Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
JULIET
“The thing is, he has an incredible dick.” Tandy’s voice carries loudly in the restaurant today because it’s still empty.
I have my crew here helping me get ready for our reopening in just two days.
Tandy’s across the dining room, mopping the brand-new floor in the corner so we can bring new tables and chairs in here first thing tomorrow.
“Like, we’re talking a huge, make tears roll down my face, cry for my mother cock that I can’t seem to give up. ”
Is it TMI? For sure. But poor Tandy has been in an on-again, off-again relationship with some guy named Matt for a couple of months now, and it seems right now is an off season.
She’s definitely feeling some kind of way about it.
“Should she be talking to a therapist about this?” Christy asks in a low voice, making me snort. She’s emptying the dishwasher in the next room, but she can hear Tandy, loud and clear.
“I get it,” Erica joins in as she scrubs out the cooler that will hold the grab-and-go meals.
“Anthony was packing. But despite his impressive dick, he was a dick. And sometimes it’s not worth trying to mend a relationship with someone who isn’t nice to you, Tandy. I’ve been telling you this for weeks.”
I kind of love that my staff are friends outside of work. They have a fun camaraderie that always makes me smile.
I had the rest of the staff here earlier, the newer hires, and they helped with a ton of stuff, but now it’s just the four of us, making sure everything is sterilized and ready for the food that’ll be delivered tomorrow, and then I can roll up my sleeves and get back to work baking and cooking.
I’m so freaking excited.
“I get it,” Tandy says with a sigh, her shoulders dropping. “I just wish I could keep the bottom half of him and send his attitude packing.”
“Someone else with a talented dick will come along who isn’t a class A jerk,” Christy calls out. “You’re too good to settle, Tan. No way.”
“I hope you’re right,” Tandy says as she mops in our direction. “This floor is so pretty, Jules. I love the pattern of it.”
I grin as I gaze out at the room. It’s a white oak in a herringbone pattern that really is stunning. The tables and chairs will be black, and I’ll change the linens out with the seasons. Since it’s fall, I’ll cover the tables in cream cloths with orange and yellow napkins.
“I have your T-shirts,” I inform the girls. “Five each, and they’re so pretty. I got new aprons with the logo, too.”
“Everything is gorgeous, Jules,” Christy gushes. “I love the new signage out front, too. You really went all out and took this place from amazing to unbelievable.”
“The vibe is the same, but I wanted to brighten it up, since I was starting from scratch and could change everything. The new logo is fun, and I think it looks great on the new shirts and aprons. They’re green, by the way.”
“Like lime green or Christmas green?” Erica asks.
“Sage green,” I reply with a chuckle. “I’ll grab them for you before you go.”
“Okay, I’m going to address the giant elephant in the room that no one else is brave enough to talk about,” Tandy says as she sets the mop in the bucket and then comes to stand at the counter.
“Tell us about Brooks. You told us that you got married, but we need some details because just before the flood, you two were not in a let’s-get-hitched kind of place, my friend. ”
“I know.” I sigh and drop my used rag with the others in a trash bag. “I admit, once we decided, it happened fast.”
I tell them about the house, and how Brooks and I were together many years ago.
“So you rekindled the feelings that were simmering from years ago,” Erica says with a sigh, clearly finding the whole situation romantic.
“I mean, Brooks is hot,” Tandy adds. “And I’m sure the man has talents that none of us will ever discover now.”
“You definitely will not discover my man’s talents,” I agree with a snort. “He’s … everything. It’s honestly as simple as that. And now, he’s mine.”
“See, that’s the goal,” Tandy says, pointing at me. “That look that you have on your face right now, the one that says that you can’t live without him.”
“Oh, I can live without him,” I reply. “I did for a long-ass time. But it’s a miserable existence, and I don’t ever want to do it again.”
“Okay, that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.
” Christy wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.
“And I’m so damn happy for you. You deserve every minute of happiness.
You just look like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
This whole mess here at the restaurant was a lot, and you’re so calm and serene. ”
“Love does that.” Erica nods. “Makes all the bad stuff seem less … bad.”
She’s exactly right.
When this started, it felt catastrophic. I didn’t think I’d get through it in one piece. And here we are, just a few weeks later, and everything is so much better than I ever dared even hope for.
“Hey, guys,” Ava says with a wave as she comes charging through the door. “Holy shit, it’s gorgeous in here.”
Harper is right behind her, and then to my utter surprise, all the other girls file in, too. Billie, Skyla, and Dani, along with Dani’s sisters.
