“I thought that guy was fired,” I mumble, almost too boneless to get the words out. “But maybe we should keep him on the bench. You know, for the occasional assist.”
“I knew you’d be into kinky threesomes,” she murmurs just as weakly against my shoulder.
“Kinky threesome…” I repeat. I stroke the damp hair away from her face and pull her to sitting with me on the couch. “Youaremy dream woman, Chloe.”
16
CHLOE
It’s a beautiful,cool morning, and after I left Easy Start, I had three texts from Lucia, asking if she could meet me at Latterature. I said yes, and Mia and I took off in my little sedan, which now has brand-new brakes, thanks to Franco and Jack.
When Lucia meets me outside the store, she has a little gift bag in her hands and a card that reads “Mia.” I unlock the store while Lucia coos over Mia and strokes her head.
The dog and I are inseparable now.
Best decision ever.
She follows me through every step of the store, even coming between shelves to find me if I move out of her sight.
“Lucia,” I say gently. “I’ve noticed you look a little different. I like it,” I rush on, “but it’s different. Not as bright?”
“It’s my friend Carol,” she says, rolling her eyes. “She’s selling this makeup now out of her, well, it’s not her home. She’s moved in with her boyfriend and is selling makeup since she doesn’t feel she can go back to work at Easy Start.”
I nod. “Earl’s been really generous letting me work in her place.”
Lucia nods. “Earl’s not a bad man, just, apparently, a terrible lover.”
I cough a rough laugh into my hands. “Oh, okay. Wow.” I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at my boss the same way.
Our small talk is interrupted by a rough knock at the door, followed by Gracie waving at us through the glass.
“Hey, babe.” She clasps me in a hug, all rushing and breathless as soon as I open the door. Her black hair is up in a messy bun today, and she’s not wearing any makeup. “Do you have any coffee going? I way, way overslept and need a jolt of caffeine. I’ve got a customer in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll start some and bring it over,” I promise.
She sighs and nods. “You’re a lifesaver.” Then she looks at Lucia. “Hey Ma, what’s going on?”
Lucia flicks a glance at me. “I was just going to try to convince Chloe here to give Carol some work in the shop when she opens. The woman is trying to make a living selling makeup to all her friends. We’re going to go broke if she doesn’t find a real job soon.”
Gracie wrinkles her nose. “Chloe, can you afford an employee? Aren’t you working Carol’s old job still?”
I nod. “And I don’t know for sure that I’m even keeping the store,” I admit quietly. It’s the first time I’ve said anything remotely like that to anyone but Franco. “I’m hoping to have a strong showing on Black Friday when I’m back, but if not…” I shrug.
Gracie ponders this quietly for a second, but then she nods. “You know, babe, we cut our costs way down when we cut back inventory. You know the body jewelry we have up front?”
I nod, having no idea what costs a tattoo shop could have. Other than ink and advertising, I couldn’t imagine.
“That jewelry is expensive, and if it doesn’t sell, we’re sitting on money that can’t do anybody any good. When Echo started as the piercer and scheduler, we changed our policies. We keep a small supply of basic studs on hand, but if people want specialty stuff, they have to order it from our website. They buy it through us at a markup, and then we notify them when it comes in. The customer gets the jewelry they want, and we get a cut, but we’re not out the expensive inventory costs waiting until someone decides they want a pink bedazzled belly ring.”
“That makes a ton of sense,” I say. “Are you thinking I have too many books?”
She shakes her head. “No. But what if you cut out all the food besides coffee and cookies? I can’t imagine how much it costs to have chicken and bacon and all those ingredients on hand all the time. You have to have waste.”
My mind starts spinning at the possibility. I love the idea of reducing the food we sell. It won’t end the café part of the business. I can still make coffee and offer pastries or even fruit and nuts and other easy to sell nibbles. But cutting back the food service side of the business will reduce labor, energy costs. I’m shocked I didn’t think of it myself. But I’ve been so focused on what I can afford to spend, I wasn’t even thinking about what I might be able to save.
“As long as you promise to keep making me those peanut butter crisps,” she warns, shaking a finger at me. “Got to run. This is for the coffee.” She drops a crisp five on the counter before I can wave her away.
“Gracie, no.” I try to stop her, but she’s already out the door, her messy bun flopping wildly as she runs.
