Page 56 of Dream a Little Dream

“Damn it.” She said it in a good way.

“I know. I don’t even know which detail to share.”

She slammed her hand down on the desk. “All. You should always share all. Was there tension first? The pent-up kind that twists around you like a lusty vine you could cut with a knife? I love winding tension.”

“There most certainly was that kind.” I looked her dead in the eye and told her all about the cooking class foreplay. The street kissing. The arrival at the bungalow I hadn’t even known was a bungalow untiltoday. “It was amazing. The couch make-out session, the thunder, the flashes of lighting that lit up the room intermittently. Lizzie.” I squeezed her wrist.

She nodded, her eyes wide as if she was hanging on every detail I offered.

“I couldn’t imagine a night like that actually living in my memory bank, but it does now.” I sat back in my chair and sighed with the smallest bit of regret.

“I hear abutcoming on,” Elizabeth said.

“There is one,” I said. “In the midst of the downright sexy, there was also the sense that we were holding ourselves back from anything too serious. Is that bad?” I was pretty confident fear had been responsible. At least on my end. The mood had been light, fun, and memorable, and I certainly couldn’t complain about that. But should I be reaching for more?

“I think I understand. The sex was good, but it wasn’t necessarily charged with emotion,” Elizabeth stated matter-of-factly.

“Yes.” I was impressed. “You put that really well.”

She raised a shoulder. “I was on the speech team. Ask Devyn which one of us most often wins our arguments.” She made a gesture as if wiping the board clean. “But back to your life. I don’t know Kyle’s history, but it makes a lot of sense when I think about yours. You’re in self-protection mode, and I think that’s okay for now. Go at your own pace. Get your sexy on and don’t feel bad about it.”

“Yeah?” I rolled my shoulders. “Okay, I can get behind that. There’s no reason to have everything all figured out.”

“Yes. That’s what dating is for.”

“Valid point. We’redating. Easy breezy.” I felt the muscles in my body already start to unbunch.

“I’m not claiming to be a highly regarded romantic expert, but here’s my advice: Enjoy this for what it is and don’t get ahead of yourself. Time will answer all questions, and you and Kyle will navigate your own course.” She leaned forward, determined. “Love is tricky, unique, and there’s no such thing as one size fits all.”

I regarded Elizabeth very seriously, grateful for this friendship in my life, that it only seemed to grow stronger each day. “You are a lifesaver, and I’m thrilled I ran into you. However, I fear your ice cream might be melting, and we should get you a replacement.”

She brightened. “I’m just so excited not to be in grocery store trouble. This was the best trip to Festive Foods ever.”

Before I could answer, the door to my office was flung open.

No knock. No warning. Nothing.

There stood Faber in a navy and orange Adidas track suit. His style was nothing if not predictable. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m selling this place.”

I froze in shock and played the words back, unsure I’d heard him correctly. He’d said many surprising things to me over the years, but this one toppled the rest. “You are? You’re selling?” My voice was an octave higher than normal.

“Yes. I’m pivoting. Plan to focus on water sports and make a killing. Harlowe thinks that’s where everything is heading.”

I blinked. Harlowe again. This woman wiggled her pinkie finger and Faber leapt.

“Surfboards. Jet Skis. Banana rafts. Groceries are out these days.” He said it like the store left a bad taste in his mouth, as though people would no longer need to purchase food because Harlowe said so. I was instantly concerned about what this would mean for the store, for my employees who depended on this place for their livelihoods. What about them?

It was all starting to make sense. “That’s why you took the financials.”

“Yep. Buyers needed to see the books.” He surveyed my small office. “I’ll be moving most of this stuff out, too. I don’t plan to hand over anything not included in the nuts and bolts of the deal.”

“What about us? The employees?” I asked, afraid of what he might say.

“Not my problem. Once the ink is dry, the new guys can decide who they keep. I need that,” he said, pointing at the very chair Elizabeth sat in. “Now.”

“Oh. Okay,” she said, eyebrows raising. She looked just as amazed as I felt.

Faber didn’t hesitate. As soon as she stood, he grabbed the chair and dragged it straight out of the office. “I’ll be back later for more.”

---