“Quitting time already?” I asked.
She smiled and nodded in relief. “Yes, I’m exhausted. Are you ready to go?”
“Ready when you are.”
“Okay. Let me shut everything down real quick and I’ll meet you at the counter?”
I smiled and nodded, closing my laptop and putting everything in my bag. I sent a quick email to the author, letting her know I sent everything over along with my typical finished-project jargon, and sauntered over to the counter just as Kaia was returning from the back.
“Everything good?” I asked when she looked away from her phone and her eyes met mine, a tiredness there I didn’t like. I needed to remind her to take more days off, but ever since she’d stepped into her new role of part-owner, that was easier said than done.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just texting Dre. I’ve been asking her about that antique chair in the back. I feel like it’s just in the way, but she refuses to get rid of it. Says it’s got history.” She shrugged.
I made a face, and then we both started laughing. “Tell her to give itto Fallon and Mackenzie since they’d get more use out of it than she would. They already have.”
The blush on her face was delightful. I loved teasing her about that chair every time I thought about how Fallon and Mackenzie had put on quite the show for Drea.
“That’s not a bad idea. It grosses me out, but if I think about all the places in this store that may or may not have been violated, I’d demolish the building. Can we go and please stop talking about my friends’ and coworkers’ sex life please?”
“Of course. I know how jealous you get that you haven’t made out with someone on one of the couches, but don’t give up. Your time will come, I’m sure.” I dropped the subject with a wink and headed to the door. I didn’t have to see her face to know she was rolling her eyes. I loved riling up my best friend.
With a final glance around the store, Kaia shut the door behind us, locking up before we headed to her car.
Chapter Fourteen
KAIA
The store was nonstop all day,and I was glad it was coming to an end. I had tried and failed yet again to convince Drea to get rid of that defiled chair in the back. When I’d texted her about it the other day, she’d threatened to drill it into the floor of Daisy’s house so I had to always look at it if I asked her again. Apparently a part of me liked that idea, and I had bothered her after lunch about it.
She kicked me out of the office, and I did some light cleaning before I went to find Daisy to bother her for a little while. She was having a bad workday, so I brought her some hot chocolate from Rylee and added a little extra cinnamon since it was her favorite. She could tell and gave me a bright smile. I’d make it from scratch if it got her to smile at me like that.
After I left Daisy to finish cleaning, I had a pretty busy shift. One of my employees had to go home, so I helped out at the counter and didn’t stop until about two hours before closing.
We closed down pretty easily, and I was headed out the door, happy to be going home to relax. I hoped Daisy was up for a game night. I just wanted to destress and kick her ass at something. It hadn’t happened yet, but I had faith my time was coming.
When I got home, Daisy already had dinner ready on the table for us.
“Sunny, you don’t have to keep cooking for me. You’re making me look bad here! I’m a guest in your home. I should be doing things for you.”
She frowned and motioned for me to sit down. I obeyed and waited for her to join me. “First of all, missy, you are not a guest. This is your home now just as much as it is mine. Second, nothing could make youlook bad.” She winked, and I tried to hide my blush by rolling my eyes with a smile.
“Third, this is my love language. I love doing things for other people, you know that. And you do plenty for me. You take care of me when I’m sick. You walk Duke in the mornings for me and make sure he has food and water. You bought him a bed for every room in the house, and I know you spoil him with treats when I’m not looking.”
I looked over to Duke, whose ears were perked up, wondering if we were talking about him. I smiled and turned back to Daisy, feigning ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She rolled her eyes. “You do a lot for me, Kaia, and this is just one way I show my gratitude. You’re my best friend and I love you. Let me love you by fattening you up!”
I laughed. “How could I deny you the chance to make me fat? You don’t have to do any of this. Feeding me, letting me stay here, giving me the childhood I never had. I don’t know how to ever repay you for everything, Daisy.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. You deserve it. Now eat your food.”
I did as I was told and made little sounds of appreciation as I tried not to scarf down my food. It was delicious, and my eyes rolled back with sheer pleasure.
Daisy was watching me and I froze, wondering if I had something on my face. “Am I making a mess? What’s wrong?” I asked after too many long seconds of her eyes never leaving me.
She blushed and shook her head. “No. Nothing’s wrong. I was just… watching. Sorry.” She took a bite of her food, dismissing whatever tension had just appeared. “So, what’s new at the store? How’s your office coming along?”
It looked like we were moving on from whatever that was. I wasn’t going to ask anything more, so I smiled and welcomed the change of subject. “Renovations are really coming together. I think they will be done in a few months.”
