"Change is good," I told myself as I stood at the register while Jemma went to pull inventory out of the back storage room. "Change makes you stronger. Adversity is an opportunity to grow."
But sometimes, I decided as the door to the general store opened and McKenna and Archer's mom waltzed in, you could have too much of a good thing.
"Hmm," McKenna said, looking at me thoughtfully and tapping her designer shoe. "So you couldn't hack it as a business owner. Why am I not surprised?"
"If you aren't buying anything, then stop scaring away the customers," I retorted.
McKenna scowled. "You need to be nicer to me. I'm the future Mrs. Svensson."
"Shut up. No you aren't." My stomach clenched.
"Oh, but she is," Archer's mother announced. "Archer and McKenna are back together."
"It's because he wants the strip mall site. I expect a proposal soon."
"That's not true," I said meekly. Archer wouldn't, would he?
"You two were sleeping together for a few weeks," McKenna hissed. "But Archer and I have a history."
"Unfortunately, my son was using you," Archer's mother said, her face a mask of sympathy.
"No, he wasn't."
"Of coursehe was," McKenna sneered. "I meanlookat you. You have nothing, no business, no career. You're not even that pretty. You think someone like Archer would want someone like you?"
I chewed on my lip, repeating to myself that McKenna was only trying to psych me out.
"That's what happens when you play at our level," she continued. "It's all transactional. Archer needed Harrogate to win the Art Zurich Expo, so he used you. Now he wants the hotel site, so I'm more valuable to him."
"It's true," Archer's mother insisted. "He's just like his father. Those types of men take whatever they want. He didn't become a billionaire by being nice."
McKenna smirked then turned to leave. Over her shoulder, she launched one more parting shot. "Just watch. He's going to dump you over some stupid, silly thing, tell you it's all your fault so he doesn't have to feel bad."
I slumped at the counter.
"I have to go," I said when Jemma returned.
"Oh, uh, okay, what happened?"
But I was already out the door.
A storm was forming as I pedaled home. I just wanted to sit up in my room with some candles, a good book, snacks, and hot chocolate.
Surely McKenna was lying.I mean, come on!Archer already said he didn't like her. But he had been cagey in the car. Maybe his mom was right.Maybe Meg was right.How well did I really know Archer Svensson?
To clear my head, I set about making creamy macaroni and cheese with spicy chorizo sausage, sharp cheddar, and cavatappi noodles.
The doorbell rang just as I slid the casserole dish into the oven.
"Archer!" I exclaimed when I saw him standing there on the porch. He gave me a tight smile. His shirt was slightly damp from the rain. "Do you want to come in?"
He ignored the invitation. "I need to ask you something." He shoved a wad of papers at me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I unfolded the papers. My heart sank when I realized they were overdue bills and late notices. "What are you doing with these?" I screamed at him. "Were you snooping in my mail? This is my private business."
He glared at me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's not any of your business," I said flatly, crossing my arms.
