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“Tell me.”
She cupped my face as tears welled in her eyes. “Please, August.”
“Okay, okay.” I curled my arms around her and laid her cheek against my chest. Tears killed me and Kinleigh didn’t pull that girl card too often. Whatever was on her mind had to be more than just Ivy finding out about us. Everything inside of me wanted to demand to know, but I gentled my voice and forced my shoulders to relax. “It’s okay.”
If only she understood I’d do anything to make sure that it was.
Eighteen
Sleep was for the weak.
At least that was what I told myself as I drank my second coffee of the morning, and it wasn’t even seven o’clock yet.
Luna was happily humming as she made the fourth floral arrangement for the stairs. We had an assembly line of pots and baskets overflowing with silk flowers and succulents I’d thieved from all over the store. Since miniature plants were the new favorite thing in everyone’s Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook posts, I figured it was one of the easiest items to use to lead people into my shop.
“I just love these furry brown ones.” Luna gently stroked the petal of one of the succulents I’d planted with Ivy.
I swallowed down the ache that had kept me up all night. Well, that and the big, pressure cooker pot of emotions I had no control of for her freaking brother too.
“Aren’t they sweet? I can’t believe how big it’s gotten.”
“This place gets so much amazing light.” Luna was wearing a pair of Converse sneakers—one pink and the other yellow with a big ol’ daisy painted on the top of each. She’d also worn the embroidered daisy jeans she’d gotten as payment for modeling for me yesterday. She’d paired it with a cute pink polka dot shirt knotted at the waist. Her blond curls were tamed into a pair of braids with daisy elastics.
However, she didn’t look the least bit innocent with her winged eyeliner and fuchsia lips. She was obviously a hell of a lot more rested than I was. I wanted to hate her for humming, but she was such a light. I might not be able to pick up auras like Luna did, but she gave off a burst of happiness anyone could see.
She gathered two of the terra cotta pots. “I’m going to bring these down.”
“Thanks.”
She beamed at me. “I just love this so much.”
“I’ll remind you of that statement at around ten this morning when we’re running around like crazy people.”
“I can’t wait.” She turned on her toes and hurried out the door and down the stairs.
I pressed my forehead to the table. I’d probably gotten a total of three hours of sleep. Between being revved up after August tried to fuck me through his wall and Ivy not answering my texts, I was a hot mess.
But work always saved me. I straightened and gathered the leftover flowers and silks. That was what I could focus on. I dug out my phone and checked on my texts. Still nothing.
I popped open my music app and set my 90’s playlist on repeat. No Doubt played from the store speakers.
Footsteps stomped up the stairs and Luna burst through the door, singing along with “Don’t Speak” in a perfect mimic of Gwen Stefani’s voice. I laughed and we sang along to the best of pop and hip hop for the next hour.
I peeked down at the town from the back of the store where it overlooked the park and the pier. The gazebo was decked out with various vendors selling their wares. I had the windows open to soak in some of that spring air. It had been a cold winter and I was happy to push all that stale air out.
It was a rare sunny day without a cloud in the sky. The wind was a little chilly off the water, but we were running around enough that it felt good on my skin.
I had on white tank top under a pair of overalls. Huge colorful flowers decorated the pockets and bib section then danced down one leg in a rainbow of colors. The cheery outfit helped me push back the uncertainty of everything for now.
By the time people started to drift up from the sidewalk, Luna and I had fallen into a surprisingly easy rhythm of customer service and ringing. What she didn’t know, she asked or figured out. She seemed to have an intuitive way about finding what customers needed. She chatted them up and sales were multiplying.
The morning flew by. We’d sold so many of the little floral pots that I stole twenty minutes to make a few more.
“I’m going to bring these down.”
Luna waved me off. “Go take a walk. Maybe get some of that fried dough I keep smelling.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone.”
