“Must just be me then. My stomach has been off this week. I ate something that didn’t agree with me a few days ago.”
“That happened to me last winter. Took me a whole week to get back to normal. I’m sure it will pass,” he says offhandedly. “Don’t be drinking too much at the Ashbys’ tomorrow night though.”
“You know me.” I grin as I pop the last strawberry into my mouth. At least that still tastes good.
“I know the Not Angels.” He smirks as he shoves his last bite of pancake into his mouth.
“Except two out of three of us are married.” I smile softly. “Plus, one has a stepdaughter and the other isverypregnant. It will be a mild night at best.”
“Well, if you get through work and feel like popping in, I’ll be at your place for a few hours with some Johnny playing and some pizza, cleaning up.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I smile back at him. “You know you can’t hide from her to-do list forever, right?”
My dad chuckles as he leans back in his chair. “Maybe for another few days, at least.”
He winks, but the truth is I love having my dad’s help and I’m grateful every day that the universe gave me him.
GINGER
How gorgeous are we?
A photo comes in of all of us at the wedding outside the chapel.
CECE
Gah!! You got the photos back?
GINGER
Yes! We can look at them tomorrow at the barbeque!
I zoom in on the scene of all of us standing in a row; the white chapel creates a stunning backdrop and the sun is shining. Asher stands beside me, wearing the closest thing his face can offer to a smile, his inked hand just visible around my waist. It’s been well over a month since the wedding, and I still find myself constantly thinking about him—the way he looked at me, the way it felt when he stuffed that handkerchief into my mouth and took my breath away, how hard I came all over him …
“Thank you so much! Enjoy the sun,” Lucy says to the woman we both just spent thirty minutes helping pick out a new bathing suit. It’s the thing I love most about my shop, thejoy of making women feel beautiful in my clothes. I wave to her too. “Bye, Lori! Happy Fourth!”
“Holy, what a morning,” Lucy says from beside me, pulling out her trademark snack, chocolate-covered almonds, and popping a handful into her mouth. We’ve been swamped the last few weeks, though I’m used to spending twelve hours a day here during the summer season. I’m sure that’s part of the reason I haven’t had time to search for a decent relationship too. I’m always working. Even when I’m at home, I’m contemplating social media posts, new inventory, staffing schedules, and how to keep everyone as organized as possible.
Aside from the fact it’s good for business, being busy has also helped draw attention away from the slow-moving renovation of my home. With the Heritage Committee involved, Shane says the restoration could take us into fall. Which means spending so much time in the shop has been a blessing. Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, meaning Laurel Creek and the surrounding areas will be packed full of tourists. And it looks like the weather is going to be perfect—great for local business, terrible for townsfolk trying to get a seat on a patio or just navigate through town.
CECE
Liv, can you bring a cheesecake from Spicer’s tomorrow?
CECE
I was gonna make one but with this heat my feet are the size of balloons.
I’m just about to type back that I’ll bake cupcakes but another unexpected wave of nausea creeps up my throat so fast I gag, covering my mouth with my hand.
“Are you okay?” Lucy asks.
I swallow, trying to stabilize myself.
“Yeah. I’ve just been feeling off lately. I’m a couple weeks late for my shot.” She knows I have a gynecologist appointment this afternoon. “I think maybe my hormones are just outta whack because of it. I’m gonna ask Dr. Allen today,” I tell her, taking a shaky breath.
I retuck my white tank blouse into my sage linen shorts with paper bag waist. They’re stylish but also comfortable against my tender stomach as I reach under the cabinet of the cash desk and grab two Sour Patch Kids from their package. I pop them in my mouth, quickly sucking the sour sugar off them as if my life depends on it. The birth control shot I’ve been on for two years has always made me slightly queasy and it typically makes my periods a little wonky.
“Almond?” Lucy offers her bag to me and that nausea almost brims up again. I suck harder on the sweets until it subsides.