It’s a whole girl gang.
My girl gang.
“Tell me I can get my salad soon,” Harper says, looking desperate. “Come on, you’re about to be my sister-in-law. Hell, you are, since Blake already put a ring on my finger. Help a sister out.”
Sisters.
I don’t just have friends.
I have sisters.
Holy shit.
“I reopen the day after tomorrow, and I’ll have your salad. But I could probably make one for you tomorrow night. All of the food is being delivered in the morning.”
“I can wait for opening day.” Harper grins. “I’m so excited for you, friend.”
“We all are,” Dani adds. “And since you and Brooks got married so fast and we didn’t have time to have a party, we’re having one now. Tonight.”
“That’s our cue to head out.” Christy winks. “Come on, ladies. Let’s get out of the way so the boss lady can party.”
“Have fun,” Tandy says with a wave, and when they’re gone, I turn back to my gang.
“I’m not exactly dressed for a party.”
“It’s super casual,” Darby replies. “We’re all going to Billie’s mansion, so we can drool over her library, eat all of the amazing food that Cassie’s made for us, and those of us not knocked up can drink a bunch of liquor.”
“I’m so down for that. Let me just text Brooks so he knows not to expect me.”
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and shoot my man a message.
Me: Hey, babe! I’m headed to Billie’s with the girls for a post-wedding girls’ night. Won’t be home until later.
“I wish I had some goodies to bring with me,” I tell the girls while the three little dots hop on the screen, signaling that Brooks is replying. “But there isn’t a morsel of food in this place.”
“Trust me.” Billie shakes her head. “Cassie has been cooking up a storm at the house. I told her we wanted snack foods. Appetizers. Desserts. And everything is safe for you, I promise. She sanitized the whole kitchen before she started and is using new tools.”
I blink at my gorgeous sister-in-law. Billie’s in Dior today, because of course she is. But it’s casual Dior.
If there is such a thing.
“You didn’t have to do that. It’s expensive.”
“Hi, she married a billionaire,” Alex says helpfully. “That’s just a normal Friday afternoon for them.”
I snort and check my phone.
Husband: I heard, and I’m glad. Billie planned a bunch of stuff. Have fun. Call when you’re ready to come home, and I’ll come get you.
Me: Okay, sounds good. Love you!
“Let’s go party, girls.”
“I haven’t read this one,” Alex says, plucking a paperback off one of Billie’s shelves. This is my first time here, and now I understand what Brooks meant when he said that my library won’t be as fancy as this.
No one’s library is as fancy as this.
Unless you’re Belle, and your boyfriend is a beast.
Because holy shit, this is something to behold.
It’s a two-story library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and the amazing rolling ladder that every girl dreams of. The whole room is painted in robin’s egg blue, with a wallpapered ceiling in all different colors.
“This is dreamy,” I announce as I stand in the middle of the room, just looking around. I notice that some of the shelves are still bare. “You have room to grow with new books.”
“I know, I love that,” Billie says with a grin. “I spend a lot of time in here.”
“I would, too,” Darby agrees.
Have I mentioned that I love that Darby’s home?
“I thought you had to go back to Colorado,” I say to my friend, but she grins.
“I delayed by a couple of days. I had the extra time, so I stayed. I leave the day after your opening, so I can stop in and try all of the amazing food I’ve been hearing about.”
“Oh, that makes me happy. I’m going to pretend that you’re staying just for me.”
“Who’s read Sinful King by Natalie Kane?” Skyla asks, waving the book in the air. “Because this sounds good. A Mafia romance set in Vegas where the mmc owns a sex club and the heroine is plus-sized? Hell yes.”
“Oh, it’s so good,” Billie says. “I read it. They play with Shabari ropes. You need it in your life.”
“Do you have it in the store?” I ask her.
“Sure do.” Billie grins, and the next thing I know, she’s hugging me close and sniffling in my ear. “Is it real? Are you seriously my sister now? It’s not a dream, right?”
“Aw, bug.” I drag my hand over her hair and kiss her cheek. “It’s not a dream at all. But do you know what does feel surreal? This library.”
“I know.” She sniffs again but doesn’t let go. “It’s so fancy. And you can come over and we can hang out in here and read and talk and have wine after the baby comes.”
“I’d love to do all of that.”
“I want in on that action.” Dani raises her hand.
“You need more chairs in here,” Harper adds. “Oh! And maybe some little bassinets for us to put the babies while we read.”
“No way, the men can keep the babies.” Skyla shakes her head. “Library time is for peace and quiet.”