Page 195 of Worth the Trip

Big Lando:

Missing you doesn’t follow a corporate schedule.

Me:

Go work.

Big Lando:

I am working.

Me:

Then behave.

Big Lando:

Until I hear your voice.

I placed my phone face down.

Nyla knocked against the open office door before entering. “You finished sexting Big Lando?”

“We were discussing refrigeration.”

“That made it worse.”

I pointed toward the chair across from me. “What do you want?”

“The festival.” Of course. She sat. “Before you start, I’m not saying second location, expansion, empire, franchise, world domination, or any other phrase that’ll make your left eye twitch. I’m saying one pop-up.”

I leaned back.

Nyla continued. “Four signature flavors. Two dairy-free. Prepackaged sandwiches from Scoops & Stories. Books and literacy giveaways. Small footprint. We learn something.”

“You’ve already planned this.”

“I’ve considered it.”

“One family mentioning Self Springs isn’t market research.”

“No. But twelve customers from Self Springs asking about us over the last six months might be.” I looked at her. Nyla lifted one shoulder. “I keep notes.”

“Since when?”

“Since my co-owner started treating demand like compliments people were giving to be nice.”

I turned toward the office window. A little boy sat cross-legged inside Scoops & Stories with a picture book open across his knees while his mother ate ice cream beside him. The shop looked exactly as it had the week before.

Maybe I was simply looking farther.

“Send me the festival information.” Nyla’s face brightened. “That is not a yes.”

“I know.”

“It’s information.”

“I know.”