“I know I’m rambling. What I’m trying to say is that I’m so incredibly sorry for not acknowledging how amazing you are and not appreciating everything you do for me. Honestly, if it weren’t for you working for me, I would have closed down a long time ago, especially with the way I had been acting for the past two years.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” Kaia laughed, and I let out a tear of happiness at the sound. “But you really think I can be part owner of the bookstore? You really wantmeto be your partner?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yes, Kai, I really do. I’m so sorry for everything. I want you to be co-owner of the bookstore, but more than that, I want our friendship back.”
Kaia grinned and stood up. “Thank you… for everything. This is all too much. I?—”
I stood up and pushed the check back to her. “No,Kaia, it’s not. I don’t think it’s enough, to be honest. You are truly amazing at what you do, and I should have seen how lucky I was to have you in my corner. I see how you interact with the customers, even the bitchy ones, andespeciallyhow you are with Daisy. You didn’t see her as a loiterer, someone who just comes in to lounge around and not buy anything. You saw her as a young woman who may have just needed someone to talk to, and you have been there for her, just like you were always there for me. She is very lucky to have you in her life.”
She blushed and looked away at the mention of her friend, but I kept going, afraid if I stopped, she would vanish out of my life again. “Of course this is just an advance, but when…ifyou agree and sign the contract, you will get another check to cover your salary for the next five years, which?—”
“FIVE YEARS?!” Kaia’s eyes blew wide open and I tried to hide my chuckle. “How is that possible?”
I laughed. “Kaia, love, I’m what you kids would call fucking loaded.”
“What? How?” She looked at me with wide eyes.
I sighed. “Well, technically, my family is the one with money. My grandmother left me a good amount of money, some of which I used to open the store, but I haven’t touched it since. My parents bought my house for me when I moved here, but I pay them monthly for it. Granted, it’s not nearly as much as it would’ve been had I purchased the house myself, and I won’t bore you with all my family drama and money technicalities.”
Her eyes seemed to have gone back to their normal size, but she still sat there without a word.
“Anyway, that’s not the point here. The point is, you deserve this and I would really like you to say yes. I mean, if that’s something you even want. I understand I have thrown a lot at you, and if you don’t even want to continue to work with me, I totally understand.”
I waited with bated breath for a reply. I hadn’t expected her to sit there for so long already. I expected her to just take the check and leave. If I was being totally honest, I expected her not to show up at all. Even if this was the last time I saw her, I was relieved knowing everything was out in the open.
“I have one condition.”
“Is that a yes?”
She smiled. “IfI can hire a manager andtwopeople to work the front, especially on the weekends.Andsomeone to teach a sign language class once a month.”
I laughed. “Why am I not surprised? This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain beautiful deaf woman that frequents my store would it?”
“Ourstore… and maybe… okay, yes. I really like her, okay? As a friend.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just a friend, huh? Are you sure about that? I’ve seen the way you look at her, Kaia. The same way Kenzie and Fallon look at each other.”
The way her cheeks flushed, I knew I was right. No matter what a person said, you could always tell what they were really feeling with their eyes.
I also didn’t miss the way she corrected me by saying “our store.” That made my heart soar, and I wanted to crush her into a hug. It was still a fragile situation, so I refrained until I knew we were in smooth waters.
“And how you look at Blair?” she asked.
Something large in my heart broke at the mention of that glorious woman, and my smile fell into one of sadness and loss. I lost the best thing that came into my life, and I had no one to blame but myself.
“Yeah.” My voice cracked at the only word I could manage.
Her face turned a few shades of red. “I guess it’s something like that. But we are just friends, seriously. I don’t want to lose her, and besides, I’m pretty sure she’s straight. Just my luck, right?” She huffed out a laugh, but it sounded painful.
I smiled softly at her. “Kaia, she would be lucky to have you. Just enjoy spending time together and see what happens, yeah?”
She nodded, standing up. “Thanks, Dre. So do we have a deal?” She held out her hand and I laughed, rounding my desk and pulling her in for a hug.
“Of course, Kai. Anything you want.”
“Well, I better get out of your hair. Thanks again, Drea. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“I’m so sorry again for everything, Kaia. I promise to show you every day how much you mean to me.” I went back to my desk and sat down as Kaia headed out of my office. I couldn’t contain my smile as I thought about how the day seemed to have turned around.
