I have so many plans,” Millie continues. “I can’t wait to tell you guys everything that I want to do. The things I want to change and add.”
“We want to hear everything,” I tell her. “Let’s eat and talk about all the things.”
“We also have to discuss the Iconic Women’s Collective,” Erin reminds us. “And arrange our first iconic meeting.”
Millie grins. “Anyone want some coffee?”
“Me!” we all yell in unison and then laugh as we grab a seat.
“How’s married life?” I ask Erin as I slice the cheesecake. “Is it boring yet?”
“I don’t know if you saw the man I’m married to,” Erin says with a smug grin, “but he’s hot as fuck, and I can guarantee you that life with him is never going to be boring.”
“She’s so fucking smug,” Abbi says, shaking her head. “If I wasn’t so happy for her, I’d be disgusted.”
“Holly has asked for a baby sister,” Erin continues.
“Are you?—”
“No,” Erin says in response to my almost question. “Not yet. I want a little time with the family I already have before I start adding to it. Now, what about you, Summer? How are things with Chase?”
I grin and take a bite of my cheesecake, making everyone laugh. “Things are damn fine, thank you very much. Now, that’s enough man talk. I have ideas for our Iconic Women’s Collective group. Let’s start things off with a cocktail party.”
“Ooh, I’m always down for a cocktail party,” Abbi says, dancing in her seat. “I love an excuse to dress up.”
“Where will this cocktail party be held?” Erin wants to know.
“At the resort,” I reply. “There’s a gorgeous bar up there that I do the flowers for every week. The manager is a woman, and I’ll bet I could talk her into shutting it down for us one evening. We’ll have a keynote speaker, cocktails, and dinner.”
“Can I suggest someone for the speaker?” Polly asks. “I think it’ll draw quite a crowd of entrepreneurs, especially if we get the word out on social media.”
“Of course. Who do you have in mind?”
“London Ambrose.”
We’re all quiet for a moment, and then we grin, and Erin nods with confidence.
“London would do it in a heartbeat,” Erin says. “This is right up her alley, and I sort of have an in with her husband. Since he’s my cousin and all that.”
“Lesson number one in business,” Millie says. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
“You’ve got that right.” I clink my cup of coffee against hers. “This is going to be the shit.”
“We’re looking at next Friday night.” I sip my water and then pop a potato chip into my mouth. Chase and I are sitting on the park bench near my shop, sharing lunch, and I’m filling him in on the meeting with the girls earlier.
