APRIL
I walk intoRoses, and people are already here working on the shop. This week has been intense, to say the least. I accepted Grave’s money to fix the shop—not that he really gave me a choice. And I hate to admit it, but it looks better than it did before.
Workers have been in and out every day doing the finishing touches so I can open on Monday. Just as I set my purse on the counter, the front door opens and Jasmine and Haven step inside.
“Hey,” I say.
“What’s up, ho?” Jasmine asks, removing her sunglasses and eyeing one guy’s ass as he leans over to clean up his mess on the floor. She winks and gives me a smile.
“What are you girls doing here?” I ask.
Haven sets her Louis Vuitton on the counter next to my fifteen-dollar purse. I have a feeling these women grew up with money. “We wanted to stop by and see the shop.”
I haven’t told them about what happened. As far as they know, I’m remodeling, and they have no clue that Grave is footing the bill. I’m too ashamed to tell them the truth and too afraid they will judge Ethan. He’s a good kid who just made some bad choices. Haven’t we all done that at some point?
“Thanks,” I say. “It should be ready for business on Monday.”
“I saw the boutique next door to you is for sale,” Jasmine says. “Have you thought about buying it? Expanding?”
“No. But that’s a great idea.” If that was an option. I don’t get enough business to justify that kind of expansion, but a girl can dream.
The door opens again, and Emilee strolls inside, followed by Titan. I swallow nervously. He knows what happened and that the Mason brothers are responsible for the destruction. I’m praying he doesn’t say anything.
“You look like you just rolled out of bed,” Jasmine says to Emilee.
Her dark hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing an over-sized T-shirt that’s hanging off one shoulder, paired with gray yoga pants and tennis shoes.
Emilee waves her off. “We just had a couples massage. Dear Lord, it was amazing!” She sighs, rubbing her neck.
Titan walks up to the counter and pulls an envelope out of his back pocket, sliding it toward me.
“What’s this?” I ask, picking it up.
“That is your deposit for our wedding,” he answers.
I open it up. “Deposit?” I pull the check out. It’s written out to me for twenty-five thousand dollars. “What?” I breathe.
“I figured that would be enough to get started.” He raps his knuckles on the counter, then turns, giving Emilee a kiss. “You ladies have fun today,” he calls out before he leaves.
“Emilee,” I cough out her name. “This is…”
“Not enough?” she asks, tilting her head. “I can write you another one for the difference.”
Is she joking?“…insane.”
She waves me off as though she just bought me a five-dollar lunch.
“No. Seriously.” I place it on the counter and walk over to her. “I don’t even have the ability to produce that much. It’s just me.”
“You have us.” Jasmine throws her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into her side. “We will help make it happen.”
“What?” I look up at her in a daze. The shop has been down for a week, so I’m already behind. I would love nothing more than to do this for Emilee and Titan, but it’s just not possible.
“We’re the kind of girls who have your back. No matter what,” Jasmine adds with a wink.
Haven nods. “We got it.”
Emilee smiles. “Just let me know when and where you need me.”
