Page 90 of The Secret Heir Next Door

Lila jumps in. “Exactly! And look, if he’s really in this with you, then he’ll respect whatever decision you make. Just like wedo.” She picks up a stray fudge square and waves it dramatically. “But if he tries to make it all about him, we’ll have to go full Mean Girls on him.”

I laugh despite myself, feeling some tension release from my shoulders. “I think I’d pay to see that. You two are relentless.”

“You know it,” Emily says, giving me a wink. “But seriously, you’ve got this. And if you need to cry, scream, or, I don’t know, smash some taffy with a hammer, we’re here for that, too.”

Lila points to the fudge. “We’ve got all the weapons you need right here.”

I chuckle. It’s easy to feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders when I shut everyone out, but Lila and Emily have a way of bulldozing through my walls and forcing me to face things head-on.

As we continue working, our conversation drifts to lighter topics—Emily’s new obsession with a reality TV show, Lila’s latest dating fiasco, and the bizarre customer requests I’ve had to deal with recently. It’s a welcome distraction, a way to keep my mind off the gnawing anxiety that’s been my constant companion.

Lila throws a piece of taffy into a box with exaggerated flair. “And then, the guy says, ‘I didn’t realize this was a date!’ Like, dude, we’ve been at a fancy restaurant for two hours. What did you think this was, a business meeting?”

Emily snorts. “Men are clueless. Meanwhile, my neighbor is convinced I’m running an underground dog grooming ring out of my apartment just because I babysit my friend’s poodle once a week.”

I laugh, the sound bubbling up naturally. “You guys are ridiculous. Seriously, where would I be without you?”

“Probably curled up in a ball under a pile of taffy,” Emily teases, but then her expression softens. “Or, you know, hiding out in your shop and missing out on life.”

And just like that, my smile fades a little because she’s not wrong. I’ve been so consumed with saving this place and fighting every battle alone that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to live. To laugh, to lean on people, to be vulnerable without feeling like it’s a weakness.

As we finish packing the last of the orders, Lila leans against the counter and looks at me seriously. “Okay, real talk, what’s your next move? Besides making this shop pop off.”

I take a deep breath, the weight of her question settling on me. “I think… I think I need to talk to Logan. Really talk, not just about the shop or his family.”

“That’s a start.”

I blow out another breath. “I also have to face the reality that I may not be able to hold onto this building.”

“Sometimes, change sucks and seems like the worst thing that can happen, but in reality, it’s forcing us out of our comfort zone and causing us to grow.”

“Uggghhh, I know. I just…I love this place so much.”

“Look around, sis. This may look like chaos, but you’ve tripled your output with online orders, which means that this fish tank is too small for you.”

“You might be right.”

My phone vibrates, and I look over to see a text from Logan. I close my eyes. I’m not ready to talk to him yet. I want to, I can’t.

Focus on this right now and figure things out with him later. If he really cares about you, he’ll make it right.

22

LOGAN

The hum of activity fills the air as I stand at the heart of the event, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people setting up booths and tables. Brightly colored banners flutter in the gentle breeze, each one representing a small business that’s become part of the community’s fabric.

My tech company’s logos are subtly plastered on signs and screens, blending in with the festivities rather than dominating them. It's a far cry from the sleek corporate presentations I’m used to. This is more personal, more raw, a reflection of what matters.

I glance over at the booth in the center, the one I've put my heart into: Serena's confections. It’s not just another table; it’s a showcase, a small tribute to her creativity and the warmth she brings to everything she touches.

The delicate sweets and pastries, each meticulously crafted, will be displayed like pieces of art. They’re surrounded by technology—QR codes that pull up stories about Serena and the other small business owners here, all curated to tell the real story of what they bring to this community.

"Logan, the speakers are set up, and the sound check is good," Grace says, giving me a thumbs up. She’s been a rock through this whole process, helping me pull together every detail, no matter how small.

She helped me brainstorm a giant gesture to help push my family out of buying the building but also to show Serena that I’m serious about my feelings for her. Yes, we’re showcasing my tech business, but we’re combining that with the small business owners in the area, too.

If the world gives you a platform to do good, then use it to do good.

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