“Olivia or Grace?” Noah asks immediately. I’m impressed that he remembers. I’d talked about them here and there while we chatted during class to pass the time, as we were sketching designs or putting arrangements together. I’d probably talked about them on our date, too.
“Olivia. I’m sure you’ll meet them both soon.”
“We like to drop by unannounced and see how our girl is doing,” Ty says affectionately.
“Speaking of,” I say, raising my eyebrows at him. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company today? You mentioned having news.”
“Ah, yes,” he says, clapping his hands together. “I have officially found a townhouse to rent. You’re looking at the soon-to-be newest resident of Port Myles.” He does an imaginary hair flip that makes me laugh.
I throw my arms around him and he squeezes me back, hard. “I’m so excited!”
“Never in a million years did I expect I’d be moving to a tiny ass tourist town,” he grumbles, but I know it’s all for show. He’s fallen in love with this town just like the rest of us. And thanks to his job, he still gets to jet off to big cities and foreign countries, and have his fill of the excitement he craves.
“How come you’re moving, if you don’t mind my asking?” Noah chimes in.
Ty sighs, a long and dramatic sound that has me rolling my eyes. “Olivia went and stole my best friend, who decided to up and move to this little town. They’re getting married soon, so I don’t think I’m getting him back.” He smiles at me affectionately. “I also found that, unfortunately, I love all of her friends and have some serious FOMO being on my own in Portland. So alas,” he says, holding one arm wide and sweeping the other down in front of his torso, “here I am.”
“Keep showing up unannounced and I’m going to start putting you to work,” I threaten.
“That could be fun.”
“You any good with your hands?” Noah asks. I choke on a laugh, then cough to cover it up. I can see the exact moment Noah registers what he’s said – his eyes widen, then crinkle at the corners as he starts laughing.
I look over at Ty, my quick-witted friend – the one who has a comeback or a sarcastic remark for everything – who still hasn’t answered. He’s staring at Noah with a look I’ve never seen on him before.
Is that –
I lean closer to get a better look at his cheeks. Is heblushing?I’ve never seen Ty blush before.
“They haven’t failed me yet,” he finally says. When the bell above the Main Street entrance chimes, we all look over as two women enter.
“That’s my cue,” Ty says, backing away. “I’ll call you later, okay?” He gives me a look, one that says,I’m going to grill you for every bit of information you can possibly give me about Noah.I blow him a kiss.
“Bye, Ty.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Noah says with a wave.
“Likewise,” Ty says again, still backing away as he gives him a once-over that’s not even close to being subtle.Thereis the Ty I know and love.
With that, Ty waves and turns around, heading out the door the customers just arrived through.
As I turn to greet the customers, I can’t help stealing another quick look to the studio next door. It’s become a habit, an unconscious part of my routine every time I have a moment of down time. When I spot Declan standing over by Sean’s work station, I’m surprised to find him already looking at me. Instead of looking away, pretending he hadn’t been staring, he smirks and gives me a half-wave. The motion catches Sean’s eye and he looks over too, grinning and waving when he sees me.
Before long, the entire shop, customers included, are waving at me. My cheeks heat and I glance over at Noah, who’s watching the entire thing unfold with wide eyes.
“Hi, Elsie!” someone next door calls out loudly enough to be heard through the glass. I wave quickly, not wanting to be rude, and the crowd next door erupts into cheers.
It feels like something out of a poorly written sitcom, and I’m positive my face must be as red as the display of gerbera daisies I’d like to hide behind. The whole thing might be slightly less embarrassing if I didn’t have customers here to witness the whole thing, but as it is, I’m wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole.
As I make my way over to greet the customers who just arrived, Noah grins at the shop next door again.
“I was wrong to doubt you,” he declares. “The window has to stay.”
CHAPTER 15
Declan
Owning a business seems fucking exhausting. I’ve always just been an artist with no stake in the game beyond my own clients. Now, with Sean looping me in on all the shit he has to handle, there’s always something to worry about – making sure employees get paid on time, keeping supplies stocked, making sure bills are paid to keep the lights on in this place.
