Page 75 of The Jilted Lovers Club
“So, there’s a grand opening tomorrow night at The Till.” Bec catches herself, shaking her head. “Sorry, I meant Timeless. I’ll eventually get it right.”
“Yeah, Alexander planned this whole fancy party for the investors. He’s even having food delivered from out of the area, even though I told him there were local options.”
Bec and Bob exchange a look—their ability to be subtle is one of their finer qualities.
“So he’s not wasting any time fucking over this town, is he?” Subtlety is not one of mine.
“Ashton, please.”
Jordy shoots me a look, and I go back to eating my breakfast.
“You’re being an a—” She stops, glancing at Lottie, then at Bec. “Do you have something you want to say, Ashton?”
I have a lot to say. Jordy and I may have made up, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still upset about her leaving. Just the mention of that asshole Winslow has me on edge. All I can think of is that phone call this morning—how she hid the fact that she was with me. It doesn’t sit well, no matter what the reason is. But I can’t bring myself to say anything to her about it.
“Well, we’d love to help in any way we can,” Bec cuts in, her eyes flicking to me.Behave yourself,her look says. I give a small nod and go back to my food.
“I wish I could accept your help, but Alexander has it pretty well dialed. Besides, he was adamant that this was a party for the investors and a few out-of-town guests, so I’m not sure…” She trails off.
“Ah, an exclusive shindig,” Bec says. She laughs, patting Jordy’s hand. “I’m sure it’s much fancier than anything I could come up with anyway. Everyone in town can just go in and see the shop once it’s officially opened. We don’t need some wine-and-cheese event to appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“Well, actually … I think we do,” Jordy says.
I glance at her, liking the way she saidwe—including herself with the rest of the town.
“Well, I meanallof you,” she corrects, glancing at me. “But me too. When you all get a chance to see it, I won’t be here to see it with you. But I’ve already been thinking about plans for our own little soiree before Alexander arrives tomorrow morning. Thing is, it’s so last minute, and I kept talking myself out of it until now.”
Jordy lays out her vision—local food and wine, a guest list that only includes locals. “I think we owe it to this town to include them in a party like this. The place is full of things fromthe other shops, and it feels like Timeless belongs to all of us. At least right now, before the official open date.”
“So it has to be tonight, right?” Bec says, already pulling out her phone and starting to text.
“If we want to do this. Or we could forget it. I mean, it’s not like the town wanted this place to begin with.” Jordy looks at her hands.
Bec pauses what she’s doing, then takes Jordy’s hand in hers.
“Sweetheart, this town was dead set on hating you the moment you crossed city limits. But somehow, you charmed all these people into contributing items for the store they were picketing.”
“I gave them money, Bec. They didn’t donate their stuff.”
Bec waves a hand, dismissing her words. “Regardless, no one’s picketing now, and people keep trying to peek through those paper-covered windows. They’re excited to see something new. Sure, sometimes they don’t like change—but it can also be a breath of fresh air in a town that can often feel the same.”
She looks at me and gives a wink.
We all carried the weight of selling The Till on our shoulders, but I’d felt it most. Maybe it really is time to move on.
“Can we get everything done by then?” Jordy asks. “We only have a few hours to pull it all together.”
“You leave that to me.” Bec picks up her phone again. “Just give me your wish list, and I’ll make the rest happen.” She turns to me. “We should have Griffin cater the event, and hehasto include those pancetta-wrapped figs I love.”
“I’ll pay,” Jordy says. “I have an investment fund of my own for things like this. I don’t want to put anyone out.”
“Nonsense, dear,” Bec says. “This is what our town does. We support each other.”
Throw the Town a Party
Jordy
Bec doesn’t fool around. Once I give her a list of my ideas for the perfect party, she runs with it. She’s on the phone for another hour while I remain close by. Ashton and Bob go back out to finish work while we remain at the house in party planning mode. I overhear Bec talking to at least a dozen people, plus shestarts an email chain with her Bridge group to spread the word to everyone in town. By mid-afternoon, we have a solid plan. All I have to do is get dressed.
