“What did she say?”
She smiled. “She pretended to threaten me. That if I didn’t take the damn free food with a smile, she’d tell Drea I needed another two weeks off. I wouldn’t survive being off for that long, and she knows it. She also…” Her face took on the most adorable shade of red.
“What is it?” I asked, eager for the story to continue.
She blew out a breath and straightened up, like she was preparing herself for something. “She also said that if I didn’t take it, she was going to convince you to kidnap me and tie me up in your room for two weeks so I couldn’t come back to work.”
I didn’t know why that made her blush, but seeing her getting all flustered and using the wordstie me upandmy roomhad my own face heating up. The images I was creating in my head were not good ones to have in public. I shook it off and tilted my head toward the store, thankful for the distraction.
“Here comes Fallon and Mackenzie. Are you in the mood for company?”
She turned her head and looked back with a smile. “For them? Always.”
“Want me to leave you guys alone? I can browse the bookstore.” I started to stand up, but she stopped me with a hand on my wrist.
“No. Sit down. I want you here.” I did as she wanted, sitting back in my chair in time for Fallon to approach the table with a smile and her wife’s hand on her lower back.
“Hey.” Fallon waved. We exchanged waves and hugs, and Fallon started talking to Kaia.
I didn’t know what she was saying, but seeing Kaia’s response, I assumed she’d asked how she was doing. I was proud of her for wanting to leave the house and interacting with her friends. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she wanted to stay inside the house for weeks without seeing or talking to anyone.
They talked a little more, and when they left, Kaia repeated the conversation. They came over to say hello and see how we were doing. They asked when Kaia was going back to work and mentioned they wanted us all to go out together sometime. She apologized for not signing the whole time, and I informed her it was totally fine.
“We should go out with them. I think it would be good for all of us to spend more time together, and you know I love them. They are the sweetest.”
“I don’t think I’m up for going out anytime soon, but maybe in a few months or so?”
I nodded, and we finished our food without any more conversation. It was a struggle, but I dragged her out of the store without checking in on things. Drea signed, “Thank you” as I stopped Kaia from heading over there, and I smiled before the door shut behind us.
Chapter Three
KAIA
The funeral was rough,but I don’t think I would’ve gotten through it without Daisy. She was there beside me the entire time, wiping my tears and holding my hand, squeezing it three times in our code of “I’ve got you.”
I appreciated all my friends coming out to support me. We all said our goodbyes at the end, and Daisy drove me back to her house, stopping for ice cream on the way. I tried to tell her it was okay, that she didn’t need to do that but she insisted. She said I deserved it, and I wasn’t about to turn down free ice cream.
Since he was cremated, it was more of a goodbye party than a funeral, but overall it was beautiful. Drea handled all the phone calls with them for me, and Daisy handled emails. I didn’t think I could ever repay them.
It had been almost a week since then, and I was back at the store. It felt good to try to get my life back on track. I’d been staying at Daisy’s, and it was… something.
I appreciated that I had a place to stay, and she made me breakfast every morning. How she got up earlier than me, I’d never know. She was a freelancer; she didn’t even have to get up for work.
I normally got up around five. I wanted to give myself enough time for my breakfast and morning yoga and meditation, and to take a shower and not have to feel rushed.
I was standing behind the counter, finishing up with a customer, when Drea and Blair came out from the back. Lord only knew what they were doing back there. After a few years ago, when I walked in on them looking like they were about to start something, I could never be too sure. I never heard anything, so I pretended Drea was actually working back there.
Daisy was in her usual spot in a chair in the corner, reading a romance book. As a freelance illustrator, she read a lot for research. I enjoyed the view, so I never complained.
“You know you guys are friends, right? You don’t have to creepily stare at her anymore.” I whipped around to see Drea smirking at me. We had grown a lot closer since our falling out.
Daisy had helped me stand up for myself, and Blair had helped Drea see life differently. They were both vital to our lives, but I wasn’t the lucky one who had their person to go home to every night.
I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t staring creepily at her. I wasn’tstaringat all. I was… surveying the store. Making sure everything’s in order.” I groaned. EvenIdidn’t believe the lie.
“Shut up!” I said before Drea could get a sarcastic comment out. She always teased that her best friend’s wife, Mackenzie, was a sarcastic ass, but she competed well for that title sometimes.
“Well, if you’re done… surveying, I came out here to tell you that I just got off the phone with the construction company, and they are sending out someone in a few days to start on your office. I’m sorry it’s taking so long. They are the best in the business, but they’ve been booked for months.”
