Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 125117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Carys had tied her curls up in a white bandanna and wore a mint-green linen jumpsuit in a pattern of broccoli florets and leeks that she’d found at a thrift store. She looked amazing, and Greta pressed another kiss to her lips and then her throat.
“How was the square?”
“Great take today,” Carys said, pulling out her bag. “There’s some kind of business conference at one of the hotels on Canal, and you know how business dudes are about wanting to prove that women don’t know anything they claim to know. I raked it in.” She grinned and dumped more cash than usual on the floor.
Greta high-fived her and helped order all the bills so they were facing the same way, the way Carys liked. It just makes it easier for the bank teller, Carys had explained the first time Greta asked why she did that.
They washed their hands, then settled down to make bouquets and eat cheese.
Carys thanked her for the cheese plate and made a blissful sound at the combination of a salty manchego and the sweetness of Veronica’s lavender honey—a new offering, now that her bees had so much lavender to eat.
“How on earth do bees do it?” Carys mused worshipfully.
“I know, right? They make two of the best things on earth—honey and beeswax—and it’s just like…their job. Good work, bees.”
It didn’t take too long before they’d gotten a rhythm down: tie the tiny bouquets, affix the card with sealing wax that Veronica had made out of her beeswax, and imprint it with the company seal. With breaks for cheese, weed, and making out, naturally.
“What’s the latest on the family visit?” Carys asked.
For months, Greta had been hearing from her family that they were going to try and come visit her.
“I think it’s finally materializing for November. At first they were going to try and come in August, but I think they’d legit perish, so I told them to hold off.”
“Will Sadie come, do you think?”
“Psh, she might come just so she can’t possibly be to blame if our relationship stays shitty.”
Carys growled softly. She was not a fan of anyone who treated Greta badly, so when Greta had shown her some of their text exchanges, Carys had gotten mad. Which Greta found irresistibly hot.
“I will kick her ass if she’s mean to you,” Carys said.
“You could totally take her.”
“Yeah, I could,” Carys mumbled. She made a muscle jokingly. But Greta knew how fierce Carys’ love was, and even though her sister had about six inches on Carys, she had no doubt who the victor would be.
Not that she actually wanted her girlfriend to beat up her sister. Much.
But while the reminder that she and Sadie didn’t have the kind of relationship she had with her other sisters would’ve once made Greta’s stomach cramp with anxiety, now she shrugged.
“Anyway, whether she does or she doesn’t, I’ll be excited to show everyone around.”
Then, the final bouquet tied and wax seal applied, Greta tumbled Carys to the floor.
“Thanks for your help,” she murmured into her neck as she placed kisses on all the exposed skin she encountered.
“Mmm,” Carys said, which might’ve meant You’re welcome, but Greta chose to interpret it as Ravage me, you sexy beast. So she did.
Chapter 34
Greta
The launch of Lagniappe Lemonade started in an hour. Greta, Carys, Helen, and Veronica had spent the morning setting up the dining room of the local barbecue joint that had volunteered to host.
The bar was stocked with the classic lemonade, the lavender lemonade, and two new varieties: a mint mojito lemonade and a spicy mango and cayenne lemonade, which was Greta’s favorite. All were made with Veronica’s honey.
There were cocktail suggestions to turn them into alcoholic drinks, and large posters of the label art hung on the walls. Postcards containing the branding on the front and the cocktail recipes on the back sat in neat stacks on every high-top table beside a plate of appetizers that Veronica had made. A table with the lavender bouquet business cards containing all their information sat beside the exit.
Everything was ready, and Helen and Veronica were staring at the space as if some cosmic horror was about to erupt from the floor and drag them all into the abyss.
“Are they okay?” Greta whispered to Carys, leaning close.
“Oh yeah. They always get like this before they do a thing that really matters to them. They’re both so stoic that neither wants to be the first to confess they’re scared, so they just stare at each other until it passes.”
“Okay. That sounds… Is there something we should be doing?”
Carys smiled at her. It was the You’re very sweet and I love you for it smile that Greta could now recognize. “I got it.” She walked to where Helen and Veronica stood and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Darlings.”