“I’m not that bad.”
“Uh, yeah, you really are. There are litter boxes that smell better than you.”
I lifted my arm and gave a big sniff, cringing at how badly I smelled. “Okay, maybe a shower is needed.”
“And lots of conditioner.” She grabbed a piece of my hair and twisted it in the air, grimacing at the frizz. “I’m not sure what you did recently, but this is…something else.”
“I didn’t use my silk pillowcase.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve been sleeping on the couch.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m pretty sure my ass has an imprint of the material.”
Tugging me to my feet, she ushered me into the bathroom, turning on the water for me. “Hot shower. Lots of shaving. Don’t come out until you look like a normal person.”
“Fine, but you can’t make me do my hair!” I shouted as she slammed the door.
I tugged off my shirt, then leaned forward when I caught sight of my red eye in the mirror. “That’s gonna bruise.” Then I saw the state of my chin. “Note to self: the next time I go on a three-day binge, use napkins.”
I didn’t feelat all like myself. Even dressed in my clothes and with my hair somewhat styled, nothing was right. Of course, that could have been because of the massive bloating from eating so much junk food.
“I really don’t want to see the shop,” I muttered as Josie drove me into town.
“Too bad. We have to face this, and the sooner, the better.”
Now that I was dressed, I wished I was back in my pajamas, watching depressing movies on the couch. “Maybe we could just drive past it today, and leave the rest for another day.”
“Not a chance in hell,” she said, turning down the street to my boutique.
I held my breath the closer we got, and just like the last time I drove through here, a crowd was gathered in the streets.
“Oh, God. They’re still here? Why is everyone still staring at the shop? Don’t they have better things to do?”
“They’re not staring at the shop. I mean, technically, they are, but not for the reasons you think.”
“So, you’re saying they’re not here to laugh at my misery?” I said sarcastically.
She pulled to the curb and shifted into park. “Look, I know you don’t want to do this, but this is something you need to do, and the sooner you get your ass out of this car, the better you’ll feel.”
“Highly unlikely,” I grumbled.
“Ryder is waiting for you, and?—”
“Wait, Ryder is waiting? Why would he be?—”
“Because, you dimwit! The only reason Ryder hasn’t been to your house to check on you is that he’s been too busy trying to save your business!”
My jaw dropped in shock at her words. “He’s been?—”
A knock at my window startled me, and I jumped, nearly banging my head on the roof of the car. Turning with a scowl, it instantly faded when I saw that handsome smile on the other side of the window.
Hitting the button, I lowered the window just enough for me to hear him.
“Really, Ellie? Not even gonna open it all the way?”
