Taryn put her chopsticks down and raised her soda. “That’s great news. Congratulations.”
Andi smiled and clinked her bottle to Taryn’s glass. “Thanks, Tar… Remember that you said we should get on with planning our future?”
“I remember, yeah.” Taryn was beginning to get an idea of where this might be going. Whatever Andi had already decided or was thinking about, it directly affected Taryn. Of course she’d encouraged her best friend to follow her dreams, but she hadn’t considered how it might impact her much. She’d basically fooled herself into thinking nothing would change.
“The pre-sales for the show have exceeded all her financial analyst’s expectations. We’re going to be the biggest show on the Strip since Celine Dion.”
Taryn frowned. “Why would they compare our show to a musician’s?”
Andi shrugged. “The content of the show doesn’t matter. The gross profit does. Being compared to Celine Dion offends you?”
“Nah. I just thought it was strange, that’s all.”
Andi rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Bernice loves Vegas. It’s always been the place she wanted to settle down.” Andi wagged her finger. “And before you ask, no, she doesn’t know why.”
Taryn blew out her cheeks. “Curiosity is a good thing, you know. You shouldn’t stifle it.”
“It’s like talking to a kid.” Andi pinched the bridge of her nose.
Taryn chuckled. “I’m just messing with you. Spit it out; the suspense is killing me.”
“Bernice wants to stay in Vegas, and I want to stay with her. She also wants to have a regular residency for the stunt show.” Andi paused to take a big breath. “I need you to build a bigger team and lead them around the world with our traveling shows. I want you to be my business partner.”
Taryn felt her mouth drop open, but she couldn’t find the words.
“That’s a first. Taryn Taylor speechless.” Andi piled some spring rolls onto her plate. “I don’t need an answer right away. I want you to really think about.”
Maybe this was the answer she’d been looking for, and it would solve her current sense of ennui. She’d be responsible for…everything. Staying in the business but with a whole new direction and sense of purpose might be exactly what she needed. There was one big snag though. “I don’t have the kind of capital you’re talking about to become a partner.”
Andi grinned and shook her head. “You don’t need any capital. You’ve helped me build this team into something really special. Who knows if we would’ve even survived if you hadn’t come along. You’ve put your blood and sweat into this family for nearly ten years—you’ve already invested more than enough capital. It’s just a different kind.”
“Wow… I don’t know what to say.”
“Good.” Andi dipped a roll in the sweet chili sauce and shoveled it into her mouth. “I don’t want you to say anything. I want you to process it and really think it over.” She shrugged and waved her chopsticks toward Taryn’s face. “But I think this is the perfect solution for everyone; you get to keep being a globe-trotting nomad, I settle down with Bernice, and the team can rotate in and out of the two shows if they want to. I think the money we make from the residency can supplement the traveling show income, so everyone gets equal pay no matter which show they work.”
Taryn inhaled deeply, like Cassie’s yogi had instructed. She didn’t experience any sudden clarity, but she couldn’t deny her rising excitement at Andi’s proposal. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
Andi nodded. “Me and a lot of other people. But let’s talk about something else now. How’s it going with your good doctor?”
Taryn didn’t know if she wanted a subject change. What Andi had set in front of her was mind-blowing, and it deserved her full attention, which had been focused almost exclusively on Cassie since they’d arrived in Vegas. And honestly, she wanted to see if she could think about something else for a while. If she said yes to Andi’s plan—and why wouldn’t she?—she’d be back on the road in five months. Wheels turning again, and her unquenchable thirst for new experiences and new people taken care of. Back to the life she loved. She’d be sad to say goodbye to Cassie, of course. They’d been intense for the past couple of weeks, and she’d loved every minute of it. But Cassie was a rooted willow, and Taryn was tumbleweed. There was no future for them, so enjoying the time theydidhave was what she was left with. And that was okay. That was life, wasn’t it?
Chapter Nineteen
Taryn held Cassie’s hand and helped her into the Uber. “If this wasn’t kind ofmyparty, I would blow it off in a heartbeat and drag you back inside.”
“So that’s a ‘yes’ to liking my dress?” Cassie swung her legs into the car and fluttered her eyes at Taryn, who gave her a killer grin in return. God, she’d missed that smile over the past six days. Going back to sensible adulting and dedicated doctoring had been harder than she’d expected. Trying to convince herself that this was a healthy, weening-off process toward Taryn’s inevitable departure hadn’t worked at all.
Taryn closed the door then leaned close to the glass and mouthed, “Hell, yes.” She came around the other side, slid in beside Cassie, and took her hand. “I have never seen you look more beautiful.” She pressed her mouth to Cassie’s ear and whispered, “Except when you’re coming for me. Then you’re at yourmostbeautiful.” She pulled back and wiggled her eyebrows.
“I’ve missed your flattery,” Cassie said after Taryn had confirmed their destination with the driver.
Taryn leaned back in her seat. “It’s not flattery when it’s the god’s honest truth.”
Cassie had never received as much flattery or flowery truths as Taryn showered her with, and she’d grown happily accustomed to it. She’d become just plain happy. Her work still fulfilled her, but it didn’t define her as it had prior to Taryn’s arrival. She constantly cautioned herself against replacing one obsession with another, and her therapist had advised her of the same thing. But Cassie knew she wasn’t doing that. Her meditation had become more focused, and she’d discovered a mindfulness she’d thought unachievable. Taryn had been good for her, and she wasn’t going to be around for much longer, but Cassie knew she’d changed for the better, and those changes wouldn’t fade when Taryn faded away too.
“How’s work been?” Taryn scooted closer and placed her hand on Cassie’s thigh.
They slipped into easy and comfortable conversation about their respective jobs for the rest of the journey to the hotel, something they were doing more of as they got to know other parts of each other.
