31
The next two weeks were strange. Sierra and I concluded our business and she was technically the owner of my mortgage. She also remained stalwart in her refusal to let me pay her back with interest. So, now I was making the same monthly payment on my house but I would have it paid off in less than half the time.
I would never admit it, but Monica Murphy had done me a favor. Every cent of my mortgage payment was going to the pay-off amount. I no longer had an escrow but my taxes and insurance were manageable enough to handle on my own.
There was also the fact that Sierra and Ben had made up from their fight. She hadn't told me the whole story until after it was all over, but she was the happiest I'd ever seen her. And obviously in love.
Financially, I was doing well. When it came to my love life, well, I didn’t see or speak to Brody. At all. It sucked.
But he communicated with me in a way that I had soundly come to expect from him in the two decades we’d known each other.
Sierra showed up at the shop the following Monday with a huge bouquet of flowers. Not roses or lilies, but sunflowers and, well, a bunch of other flowers with names I didn’t know.
There was no card and all she would tell me was, “These are from a secret admirer.”
As my best friend, I knew she wouldn’t deliver flowers from just anyone.
“How did he talk you into delivering these to me? I thought you hated his guts.”
“Oh, I did,” she answered. “At least until you told me what his ex was up to. I’m still kinda mad at him but he agreed to let me fuck up Monica’s life a little once he’s done his thing, so I no longer think he’s a complete asshole.”
“And how are you planning to fuck up her life?” I asked.
“Well, I won’t be forking her yard, that’s for damn sure,” Sierra mumbled.
“Ha, ha, you’re hilarious. No, I’m more worried she’ll end up broke and homeless and sleeping on Brody’s parents’ couch. They love her.”
Sierra waved a hand. “They wouldn’t put her on the couch. They have 5 guest bedrooms.”
I frowned at her but she ignored me.
“Fine, enjoy your petty revenge,” I said, using a snooty tone as if such things were beneath me.
“I think you’ve been around Brody’s parents too long."
I gasped in outrage and clutched my chest. “Take that back.”
“Nope,” she said with a shake of her head. “I call’em like I see’em.”
“Sierra,” I growled.
“Is that any way to talk to the woman who owns your house and your business and quit her job to move to town and live near you?” she asked, making a tisking sound. “For shame, Cameron.”
“You forget that I know I’m the only beneficiary in your will. I’ll get them both back as soon as I find a cliff for you to accidentally fall off of.” Then the rest of her words filtered through. "You quit your job? When? Why? I thought you loved it."
She lifted a hand. "Whoa, slow your roll there, little lady. One question at a time."
I nearly smacked her arm, but she seemed to read my mind and stepped just out of reach. "Just tell me."
She sighed. "I didn't tell you because at the time, I wasn't sure I was going to move here permanently. I'd already quit my job, but I wasn't sure I could handle being in Farley if Ben and I couldn't work things out. Then I realized that I'd let other people and their hurt feelings control my life for way too long, so I decided that I'd move here anyway. I spend most of my time working from home or in the office here anyway, so it's not like I'd see him much."
I didn't point out that she'd see him at lunch at my parents' on Sundays because it was a moot point.
"And I quit my job because I realized that I dreaded going into the office for the last two years. Even more after Barnes became my boss and started taking credit for my work." She paused. "I guess I should have asked you if you were okay with me working here with you full-time. At least until we get another location up and running. Then I can work there if you can't stand me. Crap, I didn't think this through."
Before she could say anything else, I threw my arms around her neck and hugged her.
She squeaked and held the flowers out to the side so they wouldn't get crushed.
