I pushed two blinds apart with my fingers and narrowed my eyes.
The woman suddenly dropped her hand and—wait, was she pouting?
Had Ethan turned her down?
He must’ve, because she nodded, no longer looking very happy, before she offered a forced smile and walked off.
Yeah, you keep walking, girl.
I had serious problems.
“That’s fine, but I already have plans for my next line,” I said, walking out of the bathroom. “I went over things with Linda and Shauna at lunch, and we’re thinking a spring release before Easter.”
I was going to get my delicate maple leaves and spring blossoms in silver and gold.
“Oh, that’s great! I’m meeting with Linda tomorrow when she lands, so she can fill me in,” Jocelyn answered. “And the release for the holiday collection?”
Collection was a stretch. I had seven pieces launching in a collaboration with Macy’s. “November twenty-fifth,” I said. I tightened the towel around my chest and walked over to the bed where I kept my bags. “Oh, by the way, could you send me a new soldering block? I’ll be getting my studio ready as soon as I get the keys in a couple of weeks, so I want to be good to go ASAP.” There was only so much I could design at home.
“No problem. I’ll ship it first thing on Monday.”
“Thank you, honey.” I picked out my pajamas for my exciting Saturday night of ordering room service and watching movies. “Now, log out of the system and enjoy your weekend. I’m sorry things got so hectic down here today.”
To be honest, I didn’t want to think about it. Showing my face in my stores was one thing, but having two cameras in my face…? No thanks. Safe to say, my marketing team was gonnaget an earful tomorrow. I hadn’t been able to say anything today since we’d been freaking live on my Instagram.
“Yes, ma’am—but for the record, we got alotof sales online today,” Jocelyn responded. “I can’t wait for New York to beat them!”
I chuckled and shook my head. The competition going on between my stores was fun.
“On that note, are you coming here next or Chicago?” she asked.
“Probably all four, actually,” I sighed. It would be the holidays by then, an important time of the year. “New York is my flagship, though. I’ll definitely be there.”
Truth be told, I had half a mind to open a small shop in Camassia that I could run on my own. That was why I had rented a studio with a storefront.
After wrapping up my conversation with my favorite New York gal, I ordered dinner and changed into a top and pajama shorts, and I caught a glance at myself in the full-length mirror next to the hallway.
Huh.
I bit my lip.
Didn’t the shorts seem a little…loose?
I hadn’t worn these in a while.
I smiled to myself and plopped down on the bed, and I figured I could text Ethan.
Hey, Coach! Guess who just put on pajamas and noticed they’re a little big? (Ordered room service too. You’d be proud! Grilled shrimp with a salad and no dressing.)
Things felt…good. Fresh out of the shower, slightly loose pajamas, nice hotel suite, grand view on the balcony, Miami’s nightlife waking up some ten stories below, my sore feet couldfinally rest, and a big-big-big bed. The only thing missing was my dinner.
A flash of a man appeared in my mind, Ethan walking toward me with a towel wrapped around his hips, and I shook my head quickly and screwed my eyes shut.
Christ on a cracker!
That had to stop.
I slapped my hands to my face and groaned.
