“Well,” I grouse,” not everything is for public consumption either.”
Gemma gasps and a hurt look crosses her face. “We’re not public consumption,” she says the words like they’re curse words.
“I know,” I groan as my shoulders slump. “I’m just not ready to talk about it.”
“Fine,” Gemma agrees before shooting me a look that promises we’ll be circling back whether I’m ready or not, “for now.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I huff and when she smiles, I know it’s all good.
“Since we’re not talking about Greylin and what’s bugging her, after walking through here on a rampage for days, can we rant some more about that inspection?” Meadow’s eyes flash with something that would concern me if I was the health inspector who visited us a few days ago.
I found out the inspector dropped by when I came into work after the whole laundry excuse incident.
Laundry!
Can you believe it?
I couldn’t. Not after he had been so intense and came after me with so much intent.
It’s hard not to shiver when remembering how it felt to have all of his focus. Then I remember how I haven’t heard from him and I strengthen my resolve. The audacity of that man.
“Meadow,” Gemma groans and flops back in her desk chair very dramatically, “we have been over the entire inspection so many times that I feel like I was right there in the room when it all happened.”
“No,” Meadow gripes, “it was just me, him, and his smug bullshit. I swear I thought he was going to pat me on the head and tell me keeping all the rules straight must be so hard because clearly my tits make it impossible.”
I choke on my laughter, which is probably why she said it. She winks at me and some of the tightness in my chest eases. As long as I have these women at my side, I can get through anything.
Mayer rubs her temples, her voice wary, “I’m not looking forward to when he emails with the results.” She shakes her head. “He tried to say the entire building would need to be looked at because of the bakery. When I argued with him about the codes he’s supposed to be upholding, he backed off. I have a feeling we won’t be so lucky next time.”
“I just don’t get why mayor asshole has such an issue with Storyville having a dispensary. You would think he would want new businesses to thrive,” Meadow muses. “We’re bringing in new visitors as well.”
“That’s because Gemma is a genius when it comes to social media,” I throw in there and she tosses a smile of thanks my way.
“I don‘t have my communications degree for nothing,” Gemma teases us.
“I don’t know why Simmons has such a problem with this place, but I don’t care anymore,” Mayer snaps before shooting us apologetic smiles.
Just as her lips part, I’m sure to voice those apologies, a ding comes from her computer and she sits up straighter. She’s not the only one. I think we all practically leap out of our chairs.
Because we all know what the sound was.
An email has arrived.
Could it be spam? Possibly. Could it be completely unrelated to the whole health inspector situation we have going on? More than likely. Could it be the results of that inspection? I fucking hope so because waiting for it, especially after how things have been going with Aiden, is fucking with my nerves.
Mayer closes her eyes briefly before murmuring something far too quiet for me to hear. When she focuses on the computer the rest of us stare at her, but she’s intent and doesn’t look our way. I’m not even sure I want to know at this point.
My stomach is in knots, and I desperately want to run away. But I can’t.
Meadow jumps up and screeches, “No, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to know what it says.”
“We passed,” Mayer’s voice is grim, “but barely.”
Meadow’s shoulders slump and I swear the woman is about to become a puddle of despair and disappointment on the floor. Gemma is closer to her and leaps into action, grabbing our best friend and steering her towards the sitting area.
“You’re trying to sell me the sugarcoated version, Mayer,” Meadow’s tone is full of accusation.
“Sugarcoated,” I snort out the word. “She said we barely passed,” I point out.
