AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I slip my phone in my purse, shaking my head in frustration. She comes out wearing a smart pencil skirt and fitted, matching jacket.
“I am so sorry. I guess we had a lapse in communication.”
“No lapse. I didn’t tell Daddy I was headed this way. But, they aremyclients.”
“Oh.” Greer pulls back, like I’ve poked her with a hot needle. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to step on any toes. I had some personal business here in town this morning so I told your father I’d stop in and see if they needed any help with their order. I had no idea you were, that they were your clients.”
I let out a tight breath. “No, it’s not your fault. I didn’t mean to make it sound like that.”
Her lips, coated in the darkest brown lipstick, pull into a thin line. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, the woman here did give me a funny look when I told her I was with Nilssen.”
I smirk. “She’s probably just used to dealing with me. And, she does kind of give off the vibe that she needs to get laid.”
“I know, right?” Greer snickers, touching my arm.
I glance at the door. “I’ll let you finish up. If you need help just shoot me a text.”
“Why don’t you come in with me? Then afterward we can stop at the diner in town and get some greasy food.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Greer and I head inside the boutique and the owner does seem awfully relieved that I’m there. It makes me feel good. Valued. She ends up doubling her order and I tell her that if she needs anything she can contact me or Greer.
After that’s done and out of the way I follow Greer downtown to this diner that’s decked out in a western theme.
We sit in a booth and someone throws down two glasses of ice water. “God, I love this place,” she coos. “Your dad and I come up here just to eat all the time.”
“Really?” I glance around, trying not to curl my lip at all the dead animal heads hanging on the walls around us. I don’t understand why people think it’s cool to display their kills. Like what did this buffalo ever do to you?
“Oh yes. They have the best brisket in the state.”
“Daddy does love his brisket.”
“Mm-hmm.” Greer seems to force a smile. This is the first time I’ve gotten a weird feeling from her. Like something is telling me she doesn’t want to be here with me right now. It could be my own discomfort I’m picking up on.
I tap my fingers on the table. “So, Daddy is headed to Stockholm. And it sounds like you’re getting your feet wet with the design business. Are you planning to seek a position with Nilssen? Or stick with real estate?”
“Oh, no. Real estate for sure. I like fashion but not enough to pursue a career in it. No offense.” She throws a hand over her chest, like she’s truly worried she’s offended me.
“None taken.” Really. How can I be offended by someone I barely know?
“I know you and your dad love it. And I like learning all the little things he talks to me about. But I really like to be able to do my own thing, you know? Support myself and all that.”
“Yeah. I totally get that.”
“Stig tells me that he hopes to be back in time for Thanksgiving. But if not maybe you and I can do something special.”
I think about Rigger. I think about Ben. And I think about getting to meet my sibling in two days, something one would think I’d be hyper focused on but I’m not. My heart drops. I don’t want to spend the holidays with my dad’s girlfriend. I wish I did, but I don’t. And, I don’t know how I want to spend it if Daddy isn’t here.
“I don’t know if I will be around.”
“Oh, your dad didn’t say you were leaving town too.”
“Might be,” I shrug. “I’ve met someone. And his sister lives near L.A. Would be nice to get away if Dad is still in Sweden. What about you? Is your family in California?”
“I … don’t really have any family. Never have.” Greer’s face sinks, in a way that makes her look as though she’s lost her best friend. My brain rapid fires, remembering something she said when we first met.
“But what about your parents? You said they were from Phoenix?”
