“I think I’m going to be brave. Hit go on my shop. See what happens,” I say, letting the words fall from my lips before I can second-guess them. “I mean, this has to be a sign, right? Why else, after a lifetime of looking, would I find a four-leaf clover right when I’m talking to you about my art and starting a business?”
“Agreed. You should do it,” he says, the words sincere before he looks at his watch and sighs. “Unfortunately, I should probably get inside. I've got some catching up to do.”
“Thanks for having lunch with me,” I say, standing and gathering my garbage with one hand, holding my precious clover in the other, my hands still shaking a bit with the adrenaline from finding it. He gently shakes out the towel and folds it before we make our way inside.
“Anytime,” he says. “It wasn’t a miserable way to spend a meal.”
“Anytime, huh? Don’t tempt me, Graham. I’ll hold you to it,” I say with a smile.
“I’m sure you will,” he says, then sets the towel on my desk and walks into his office, leaving me with my thoughts and my clover.
That night, I go home and stare at the shop, fully built and ready to go live the way it’s sat for about a week.
I stare at it.
And I stare at it.
I move through the pages, making sure everything is perfect, trying to find any reason to procrastinate hitting the go button, but to my horror, I can’t find one.
Not aone.
And as I sit there, a voice speaks in my mind.
It’s not Claire, telling me to just go for it.
It’s not Lainey, telling me that it’s what I’ve always wanted.
It’s not Maggie, Mayor Mosely, or anyone else telling me I’m talented and should make a go of art as a career.
Instead, it’s Graham, asking me what I’m so scared of—asking me why I’m so determined to find luck if I’m never going to use it. My eyes drift to the book whose pages I’m pressing the four-leaf clover in.
I’d never tell him, but he’s right.
That’sthe thought that has me taking in a deep breath and hittinggo live.
Then I close my laptop before I can second-guess myself and put it into the universe’s hands.
SIXTEEN
Last night, when I spent three hours searching for a four-leaf clover, then transplanting the entire plant to where she might find it, I thought I had officially lost my mind.
But today, when she got that happy look on her face and saw it as a sign to follow her dream, I knew it was worth it
SEVENTEEN
I’m following up with influencers about attending the grand opening in exchange for promoting the resort two days later when my phone pings from beside me. It’s a strange, new sound, suspiciously like an old cash register drawer opening. I stare at the new notification on the screen and hesitantly reach for the phone.
Then my breathing hitches.
Excitement, nervousness, and hope surge through me all at once, swirling together and bubbling up in my chest, the emotions desperate for an escape. Everything comes out in a loud, unexpected shriek.
Then I stand, the happiness almost making me dizzy, and I can't help but jump and dance on my way to Graham’s office, eager to share my news.
“OH, MY GOD!” I shout. “OHMIGODOHMIGOD!” When I enter his office, he’s looking at me nervously, but I can’t help it—this is the most exciting thing that has happened to me, possibly ever. “Graham! Graham, it happened! I can’t believe it! Oh, my god, I think I’m going to pass out.”
"June, what the hell?" His brows furrow as he stands and moves toward me, that nervous look transforming into panic."Are you okay? Is everything okay?" I turn my phone toward him, only a few feet between us as he stares at my screen, trying to make sense of what’s displayed there. “I got a sale! My first sale!”
On the heels of my announcement comes the second reward of the day: the closest thing to a full smile I’ve seen, the ends of his lips tipping up more than ever before, his eyes lighting up with unadulterated pride. The surprise of seeing Graham’s reaction fills me with a new rush of emotions, confirming my suspicion that if he ever fully smiled, he’d be the hottest thing on the planet.
