“Everyone deserves time off,” June sighed. She narrowed her eyes. “Laura, go take the roses to the front desk, then go pick us out a table. Get us a good booth.”
“Okay!”
She scooped up the two buckets and ran off. June crossed her arms, her expression sharpening like a butcher’s knife. “You’re going on a damn vacation soon, Austin. All of us demand it.”
“I can’t.”
“You can and you will.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
His brows knit together. “None of y’all can make me,” he protested.
“At this point, we’re going to kidnap you and drop you off in the middle of nowhere.”
“I’d find my way back.”
June let out a frustrated sigh and shot me an annoyed look. “For context, Austin has a stick up his ass and never stops working. He’s made it a problem for all of us. He is burnt out, but refuses to acknowledge it. He’s exhausted all the time. He’s aged right before my eyes, and not like fine wine.”
“Hey, I am still hot.”
June shook her head.
“I haven’t aged that much.”
“He says that, and yet I’ve seen the man age a decade in just a few years.”
“Well, that’s what happens when your dad dies.”
June pressed her lips together, and I expected her to be apologetic, but she only rolled her eyes. “Not an excuse for working yourself to an early grave. We’d like you to stayalive, Whynot. I need you to find a woman and settle down but she needs to be someone you’ll actually listen to.”
Austin barked out a laugh. “And who said I’m settling down with just a woman?”
Now June laughed too. “Okay, fair enough.”
The two of them chatted with such ease. I was envious of that. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had . . . Well, friends.
I’d been so focused on Dream Ink, I’d let new relationships pass me by.
My chest squeezed with regret.
“Madi, I am really sorry,” Austin added. “I’ve known June for too long. I’m not normally like this. I swear I’m a cool person.”
“Except for when you’re punching your best friends.”
“For god’s sake,” he groaned. “That wasonetime. Are y’all ever gonna let that go?”
She grinned triumphantly. “Nope. Madi, do you want to join me for lunch?”
“Uh, well . . .”
Suddenly, all my doubts about myself reared up like an ugly monster. I swallowed hard as my chest constricted more. “I already had lunch earlier with Dallas. Could I stop by and see you later this week?”
June’s smile softened. “Please do. Maybe it’ll be a little less eventful next time. Or maybe not. I’ll see you around.”
My knees were going to give out. “See you,” I croaked as she winked at Austin and then headed for the cafe through the lobby.
