“Never mind.” Mom chuckled and they drove off. “After we finish there, we’ll go home. Just let me know when you leave for K&Bs, okay? And since I’m forgetting everything today, make sure to tell Maude and X I said hi.”
“I will.” Britt settled in the seat. After a fairly stressful but ultimately enjoyable day, she was looking forward to spending some time at K&Bs. Nothing unexpected ever happened there.
***
Hunter pulled his motorcycle into one of the spaces in front of a short strip mall in Plano, then removed his helmet and stuck it in the saddlebag, locked it, and looked at his watch. He had a few hours before he had to be at work. He shielded his eyes from the setting sun behind the storefronts.
Normally he would still be asleep, but ever since he’d been playing Britt’s videos at night, he slept better than he had in months. Her voice soothed him for some reason. Or maybe hewas overtired from his long spell of insomnia. Didn’t matter. He felt better, and that’s what counted. He looked straight ahead at the K&B store in front of him.
Armed with Britt’s list, he walked inside and was immediately hit with a riot of color. Different types of art covered the wood-slatted walls—modern, classical, mixed media, and stuff he didn’t recognize. There were shelves, bins, baskets, and other containers filled with different art supplies. He scratched his head. He had no idea where to begin.
“You look lost.”
He turned to see a woman about his parents’ age, dressed straight out of Woodstock. Her long, gray hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore a crazy-colored, long, flowy dress over her plump figure. Red square glasses covered in rhinestones perched on her nose, a beaded chain dangling from either side of the lenses. She took off the spectacles—yes, they were a spectacle—and smiled. “That’s what most people look like the first time they visit us. I’m Maude. Can I help you find anything?”
“Uh, yes.” He pulled out his phone and showed her the list. “A... friend of mine recommended I get my supplies here.”
“Wonderful. Word of mouth is the best publicity.” She put her glasses back on and peered at the list. “This is fairly simple. The paper’s over there,” she said, pointing to the back of the store. “The pastels are here behind me, and you’ll find charcoal pencils and erasers on the other side. If you need help finding anything, just give me or my husband a holler. He’s in the back. Just call out for X.”
Hunter nodded, at a loss for words. He was still trying to comprehend her outfit, never mind her chaotic store. “Thanks,” he finally said, then went on his quest to find the supplies.
As he made his way through the store, he started to seesome rhyme and reason to the layout. He was impressed with all the different offerings. The paper section was almost overwhelming, and he was glad Britt had been specific about what he should purchase. When he found the right type of paper, he hunted down the rest of the supplies. He even grabbed one of the canvas reusable shopping bags with the K&B logo on the front. Surprisingly, it was in black on wheat-colored canvas. Staid, compared to the rest of the store.
When Hunter reached the checkout, Maude was nowhere in sight. Instead, an extremely tall, extremely thin man with a bald pate and a ring of longish gray hair around the nape stood behind a register. “Find everything?” he asked as Hunter placed his items on the counter.
“I did.” He glanced around. “This sure is an interesting place.”
“Thank you. It’s a labor of love.” He tapped on the number keys. “Did you have a chance to look at the art? We like to support local artists. Every piece on the walls is for sale.”
“I didn’t, but I’ll take a look.” He had some extra time before he had to leave. “I take it you’re X.”
He grinned. “You’ve met my wife then. Xavier Cornelius Von Poffenberger, at your service.”
Hunter gave him a slow nod. No wonder the man went by X. “Ah, yes. She was very helpful.”
“That’s my job,” Maude said, coming up behind Hunter. Her glasses were hanging around her neck again. “I meant to ask you—who can we thank for recommending us?”
He opened his mouth to speak as the bell above the store rang and a woman walked through the door.
“Oh my goodness!” Maude rushed over to her and pulled her into a huge bear hug. “X, looks who’s here!”
Hunter’s jaw dropped. Britt.
Chapter 6
Britt allowed herself to be swallowed up by Maude’s engulfing hug. She smiled, hugging her back. The second she walked into the store and inhaled the familiar scents of art supplies and a mysterious combination of essential oils that X insisted on diffusing near the front door, she felt at home. With Maude’s patchouli perfume filling her nose, every muscle in Britt’s body relaxed. Other than her house, this was her safe space.
“Good to see you too,” she said, moving a little out of Maude’s embrace but still keeping her arms around her.
“So, tell us what you’ve been doing that’s kept you away from us for so long.” Maude beamed. “Of course, since we always watch all of your videos, we know you’ve been busy with your channel.”
“Loved the ten-minute challenge,” X said from behind the register. He was putting art supplies in a bag for a customer...
Britt stilled.Thump. Thump.Standing at the counter was the most perfect-looking guy she’d ever seen. Thick, shaggy blond hair with sun-kissed highlights, a white T-shirt that fit tight in all the perfect places, jeans that weren’t too baggy or too slim, and black leather boots.Thumpity thump.
X handed him his bag... and the guy promptly dropped it on the floor.
“I’ll help you with that,” Maude said, floating over to him.
