"You think we could steal Addie to be our marketing girl?" Ellie says.
We laugh. “At this point, I’m sure Rowan would give you his entire staff. That’s how much he loves you.”
"I want to say I'm surprised you got everything done so quickly, but that'd be a lie." Ellie looks around and sits at a table.
"That's why you put me in charge of this,” I say. “It also helps that we got that loan."
"How are things going with your parents?" she asks.
"Last I heard, Dad was going to give her anything and everything she wanted. I think he's completely over this battle with her and just wants to walk away. At least, that's what Hailey told me."
"Oof, how's your mom taking that?"
"Honestly, he could give her everything from the divorce, and she still won't be happy. The woman is never happy."
I glance at all the frames that hang along the walls. Beatrice, the owner of Art Fusion, helped pick out pieces for our space. We requested to focus on small artists who are trying to make a name for themselves.
"How about you? How's your dad?"
Her hands run through her long brown hair. She pulls it into a low ponytail, twisting it around in her hand and over her shoulder. Ellie picks up a strand and messes with the ends of them.
"Dad is dad. You know how he is. Always has a smile on his face despite what he's going through.” She puts her hair down and looks at me with sad eyes. "He's not even looking like my dad anymore. His hair has thinned somuch. His movements are slow. He and Mom aren't even sleeping upstairs. They're sleeping in the guest bedroom on the first floor because Dad gets too tired walking up the stairs."
"I'm so sorry, El." I push down my emotions: the lump in my throat, the glossy eyes. "Is there anything I can do?"
"No, it's fine. Rowan is doing everything he can, and I know he feels helpless. August though..." She pauses and presses her lips together. "He seems off, and I’m worried that the shop is getting to him. He told you about the launch, right? Have you talked to him lately?”
“I haven’t seen him in a while.”
What I really want to say is,I’ve been avoiding your brother because we slept together, and I screwed up.
Ellie chews on her bottom lip. "I guess I'm going to have to let him go through whatever it is he's dealing with. I can only do so much." She gets up and stretches her arms out to her sides and yawns. "What a day. I can't believe we've been here for ten hours. I'm gonna head out and go to the brewery to see Rowan. Have a rewarding drink. Wanna come?"
I look up at her. "No, that's okay. I'll close when I leave. I'm just going to go over a couple of things and go home."
"Alright, thanks. I'll see you later. Let me know if you need anything." Ellie gives me a hug and leaves.
After leaving the bakery, I decided to face the music and see August. My mind replays what Ellie said.
He seems off.
The path I was taking was clear, but now it's disappeared, and I don't know which way to go. It makes me think of that dog fromAlice in Wonderlandwho's brushing away the path, causing Alice to get lost.
The lights to his place are on, so I know he's home. Iknock on the door and shove my hands in my sweater pockets. I knock again. No answer.
"August, I know you're in there," I say with another knock.
Again, he ignores me.
"Dammit, August," I mutter. I walk to the right side of the long porch, leaning the upper half of my body over the white, wooden railing, and look in the window. A row of large bushes sits in a row below it.
And there he is, sitting on the couch, reading a book.
I stand back and exhale. Fine, if this is what I need to do to get his attention, then fine. I put one foot on the wooden rail and pick myself up, fully standing on it. My left hand holds onto the siding of the house, allowing myself to lean over farther, almost my entire body in view.
I knock on the window and finally,finally,he looks at me and mouths,what the fuck are you doing?
"What does it look like?" I shout.
