Page 94 of Take A Number
Kate rubs her hands together conspiratorially. “In a romance novel, that’s the perfect moment for an epic grand gesture. Who’s ready to plot?”
“Okay, the chamber of commerce people are going to be here for the ribbon cutting any minute. Places everyone,” I call out to the staff we’ve hired to help for the grand opening today.
It’s nearing four o’clock, and our grand opening celebration is from four until six, starting with a ribbon cutting, a short welcome speech by me, and then free croinuts for the first hundred people who walk in the door.
“Oh my God, Norah, the line of people is wrapped around the building now! There has to be over a hundred out there.”
“I told you to stop updating me about the line, Rachael,” I exclaim and begin to fan my face to stop the crazy lip sweat that’s forming. “I’m sweating like a pig here. I knew Denver was going to be bigger than Boulder, but I didn’t know it would be like this.”
“The sweat is giving you a nice sheen because you look beautiful, girl,” Rachael says, appraising my white pantsuit. “This is what you wore for your TV segment earlier, right? How did that go? We were too busy here to watch.”
“It was amazing,” I squeal excitedly, forgetting all manner of professionalism on a day like today. “I made fresh croinuts on camera. And the hosts and I had great chemistry. The producer said they are sending a TV crew out to film the ribbon cutting to air on their five o’clock news.”
“Holy shit, a morning segment and an evening news segment? That’s incredible,” Rachael exclaims, looking as excited as I am.
“I know.” I exhale and try to collect myself. “How’s the staff doing? Everything ready to go, you think?”
“Yep, Zander is cracking the whip. The first fifty croinuts are ready, and the next are on the fly.”
“Okay, but we’re still—”
“Having everyone take a number for the full experience. We got it, boss!”
I huff out a laugh and hit Rachael with a meaningful look because she’s become so much more than my right-hand lately. She’s become my closest friend through the whole Dean fiasco. “I could not do any of this without you. I’m sorry I’ve been so up and down lately.”
“Don’t apologize for living your life.” She waves me off as she heads back toward the kitchen to help out. “You worked hard to enjoy today, so try to relax. Go have some coffee.”
“Good idea,” I call back as she disappears. My heels clunk on the freshly waxed black and white tiles as I make my way behind the counter to pour myself a drink. I need it after the mania of today.
The TV interview did go great this morning, but what I didn’t tell Rachael was that I had a stupid girly dream last night that Dean would show up at my segment and just…be in the audience watching. In my dream, his presence was his apology, and he walked up to me in the middle of filming and told me he loved me.
Then I woke up and realized it was all a dream. I live in reality, and the reality is, Dean doesn’t want me. Fake dating each other was a harebrained idea, and I should have known it would end in heartbreak.
But even with the pain I feel in my chest every time I think of him, I can’t help but be grateful this heartbreak inspired some changes in my life. Changes I’m crazy excited about. Rachael is taking over Boulder while I get Denver up and running. The manager I hired here seems charged and ready to take over once I head to Paris. Things are going to be okay.
“Hey, Norah,” Max’s voice calls out from the front door, and I swerve over to see him striding toward me. He does a wide gesture around the space, stepping out of the way of one of our workers doing a last-minute wipe down of the tables. “Wow…this looks amazing.”
“I know, right?” I reply with a smile and make my way around the counter to join him. “It really came together. It’s got the Boulder feel but with a more commercial, edgy punch. Should be a good dummy for the franchise portfolio.”
“Definitely,” he says with a smile as his eyes widen. “Did you see that line outside?”
He hooks his thumb behind him making me cringe and force myself to avoid the windows. “I quit looking outside an hour ago. The bigger the line gets, the more my heart tries to crawl into my throat. It’s in survival mode right now.”
Max laughs at that. “Well, you have about forty of your personal guests all waiting outside in that roped-off area, and the chamber people said they are ready when you are, so I can escort you out whenever you say the word.”
He has a peculiar look in his eye, and I know why. “Dean didn’t sign the contract, did he?” I clench my teeth and shake my head in frustration. “He had to ruin this day, didn’t he? I wanted to cut that ribbon and tell that crowd out there that this place is mine. This concept, this idea is all mine and that I didn’t need him…or anybody else to…ugh! It doesn’t matter. Today is a good day, and I’m not going to let him spoil it.”
Max pulls a cream envelope out from behind his back. “Actually, he signed it.”
My lips part as pins and needles erupt over my entire body. “He did?”
“Yep. With your original terms and everything.”
With shaky hands, I take the envelope and glance at the contract, hating the fact that my chin is trembling. I frown at Dean’s familiar handwriting and hate that this moment isn’t making me jump for joy. Tears form in my eyes, and I do my best to push them away. “I don’t know why I’m sad right now.”
Max hits me with a sympathetic smile. “Maybe because Dean’s a good guy.”
“I know he is.” And that’s the part that kills me inside.
