Page 50 of Off the Wall

“I meant this dating app thing. You need to stop.”

“The thing is…” I plop onto the bed. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“Listen, Nori,” Becca says, with a gentler tone than East’s. “I know you’ve been wanting to meet someone, but there are better ways to go about that than this whole dating app thing. You just have to be patient.”

A squawk flies out of me. “You were twenty when you got married!” There’s a beat of silence, which I kind of expected. This fact is the perpetual elephant in the room they never want to bring up. And I don’t blame them. Their memories of that time are complicated in a way I’ll never understand. Still, I’m not above using the subject to shut down a conversation.

“Just think about your future,” East says. “This can’t be good for your career trajectory. If you ever plan on leaving the shop, hiring committees will do internet searches. You really want them landing on videos of you tripping over roller skates and missing simple clues in an escape room?”

“That’swhat you’re worried about?” I can’t help laughing. “The impact on my job potential?”

“Nori.” East’s voice is gentle. “I hate to say this, but you have to consider that companies might be reluctant to hire you after they find out what happened in New York.”

A lump bulldozes its way into my throat at the reminder. “Book Smart closing wasn’t my fault,” I say. “That chain was too far gone by the time they brought me in. I was a hail Mary, and you know that.”

“Of course I do.” East’s tone is even softer now, like he regrets mentioning the topic. “But it doesn’t exactly look good on a résumé.”

“Well luckily, I’m not worried about my résumé.” I swipe at my nose, hoping to avoid a tremble in my voice. “I have a bigger goal now.”

“And what’s that?”

“I’m going to buy Serendipi-Tea,” I blurt.

There’s a stretch of stunned silence. Then Becca’s the first to speak. “Violet’s selling the shop?”

“She is. So I went to Springs Central bank, and I secured a loan.”

“You’re going to take over the entire operation?” East pushes out a surprised breath.

“Why not? People start businesses from scratch all the time, and Serendipi-Tea’s already established. It’s also a huge part of my life. So I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the place not only continues, but thrives.” I take a beat. “Violet was going to let someone turn it into a combination coffee shop and real estate office.”

“Seriously?” Becca scoffs. “A real estate office?”

“What Serendipi-Tea becomes isn’t your problem,” East interjects.

“Maybe it’s not my problem, but it’s a challenge I want to accept.” I square my shoulders. “And for the record, I’m going to make it happen. With or without your approval.”

“Nori,” Becca begins. “We?—”

“Please,” I interrupt, in a literal plea. “I love you both so much, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. But I want to do this. No—Icando this.” I pause for a breath, talking to myself as much as to them. What follows is a series of muffled voices on their end of the call, so I move over to the mirror with a hairbrush, half expecting to see Cash’s face smiling back at me.

He’s not there.

Disappointment flickers in my chest just as East returns to the call. “Okay,” he says. “How can Becca and I help?”

Annnnd there’s the brother I know and love.

“Thank you for asking.” I cough out a small laugh. “Maybe try supporting me instead of throwing a bunch of doubts at my head like darts.”

“I meant money,” East says.

“I knew what you meant.” I twist my hair up and secure it with a giant claw clip. “But I think I’ve got this.”

“See, East?” Becca quips. “I told you she’d say no.”

“Well, you were right this time,” I admit. “But you weresowrong about Phoenix.” I chuckle, and the weight on my shoulders continues to lift. East and Becca may not approveof everything I’m doing, but the more truth I speak, the better I feel.

I should’ve tried this years ago.

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