Page 73 of Every Chance After

“Someone to revitalize the place and our sales,” Christie chimes in. “We need a customer service makeover, Marnie, and you’re just the person to do it.”

“I’ll match whatever you were making at Sunny’s,” Wade says, “and add ten percent.” His gray eyes find mine, and he smirks under his unkempt horseshoe mustache. “Make that twenty percent. I hear so many good things about you.”

He chuckles, making me irritated.

“That’s wonderfully generous. But would you turn over control?” she asks, head tilted as she assesses the space. “Or would I just be a glorified cashier with good ideas that don’t happen?”

Wade’s hands fist as he glares at me. “You’ll have control within reason. The place needs a good cleaning. You can start there.”

“She’s on light duty,” I cut in sternly. “You three will have to step up and help.”

“I’m getting better every day, but he’s right. No heavy lifting or long hours for a few weeks yet. Is that alright?”

“I’m sure we can figure something out,” Wade allows, “so long as Grady chips in, too. Call it a family project.”

Christie claps. “It’ll be fun—a Marnie-style makeover. Does that mean you’ll say yes?”

She opens her mouth but hesitates. “It means… can I think about it? And look around some more?”

“Our G&G is your G&G,” Christie says, bowing. “Make yourself at home.”

“What’s behind that black curtain?” She points to a thickly draped doorway with a scribbled sign that reads “Members Only.”

Their eyes dart toward each other, unsure. “That’s our adult film section.”

“Goddamnit, Wade,” I blurt.

“We’re only meeting the demand of our customer demographic,” Wade says snidely, holding his hands up.

Marina breaks into a full-blown laugh. “Your customer demographic is people who don’t know how to use the internet? That’s a very niche market.”

“It meets a need,” he argues. “Who am I to judge?”

“I don’t watch them, Marnie.” Christie looks sheepish.

“I do,” Roy chimes in. “Wade has some of the best titles you can find. They don’t make ‘em like they used to. We do an employee’s pick every month if you want to get in on that, Marnie. Be nice to have a lady’s choice. You have a VCR?”

“Stop talking,” I order him, finger pointed.

Meanwhile, Marina erupts with laughter again. “Ineeda VCR?”

“Let’s not debase G&G’svintagecollection,” Wade says. “It’s a customer favorite.”

“And how many customers have you had today?” she asks.

The men exchange puzzled glances. Christie uses one hand to count while Roy helpfully reports, “Four. Five if y’all buy something.”

“No offense, Wade, but are you sure you can afford me?” she questions.

“Look, sweetheart, I wouldn’t make the offer if I couldn’t,” he snaps. “It’s about time I give the ol’ G&G some TLC… to honor the lost.”

His beer can rises, and the other two meet it with theirs, a gentle clink and swish of beer.

“To the lost,” they repeat before guzzling.

Marina appears moved by their drunken display. Her lips press together in an approving smile.

Then, she turns to me, her fingers lightly grazing my forearm. “I’m going to look around, okay?”

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