AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nic.”
Timothy puts a finger to his lips as he looks at Soraya and Eric. “He’s very silent, though.”
I don’t think I can breathe. The emptiness of the shop crowds in on me and all at once this perfect dress is too tight and my skin is crawling. I can hear Timothy making excuses to Soraya and Eric but I can’t focus on the words. They talk, they leave, I still can’t breathe and I’m gripping the counter for dear life.
“Baby.” Timothy’s warm hand touches me between the shoulder blades, and I shrug him off. “What’s wrong?”
“You bought me a fucking building!” My voice rises until the last word rings out, echoing in the empty room.
He frowns. “You don’t like it?”
“You didn’t ask me!”
“I wanted to surprise you.” He holds an arm out to me and I stare at it, knowing at once I need one of his hugs to bring my heart rate down, but if I accept one, I’ll forgive him and I’m not ready to forgive him.
“My business, the one I have slowly, painstakingly built for years, is on the cusp of either booming or collapsing, I have major fashion companies approaching me, wanting to buy my label, I’m drowning in orders and people pissed off they missed out, and you thought now was a great time to drop this on me?”
His expression turns to one of alarm. “What are you talking about?”
“That influencer from your party—I’ve blown up and I’m over capacity. I can’t do this. I can’t.” My voice breaks. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“You should’ve told me,” he says, his hand faltering as he holds it out.
I need to hold on to my anger—it’s the only thing keeping me from breaking—so I turn and stomp over to the window, away from him.
“You’ve always wanted to do this,” he says calmly.
“You’ve known me for five years, how the hell would you know what I’ve always wanted?” Cars drive by outside. A couple walks down on the other side of the street. I’m standing in an empty shop in a gorgeous evening dress and my world is collapsing around me.
“Because I know you.” He joins me at the window, his knuckles brushing the back of my arms. “You’re scared you’re going to make this leap and fail.”
It hurts so much because it’s true, and I know it’s true and I can’t make it okay. “Of course I’m scared. If I fail, I don’t have a trust fund to fall back on. This is a fatal fall.”
His arms slip around my waist and the warmth of his chest presses against the exposed skin of my back. “You aren’t going to fall. But if you do, I’m here. I’m your safety net.”
I wiggle out of his arms and walk back to the middle of the shop. It’s not the shop on Aspen and Grand back in Connecticut, but I could see Wild Things here too. I’m still not ready to expand. I don’t know when I’ll be, or if I’ll ever be. And Timothy can’t keep fixing my life. I’m already too dependent on him, what will happen when we end? “I can’t rely on you to always be there.”
“Yes, you can.” Hurt fills his voice. “Because I am always going to be here for you, Mina. This is what relationships are.”
I cross my arms. “Until they aren’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
My throat is burning and I swallow. “Things ended with your musician boyfriend. And when your ex-girlfriend wanted to move out East, you broke up.”
His face pinches. “If you don’t like this shop and you want to move back East,ask me to come with you.”
The anguish in his voice makes tears well up in my eyes. I should’ve told him about Charlotte’s offer. Of course, he found out. I probably left a tab open on my laptop, or he overheard one of Charlotte’s calls.
“Mina. Ask me.”
“What if you say no?” My voice comes out like a whispered squeak and I hate it.
“I’m not going to say no to you. Not ever.” His gaze is too much and I drop mine to the smooth hardwood floors.
“I haven’t decided what I want to do, and all this—” I wave my arms around the shop, but I don’t just mean this place. It’s everything that’s happened since that house party. “It’s too much right now.”
Timothy edges closer to me and I don’t move away. Then he’s next to me. “It’s the perfect time to jump.”
