Page 41 of Summer Sweethearts
“Thank you, and I love you too,” he whispers before she leaves us sitting there.
An hour later, we leave the bank. They approved Mike for a loan, and he’s already going on and on about the things he plans to do to the house. We’re back in the truck, and I’m listening to him rattle off rooms and ideas when I interrupt him. “So, can I see this place?”
“Oh, shit. Yeah, of course, you can. Actually, wanna text Loretta and ask her to meet us there? We can surprise her together and clear the air.” He turns the truck down a gravel road, and I pull out my phone once more and text our girl.
Me:
Change of plans. When you’re off work, can you meet me at 1115 Davis School Lane?
Loretta:
Umm, sure
Me:
Great! Text me when you’re on the way.
LORETTA
Iwas in the kitchen at work when Jessica’s text came through; cleaning up from the morning rush and helping Dwight prep some muffins for tomorrow because, surprise, surprise, he fired his new assistant this morning. That has to be his record; a whopping twenty-four hours. He needs to just admit that he wants Garnet back in the kitchen with him and carry on with his life.
Garnet was his best worker, and she took his bitching and mouth in stride. I think he also thought she was easy on the eyes, but then he found out she lied about her age and lost it. She’s eighteen now, a legal adult, so he can’t fault her for that anymore. He needs to suck it up, call her, and invite her to come back.
I’m not really one to talk; I blew up at Michael and Jessica all within two days. Not letting either get a word in, just yelling and pushing them away. I got myself in a mess, and damn, did Jessica put me in my place last night. I never expected her to just leave, but she did. I sat on the couch, cried, thought things out, and cried some more.
She was right, though. I didn’t let Michael explain. I heard what I wanted to hear from his conversation with Molly and panicked. I should have asked him what was going on and heard him out. Jessica did, but when she tried to tell me, I punished her by not letting her sleep with me. And now I’m alone.
I’m not sure what Jessica has to show me on Davis School; I haven’t been out that way in years. In high school, Michael and I spent a lot of time there, since his family had a house out that way. We spent summers down by the pond or in the backyard, just hanging out with his family. I’m gonna go see what she has planned and hope it’s not some extravagant way to tell me to kick rocks.
“Loretta! You’ve beat that dough enough. They’re going to be tough or bake unevenly now. Dammit, woman!” Dwight breaks me from my solo pity party.
“Sorry, Dwight. Got lost in thought.” I set my spatula down and grimace at the muffin dough.
“Go sort books. You’re of no use to me in here, ruining my dough,” he grumbles, pushing me out the door.
We’ve worked together for years, so I’m not offended or put off by his sassiness. But I’m not one to back down, and I’m sure not gonna let Dwight have the last word. “You should just find your balls, call Garnet, and ask her to come back.”
“Out!” he bellows, throwing a spoon at me. I just laugh and hightail it out of the kitchen toward the rolling cart of return books.
Getting the whole cart of books put back where they go, I move to straighten the children’s section up and get sucked into a daydream.
“Don’t go too far, Eliza, stay where Mommy and Daddy can see you!” I call to the blonde-haired, green-eyed little girl running through the backyard.
“Tay, Mommy!”
“I’ll go with her, baby. You stay here and put your feet up. Only a few more weeks and our little boy will be here.” Jessica kisses the side of my neck as she chases after our daughter.
I laugh and sit down on the outdoor couch we have on our patio, watching Jessica play with Eliza in the field behind the house. Michael sits beside me, pulling one of my feet into his lap and massaging it firmly. “God,” I moan. “That feels good.”
The bell above the door dings, and I shove the book back onto the kid’s shelf before hurrying to greet whoever just came in. “Hi, welcome to Sugar Spines. What can I help you with today?” I ask. I stop and put a hand on my hip when I see it’s Bayley.
“Oh, I was looking to talk to Aiden about a little collaboration with my store,” she says, looking around. “Is he here?”
“No, he went to run an errand, but he’ll be back. What do you want to work with him on? No offense, Bayley, I love your place, but how are you thinking you’re meshing the two together?”
“I’m hoping he can order some erotica or kink romance books that I can stock at the store. Split the profits type of thing, ya know?” she wags her brows at me, smirking.
“I guess that makes sense. You’re welcome to wait for him, or I can tell him you stopped in.” I move back behind the counter, pushing some baked goods to the front of the display.
