Chapter 2 #2
For the next fifteen minutes, I let Adelaide’s chatter drift over me, knocking concerns like peed-upon carpets and profit margins straight out of my head. This was my dream, and it was finally coming true.
“How should we celebrate?” Addie asked.
My brain short-circuited as memories of that night at Comic Con flashed through my mind, image after tantalizing image, reminders of the last time I celebrated my success.
Milo’s hands on my body, his mouth against my skin, the thread of command woven through his deep voice as he drove us both to new heights the minute I gave myself completely over to him.
Then my idiotic decision to run away instead of facing the fact that I’d finally done something impetuous by approaching a stranger for a hookup—and the immediate regret that followed when the door clicked shut behind me.
I’d panicked and snuck out, fighting the shame my parents had fought so hard to instill in me.
Maybe they hadn’t failed as badly as they’d thought, because the flush of reproach that coated my skin when I woke up in his arms sent nausea crawling up my throat, choking me with years of reminders that I was worth nothing in their eyes, behaving as I had.
No matter how many years I’d spent embracing my sexuality, fighting against their bullshit, it still managed to sneak past my defenses at times.
And every time, it strengthened my resolve to fight even harder in the future.
“Hello? Eden?”
With a jerk, my gaze focused on my cousin, whose expression had grown soft. “Sorry. Lost my train of thought.”
Addie’s blonde brows lifted high on her forehead. “Did you? Or were you thinking about your Viking?”
We never kept secrets from one another, not for longer than a day or two—I regretted revealing this particular secret, however.
Did my cousin really need to know that I’d made the first and possibly only wild, impulsive decision of my life the night I stumbled upon a comic book convention?
Should I maybe have limited the details about the tall, auburn-haired man who’d provided more orgasms than I'd ever had in one night?
“Too late,” Addie muttered.
I glared. “Are you reading my mind now?”
“When you’re clearly questioning life choices that brought you immeasurable pleasure? Yes.”
“I’m not questioning that choice,” I countered. “I’m regretting telling you about it because I can sense that you are never ever going to let me live it down.”
“Live it down? Eden, I’ve spent all of our lives wishing for you to find true happiness.
I’m not teasing you for your nerd-boy hookup, I’m just baffled that you didn’t at least get his phone number.
Or last name. Or literally any identifying information so you could hook up with him again in the future! ”
I sighed, trying not to let my too-astute cousin hear the echo of heartbreak in the sound. “Well, I didn't, and it’s too late. Yes, he was sweet and attentive and funny, but I’ll probably never see him again.”
Her big brown eyes locked on my face, but she reached over and took my hand without speaking. I returned her squeeze and forced off the melancholy before it could settle too firmly about my shoulders.
“Celebration. Right. My place, cupcakes from that food truck lady, wine from the place we toured in Geneva, and at least a hundred of those red pepper feta cups you brought to Christmas Eve at your parents’ place last year?”
“Oof, you like labor-intensive celebrations, huh? What if we set that aside for a bit and go for drinks at The Mermaid to celebrate your first day? I promise I’ll make you more feta cups sometime soon.”
I rolled my eyes, but she was right, easy would be more relaxing for us both. “Deal.”
“Let’s get this roast beef back to my brother and see if he managed to succeed where all of the cleaning supplies in Spruce Hill have failed,” Addie suggested.
Since I appreciated her letting the subject of my Comic Con Viking go without further discussion, I flashed a grin as I grabbed the paper bag containing Rob’s sub.
The two of them were miracle workers in their own right.
If Addie had faith in her brother’s ability to save my store from the curse of cat pee, then I would, too.
It was time to set aside regrets and face the future head on.
“What did you think of the window display ideas I sent you?” I asked as we strolled back down the sidewalk toward the shop. “Good enough for a grand opening?”
“I want one of everything, so I’m going to say yes, it’s perfect. I’m so proud of you, Eden. This is going to be amazing.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly, and she elbowed me in the ribs.
“Seriously, babe. A place where every shopper of every size and shape can find something sexy, a safe space for those who need it, an opportunity for everyone to learn and grow in their sexuality—this is big, Eden. Epic. And it’s your dream, the one you’ve worked your ass off to accomplish. You should be proud of yourself, too.”
I elbowed her back, too moved to voice my reaction to her support. This was big, and dammit, I was already proud of all I had accomplished.
And if I wished I had a tall, sweet Viking to help me celebrate each future success, well, I shoved that twinge of regret deep down into the recesses of my mind.