I pause, smiling at the memory.
“There was this woman—Carrie from Boston—who messaged me and asked if I’d help organize her condo. She had this tiny walk-in closet and a serious shoe problem.”
Tay snorts. “I like her already.”
“I didn’t even think it was real at first. But she paid me. We posted about it, of course, and it all snowballed from there. I kept posting, kept helping people locally, and eventually, it wasn’t just a side hustle anymore.”
Tay tilts her head. “So how’d you scale it?”
I hesitate. “Beckett got these bonuses…”
Regulatory scrutiny.
The words won’t leave me alone.
Tay exhales, a quiet breath like she’s bracing herself.
“Hey… after what you said last night, there’s one more thing I feel like I should say.”
Something in my stomach twists. It’s not what she’s saying—it’s how she’s saying it. Careful. Measured. Tay’s not usually one to dance around her words.
Is she about to tell me I’m being selfish? Gullible? That I’m in denial?
“If you’re being abused—emotionally or physically—just toss everything I said about patience and waiting right out the window.”
My whole body jolts.
“No.” The word rips out of me. “God, no. Never.”
I’m already shaking my head, heart pounding. “Beckett would never—it’s not—he’s not like that.”
She watches me for a long beat, face unreadable. Then she nods slowly.
“Good,” she says gently. “Because I’m hopeful for you two. There’s something special there. Everyone sees it.”
“I’m hopeful too.”
But that’s enough soul-baring for one morning. I reach for another balloon and turn back to glance at the clock.
“But you and I need to get serious if we’re gonna throw the all-time best bachelorette party for my little sister.”
“The best?” Tay snorts. “It will definitely be the most memorable.”
“Right?” I laugh. “I love that my sister doesn’t discriminate. Our guests’ ages range from twenty-six to sixty-nine.”
Tay grins. “And one of those sixty-nines is packing a flask in her clutch. I guarantee it.”
And now for my favorite part. “Let’s get these guest gifts and prizes put together.” I gesture to the table. “I’ve got glow stick rings, drink charms, and some heart-shaped sunglasses. Nothing too scandalous.”
Tay just grins, eyes gleaming. “Well…” She crosses the room and unzips a small rolling suitcase I don’t remember seeing before.
“These will keep things from getting dull.”
She peels back the lid, and before I can even guess, she’s pulling out a plastic-wrapped—oh!
Oh wow.
“Are those what I think they are?”
