“But…you deserve money.”
“And you deserve to put every penny toward making your dream come true. We’re with you until the end. How about this?” She pulled away from our hug. “Once we graduate next year, when the business has been open for a bit, if we work there full-time, then we can talk money.”
“But that’s a year of free work. I can’t do that.”
“Blue, you beautiful idiot. This isn’t up to you. Ethan is doing your payroll, so he’ll do it no matter what you say.”
I stuck my tongue out at them before a full sob came over me. It was surreal to think that I could really do this without my parents’ help. It took a good ten minutes for me to settle down before I went back and hugged Ethan in a full-body embrace. He tried to get me off him, but I refused. “Ethan, I swear to god, let me hold you.”
“You’re so weird.”
“I don’t care.”
He laughed just as someone knocked on the door, and Ethan waddled to it with me still attached to him. He opened the door. “Uh, hi?”
“Ms. Blue,” Fernie said, standing outside the apartment with an uptight expression and an empty plate. “I am returning your dish, if you wouldn’t mind climbing off this man.”
“Right.” I let go and smoothed my outfit down, smiling at the empty plate. “Is it washed and polished?”
“As you demanded.”
“Excellent.” I took it and pointed over my shoulder. “I have puppy chow.”
His lip curled up on the side in disgust. “Are you offering me food of a dog?” He eyed Pico, who wagged his tail so hard his entire body shook. I reached down and petted his head.
“No. It’s a dessert, you baboon. Come try it.” I walked toward the kitchen and pointed to Megan and Ethan, introducing them by name. “This is Fernie, the doorman who I absolutely loathe.”
“The feeling is mutual,” he replied, keeping his tone curt, even though he stood in the kitchen eyeing the red bowl. “Puppy chow.”
“It’s rice Chex Mix covered in butter and chocolate and powdered sugar. It is incredibly bad for you and just the thing you need to loosen you up, Fern.” I got a small Tupperware dish and put some puppy chow in it. “Here, take this.”
He picked up one white square, put it in his mouth and his eyes widened. “Oh, I was not expecting that.”
“They are good. Terrible for you, but so good.” I studied him just as my phone pinged with an alert that another amount had been donated. “Do you like dogs?”
“Uh, not particularly.” He walked toward the door and made sure to stay out of Pico’s way. “Why?”
“We’re working on an event with one of the rescue shelters in the valley. It’ll be the second Saturday in August, if you want to stop by. Brigham and his sports friends will be there, too.”
“Hm.”
“I’ll drop off a flyer on your desk.”
“I can’t make it,” he said, leaving the apartment, but not before sneaking in one last comment. “I’m sure you poisoned this puppy food, but it is outstanding.”
“Tons of poison. Don’t eat it all in one sitting.”
He left and I had a huge smile on my face just as Brigham appeared at the door. Pico ran up to him and he bent down to greet him, melting my heart even more. “Hey, Blue Bell. Did Fernie come visit you?”
“Yes, he returned my plate and got more snacks.” I walked up to him and couldn’t stop smiling. He wore faded jeans and a white shirt and, my god, I wanted to roll around naked with him. His eyes warmed at my approach and he bent down and kissed the hell out of me before Megan cleared her throat. He stilled and kept his hands on my hips, but looked over my shoulder and grinned. “Oh, hey.”
“Don’toh heyme when you come in and maul my girl. I’m Megan.”
“The friend, hm?” He kept his arm around my shoulder as he approached the kitchen, and an irrational part of me wanted my best friends gone. Being alone and naked with Brigham became the most important goal ever. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she said, blushing redder than the puppy chow bowl. “Be good to her. I know I’m small, but I can still hurt you.”
“Megan,” I said, lowering my voice in a super non-scary way. “He’s fine.”
