Which is why I was never worried about going in on getting this business off the ground. From the start, we designed this business to be fueled by our strengths while allowing us room to grow.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. Mayer will not allow emotions at our monthly meeting. It’s one of her rules and it makes perfect sense. These meetings are about our business; they’re never personal. We deal in facts and projections. We make action plans and identify areas where improvement is required.
Mayer asks, “Are we ready?”
Gemma giggles and teases her, “I swear I’m getting you a gavel for your birthday.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time,” Mayer tosses back with a smile on her face.
We chuckle, but when Mayer looks at me with expectations written all over her face, I know I’m up. I don’t go into too much detail because I don’t want anyone’s eyes to glaze over. I can geek out over strains, percentages, and hybrids.
Analyzing my data from the dispensary part of the business is a damn good time. It’s a challenge to see the patterns of what is selling and try to predict how it is going to change, and when, while trying to figure out what will be in demand when it does.
My best friends don’t find any of that information nearly as interesting. Sure, they would humor me, but I could be here all night.
I’m quitesure it’s why Mayer has me go first during our meetings. She knows I could talk about the numbers and how it relates to the product and trends for far too long.
“I’m going to nudge our inventory to be more sativa heavy to help everyone get through the winter. I’ll run some sales and see if we can give our customers a little boost.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Meadow pipes up. “I’m rolling out a citrus cookie this week that is all sativa. Between the citrus and the strain, it’ll practically be summer.”
Gemma chuckles and I have to bite my lip to stop from doing the same. Mayer teases, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more beautiful segway.”
“I know,” Meadow chirps and tosses her blonde hair back over her shoulder. “I’m going to be rolling out the apple strudel this week since I perfected the recipe. Thank you for being patient while I had you all taste test.”
Meadow is beaming and, honestly, the look on her face and the joy she puts into baking is at the heart of why we opened GMH. She has wanted to open a bakery her entire life. I’m pretty sure she came out of the womb wearing an oven mitt.
To hear her mom tell it, she had a whisk clutched to her chest.
With this business we found a way to help our best friend have her bakery. And it’s working out quite well for everyone involved.
I zone out a little bit when she talks about how excited she is for stone fruit season. Then she mentions plans to work with Rook on extracting terpenes for a new scone for spring. His operation is still small, which means he can cater to whatever Meadow is cooking, well, baking up.
It helps that we’re good clients, I’m sure. At least, it can’t hurt.
I tease her, “Working with Rook again?”
When I wiggle my eyebrows, she sticks her tongue out at me and insists, “We’re just friends.” She scrunches her face up slightly and corrects herself, “Really, more like friendly professionals.”
“Uh-huh,” echoes through the room, in triplicate.
Because Mayer, Gemma, and I all have the same response.
Meadow turns pink and we let it drop. For now.
“I’m just waiting for the next thing his most honorable Mayor Simmons tries to pull,” Mayer sneers as our meeting starts to wrap up after Gemma goes over what is going on in the event space this month, including a Galentine’s Day party. “After the issue with our Christmas decorations, it’s been too quiet. I just know he’s up to something.”
I understand why she’s suspicious. I am too. The man has had it out for us since the beginning. He didn’t like seeing our county pass recreational cannabis laws in the first place. You would think he doesn’t have a full-time job with how much time he puts into trying to figure out how to take down GMH.
Which is why I don’t allow myself to think about how Aiden is the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Of course, I see him most often when he’s pulling me over. That takes down his hot factor for sure.
Gemma sighs, “Maybe we just see it as a good thing and try not to jinx us?”
Mayer hums, but I already know she’s not going to let it go. The woman is going to drive herself out of her mind trying to predict what Mayor Simmons’s next move is.
When we walk out together, we hug and go our separate ways. Which is for the best.
Even though we’ve talked about getting a place for the four of us, it would be too much now with GMH. I love those women. They’re my family, just like my brother, Elwood.
