Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
I’m all riled up again, and I reach for the glass of champagne, taking a long drink.
“First of all,” Luna says, after sticking her nose in one of my candles, “these are amazing. The labeling is adorable, and I can tell the quality is fabulous.”
“They’re all-natural,” I reply, my voice still hard from being frustrated.
I glance at Montana and see she’s just sitting there, her arms folded, a smug smile on her pretty face as she watches me.
“What?”
“I’ve already voiced my opinion on this ad nauseum. I’m going to let them tell you for a change.”
“Tell me what?”
“That you need to start a business,” June says, shoving a canapé in her mouth. “I mean, if you hate Zeke, fine, fuck him, but the business thing should happen. Because you’re smart, make nice things, and people will buy them. You live in a tourist town. If you don’t want to open a shop, which I totally get, you could put your stuff on consignment in the bookstore, at the inn, the coffee shop, and other places. I’m telling you, people love that smelly stuff.”
“Told you,” Montana says.
“I’ll happily make room for a cabinet for you to display your goods for sale,” Luna offers with a new, excited glint in her eye. “I’ll offer the candles, sprays, and bath bombs for use in the rooms, and guests will love them so much, they’ll buy them in the lobby.”
“Absolutely,” Amaryllis agrees, also smelling one of the candles. “Hell, can I buy this right now?”
“Next month,” Luna decides. “For girls’ night out next month, you’ll be my first featured women’s business.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“You should listen to me more,” Montana says. “I wouldn’t steer you wrong. I love you. I want you to kick ass.”
“You’re my best friend,” I tell her. “You’re supposed to hype me up. That doesn’t mean the business will take off.”
“Maybe you need to have as much confidence in yourself as Montana and Zeke have in you,” Sarah says thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her chin.
“Are you guys telling me that Zeke wasn’t the asshole last night?”
“I really hate it when the man isn’t the asshole,” June grumbles. “But, yeah. Sounds like he cares about you.”
“He used the L-word.”
Montana giggles. The others smile.
“And what did you say?” Luna asks.
“I told him that he wants to control me.”
“Yikes,” Amaryllis says, and the others lose their smiles. I feel awful all over again. “I don’t think he sounded controlling. He wants you to succeed, and maybe taking care of the household bills while you pursue your passion is his way of helping you do that.”
“I’m not good at the love stuff,” I admit. “But, yeah, that was a dick move on my part. And then he kicked me out of his condo and told me that we needed to take the night off.”
“You hurt his feelings,” Sarah says softly. “That’s what it sounds like to me.”
“That’s what I’m good at. Arguing and being irritated by him. Jabbing at him. It’s a habit I’ve had since he moved into the place. How am I supposed to change overnight?”
“Do you love him back?” Luna asks.
I blink at her and feel my stomach tie itself into knots. Do I love Zeke? He’s helpful and hard working. He’s funny. The sex is ridiculously out of this world. And he can be really tender at times, which is something that I didn’t know I needed but absolutely do.
Shit. I’m totally in love with Zeke.
“Yeah.” I swallow hard. “I do, and it makes me sad that I hurt his feelings.”
“You need to tell him that,” Amaryllis says. “You need to be open with him. And vulnerable.”
“Yikes.”
Amaryllis laughs. “I know, it’s hard. But it doesn’t sound like he wants to control you. He wants a partnership. That’s what happens in a partnership. You’re vulnerable, and you take care of each other. You can pay some of the bills, but it sounds like he wants to take that burden off your shoulders so you can start the business you want with a safety net under you. Because he probably knows that you need the stability.”
I think back to our picnic on the beach and the conversation we had.
He really is trying to help.
“Luna, this was a ton of fun, and I’ll be here every month with bells on, but I think I’d better go home and eat some crow now.”
Montana, laughing hysterically, stands and grabs her bag. “Let’s go. I’m totally coming back for more food, but I’m her ride, so I’m going to get her home.”
“Hurry,” I say when we’re in the car and Montana is headed down the hill. “I need to fix this before he decides to break up with me for good.”
“He won’t decide that. I saw the way he looked at you last night. You just have to find a way to not be so defensive all the time, Cherry. Not everyone is your parents.”