“Yeah? Like a purse?”
“Yeah, but manly.”
“Jeff, it’s a purse. It’s not manly unless you’re Scottish.”
“That’s why we need to start the trend over here!” he argued. “If it becomes cool over here, then we can use them.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you want us to sell kilts in Ellie’s store, all so you have an excuse to carry around a purse.”
His face fell. “No, that’s not— you know, you’re missing the whole point.”
“Thank God.”
“Maybe I’ll just open my own store.”
“You do that.”
“And it’ll be awesome. Filled with clothes from all over the world that are really cool, but we don’t wear here in the U.S.”
“And I’m sure you’ll get at least one customer.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ll get more than one customer, and one day, you’ll stroll into my store, and I’ll be laughing because you’ll be looking for my awesome kilts.”
“Maybe, but in the meantime, do you think we could concentrate on openingthisstore?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “But when I’m ready to open my own store, I expect you to be there for the opening.”
“Jeff, if you open a store, I’ll be the first one to buy a kilt.”
He grinned widely at me. “Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”
I checked my watch. Six hours until folks started waking up. Another two before Ellie usually opened the store. That didn’t give me much time, but I’d be damned if the store wasn’t ready for her.
If it took any longer, I might not be able to convince her to reopen, and then this would all be for nothing.
“It’ll come together,” Josie reassured me.
“Yeah, but will it be too late by then?”
She didn’t look convinced either, but we both got back to work.
I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but there was some part of me that knew I was doing this for more than just Ellie. Everything I’d worked for had been ruined, and I didn’t ever want her to feel the way I had when I returned home.
Like a failure.
25
ELLIE
I ignoredthe incessant ringing of my doorbell, already knowing who it was without having to get out of the comfort of my couch. Wrapped in a heavy blanket and wearing fleece pajamas, I was a little warm for summer, but the weight was comforting.
Especially as I dug my spoon into my chip and mint ice cream.
Yes, it was a little early in the day for ice cream, but I ran out of Oreos and milk yesterday. And all my chips the day before.
My steady diet of comfort food was no doubt adding ten pounds of flubber to my waist, but it wasn’t like I had anyone to impress. I wasn’t going anywhere. I no longer had a business. My fuck buddy hadn’t stopped by in days.
“Because you told him not to follow you,” I muttered to myself, stabbing my spoon into the container again, scooping out a gigantic scoop that was way too big for my mouth.
