Page 90 of Afternoon Delight
“What can I say? She has a gift.”
“Sure does,” she said with a chuckle. “Is this the stuff to go out today?” She nodded at the box of products I’d pulled and left on the cash desk.
“It is. Do you want me to carry it to the car for you?”
She gave the edge of the box a lift and shook her head. “I can manage.” She left her hand on the box while she looked around. “I can’t wait to be back.”
“And change everything to the way you like it?”
“A little,” she admitted ruefully. “Are you offended?”
“No. But when do you think you’ll start coming in?”
“I’ll try some half-days next week. See how it goes. I was talking to Gail’s neighbor. She’s looking for part-time work. She volunteered at a teen clinic for years so nothing really fazes her.”
“That’s good.”
Georgia had known me too long not to read the forced sincerity in my tone. Her brows pulled into a frown.
“I’m happy you’re coming back. I am. It’s just...” I squinched up my nose and tilted my head toward the common wall between this shop and Twice Is Nice. “I really like having an excuse to see him every day.”
“Girl, if you want to see him every day, see him every day. Don’t put that on me.”
I curled my lip at her tough love, then shot back with, “Meaning you’re going upstairs to see Bruno while you’re here?”
“We’re having breakfast tomorrow morning, after he gets off work.”
“Really? That’s nice.” I was genuinely pleased to hear it.
She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know if we can make it work with his shifts and all the rest, but we’ll see.”
“I hope you can. He seems great. From all the one times I’ve met him.”
“I haven’t even met yours. After I put this in the car, I’m going next door to introduce myself.” She gathered up the box of toys. “Since he’s my landlord and all.”
I had a very adolescent urge to ask her what she was going to say, but I held the door for her and pretended I was completely unbothered.
A customer came in, taking up my attention for the next while so I didn’t see Georgia leave, only noticed Gail’s car was gone from outside.
The ping of a text took me to the desk to check my phone.
Zak:
Georgia caught me putting this together. Said we’re made for each other.
The photo showed a twelve-inch blue ceramic rooster with a pair of snow globes on either side.
A cock and balls.
Pervert.
Chapter 49
Meg
Roddie was making dinner when I got home. It was only spaghetti with jarred sauce and a Caesar salad kit that needed to be used up, but I appreciated his initiative. I handed him the garlic bread he’d asked me to pick up on the way home, and he tossed it in the oven.
“Do you want some pop, Roddie?” Mom hovered anxiously, acting like he’d been in the kitchen all day preparing a Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings.
