Remind me again why you two aren’t trying to make a go of this?
ME
Because I’m not about to trap him into something he doesn’t believe in. I’m fine just being co-parents and friends. And after my little scare, I’m happy to be at his house.
ME
I don’t want to complicate things any more than they are. We’ll figure the rest out later.
As I read my message back, it’s obvious I’m trying to convince myself at this point.
GINGER
Sex is the least complicated thing there is, darling.
ME
You’re impossible.
CECE
She’s got a point.
ME
You can’t both be devils on my shoulder. I need at least one angel to tell me to keep my head straight.
GINGER
Need I remind you? We’re NOT Angels. You’ll have to look elsewhere.
Lucy hands a customer her bag with two bikinis and a cover-up as I set my phone under the counter, ignoring my devilish best friends. The shop has been swamped all morning. It’s an absolutely perfect day weatherwise, a sunny seventy-five, and we’ve sold enough designer swimsuits today alone to operate the store for the next week, but my feet are sore, my breasts are aching, and I’m absolutely exhausted. On the upside, it’s been two weeks since Asher took me to the hospital and I haven’t had any spotting since. I’ve been living in my newest line of strapless floral A-line dresses, since they’re nice and loose around my waist, and every day that goes by, I’m breathing a little easier, learning to accept what the ER doc said about it just being a one-off from my exam.
My needy hormones have calmed down a little too, which I think can be attributed to the fact I’ve barely seen Asher since he’s been working doubles.
“So will you take a few months off? Or what will you do?” Lucy asks, cutting through my thoughts. I told her my news the other day.
“I haven’t really gotten that far yet.” I shrug, realizing I’m not ready to think about leaving my first baby, my shop, for any length of time just yet. “I’m not sure yet.”
“I’ve got you here, Liv. The shop basically runs itself now, and you could just do all your buying from home. I’m so excited for you.” She smiles wide. “You’re going to have a little fashionista!”
I smile in return. “I’m thinking the baby is a boy.”
“Excuse me, but there are many men who are incredibly fashion-conscious, like …holy hell …him.” Lucy’s eyes drift to the door as she holds up the universal sign for chef ’s kiss. I turn, expecting to greet a customer, but instead I get Asher looking like a fucking snack. He’s in dark jeans, a black T-shirt, and his trademark sunglasses. But what confuses me is the big, deep brown, tattered cowboy boots on his feet and the cowboy hat perched on his head.
Another image for my dream bank.
“Livi,” he greets, kissing my cheek right in front of Lucy. I hear her suck in a breath when she realizes who he is. “You must be Lucy. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“Y-you too,” she answers quickly. Asher extends a hand over my head and I turn in confusion to see Lucy handing himmy purse and phone over the cash counter.
She’s smiling like a schoolgirl now, and I turn to look at him through her eyes. He’s so gorgeous it almost physically hurts, especially in that damn hat.
“What is this?” I ask, looking between the two of them. Asher reaches up and strokes my cheek with his thumb.
“I took the day off, and I thought you could use one too. One you can’t say no to because I prearranged it with your shop manager. Told her you had a date.”
“Congratulations,” Lucy says to Asher, and he nods in response.
