Chapter 25 #2
“Really, Ellie? Not even gonna open it all the way?”
“What do you want?” I grumbled, trying to keep the smile from my face. “It’s not Tuesday.”
“No, but it’s Friday. I thought you might want to go somewhere with me.”
My lips twitched, but I countered the desperate need to smile by raising an eyebrow at him and pursing my lips just like my mother did when she got mad.
“And why would I want to do that?”
He glanced at the crowd, then back to me. “Ellie, you’re sort of leaving me hanging, here. I had this whole plan and you’re spoiling it.”
“I’m a woman. I’m allowed to.”
“Open the door, Ellie.”
“I don’t think—”
The door unlocked. I whipped my gaze around to meet Josie’s and glared at the traitor. “How dare you!”
“Oh, come on with the foreplay already! We both know you’re taking him home tonight. Stop dragging it out so we can all get on with our day.”
I flipped her the bird and shoved the door open, trying to look sexy as I stepped out. But my stomach was not cooperating with me, and every movement made me feel like I was going to either need to run to the bathroom or vomit on the sidewalk.
“Are you ready for this?” Ryder whispered, taking my hand.
“I think I might vomit.”
“There’s no need to be nervous.”
“I’m not. I just ate a whole tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream this morning.” Wincing, I looked over at him. “I don’t think that was a good idea.”
“Probably not. Make it through the next hour, and I’ll take you home.”
“Forty-five minutes, and not a second more.”
“Fine.”
Tugging on my hand, he dragged me across the street, through the crowd of people who stared me, but not with disgust on their faces like they usually did.
“Why are they all here?” I hissed.
“Because of this,” he said, pulling me to the front of the shop.
I gasped when I saw the sign, brand new with bright colors. The windows were fixed and…you couldn’t tell at all that anything had happened to the shop.
I quickly rushed forward, pulling open the door. The moment I stepped inside, it was like I was transported to another planet. The walls were freshly painted. New artwork and mirrors were hung. And the clothes…
“It’s all new,” I murmured.
“Everyone helped out,” Ryder said, stepping up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Everyone?”
“Most of the town was here to help with the cleanup. Josie and Delaney took care of the clothes, sorted out what was salvageable, and ordered new things. The Parkers helped with installing new tables, the chandeliers…pretty much everything.”
I slowly took in every inch of the space, how beautiful it all was, the bright decorations and the brand new clothes. Turning in his arms, I was on the verge of crying again.
“You did this.”
“I had a lot of help.”
I shook my head, knowing that was a lie. Well, he was downplaying how much he had done. “This is why you haven’t been by. You’ve been making sure this was all done. For me.”
For just a minute, his face turned serious and his lips parted like he was going to tell me something important. But then a cocky grin twisted his lips and the moment passed, leaving me feeling deflated.
“Well, it’s all part of the friendship package. Little did you know that when you welcomed me into your bed, you would get such a hero to stand up for you in your times of need.”
I forced out a laugh, trying desperately not to let his words cut so deep. “What would I do without Tuesdays and Thursdays?”
“And pretty much every other day,” he smirked. “Now, you’d better get to work. The town won’t wait forever to check out the new digs.”
I leaned into him, pressing my lips to his in a soft kiss, thanking him for all he had done.
He would never truly understand what he had done for me here today, or how much he had hurt me with his words.
I desperately wanted to tell him that I wanted this to be more, but I knew that if I said a word, he would walk away and never look back.
He didn’t want a relationship, and sooner or later, he would realize he was already in one. And when he did, that would be the end of us.
“Let’s get those doors opened,” I smiled brightly, burying my feelings deep inside.
I took a moment to look around the store as he flipped the sign on the door, allowing everyone to enter. To my surprise, Bailey Parker was the first one through the door, and she walked straight up to me.
I internally flinched, preparing myself for whatever vitriol she spewed my way, but to my surprise, it never came.
“I’m really sorry about your store, Ellie.”
My mouth gaped like a fish. “Um…thank you.”
She glanced around, obviously uncomfortable being here. I wasn’t even sure why she came. After the incident with Liam, she never set foot in my store voluntarily again.
“I know what you did for me, and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to say I’m sorry.”
Confusion swept over me at her words. “Sorry for what? After what I did, I wouldn’t blame you for never wanting to speak to me again.”
“You did it to help me.” She smiled tightly before looking off to her right. “You have amazing taste. I love this one,” she said, walking over to a dress that I didn’t even choose for the store. “I’ll take it.”
My eyes widened in surprise when I noted that not only was everyone watching what Bailey was doing, but they were taking cues from her. Suddenly, everyone seemed a lot more interested in the clothes hanging on the racks.
And that just stung.
I was grateful, but I wanted people to come to my store because they wanted to be here. Not because Bailey hinted that it was okay. Still, beggars couldn’t be choosers.
She set the dress on the counter and smiled at me. “It really is a beautiful dress.”
“You didn’t even try it on.”
“It’ll be perfect while I try to take off all this baby weight,” she laughed.
I sighed, still feeling frustrated with the whole thing. “You really don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do. And not just because I behaved like an ass. I really do like the dress.”
The sincerity in her voice stopped me from arguing further. If I wanted my shop to be a success, I would have to learn to take the help where I could.
Even if it did mean letting the town have their show.