Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vivian
It’s my last day at Cassandra’s Cut & Curl, and for some reason, Cassandra has called me into her office. At least she’s not scolding me in the hallway.
“I’m sad to see you go, Vivian,” she says, motioning for me to have a seat.
“Really? You fired me three times.”
She waves her hand like it’s all water under the bridge. “Two of those were within the same day, so they only count as one.” She walks over to her ficus plant and grabs the bottle of whiskey hiding behind it. Is that Angels Envy?
“I fucking knew it.” I laugh and shake my head.
Cassandra grabs two plastic cups and sets them on her desk. “Drink?”
“It’s barely three in the afternoon.”
She pours a splash in her cup and raises an eyebrow. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a fuck yes.” I hold up my cup. This is the good stuff. Kentucky straight bourbon. “I thought you called me in here to yell at me.”
She sinks back into her chair with a sigh. “Did you really tell Mrs. Walsh to fuck off?”
“No. I was talking to her daughter.” I shrug. “Is it my fault she decided to join in?”
Cassandra’s laugh is unexpected, and—is she sniffling? How many of these has she already had?
Not that I blame her. Kentucky bourbon finished in a rum barrel is the best. The whiskey has a sweet and spicy palate, and it goes down smooth as hell.
I could bathe in this stuff. Who knew Cassandra had such good taste?
It helps settle my nerves. I’m not good with change.
Even when it’s exactly the change I want.
“It’s going to be boring around here without you, Vivian.”
I’m not sure what to say to that. I’ve been booked solid for the last three months, ever since I announced I was leaving.
Jonah thinks winning Pridefest has something to do with it, but I doubt anyone in Hopeview knows or cares about that.
It’s more likely that people are curious about the stepbrothers who fell in love.
Or maybe it’s the fact that another New Yorker came in and snatched another one of their golden boys.
Or maybe it’s because I’m leaving. It’s been a wonderful and stressful three months. The urge to quit as soon as Roz offered me a job was strong. But my sweet farm boy is a planner. He’s also very efficient at executing those plans. Which feeds my competency kink quite nicely.
Jonah wants things to be perfect for me. Which is sweet but unnecessary. I told him I’d take being with him over having the perfect apartment any day. But now I might have to admit he was right. After months of looking, we found the perfect little house in Mule Creek.
I take another sip of Cassandra’s excellent whiskey, excitement bubbling inside me. Tomorrow is the official start of our new life together. Jonah has to work today, so we can’t move into our new home until tomorrow.
Having to be so far away from him all the time is the sucky part.
But now, everything is coming together. I’ve been working part-time with Roz for the last two months.
While the thought of doing shows in Vegas was exciting, I was relieved to learn they wanted me to serve as a consultant to their design team.
I get some say in what that looks like since they are tailoring this position to me, but a big part of my job will be consulting on the designs for their act.
Everything from costumes and makeup to set design.
Roz likes to be on the cutting edge. This job is perfect.
It feeds into my love of performing, and we’ll get to go to some of their Vegas shows.
Roz is also a sweetheart, so that helps.
Cassandra’s phone beeps, and she downs her drink and gets to her feet. “Time to go. Your three-thirty is here.”
I shake my head. Just when we were getting along. “I already saw my last client, Cassandra. You approved me to be done early today.”
She stares at her bottle of whiskey like she’s contemplating another glass or downing the entire bottle. “We had a last-minute walk-in.”
I rise to my feet and down the rest of my drink. I’m not wasting good whiskey. “How is that my problem?”
“She asked for you.”
Seriously? I hate to go off on Cassandra on my last day. “You could have said no.”
Cassandra returns the whiskey to its hiding place, still not looking at me. “Have you ever tried saying no to Mrs. Landers? It’s not easy.”
That stops my rant cold. Something isn’t making sense. Mrs. Landers—Greta—was just in two days ago. “What the hell’s going on, Cassandra?”
She shrugs, but I catch the smile she’s trying to hide. “Let’s go find out.”
My call with Jonah is at three-thirty, which is why I asked to be off at three. I check my phone. I still have ten minutes. That should be plenty of time to take care of whatever this is.
Following my soon-to-be-ex boss out of her office, my mind thinks of ways to let Greta down gently. Sorry, I have a call from a hot guy that I really hope ends in phone sex? That actually might work—
“Surprise!”
I stop and stare, unable to process everything.
The shop is filled with people. Greta is front and center, grinning.
But other clients are also here. Mom beams at me.
She’s six months along, and there’s no hiding Baby Hank.
George has his arm around her. He gives me a big smile.
And all I see in his face is acceptance and love.
Maisy jumps up and down, trying to grab the balloons.
Wait, balloons? And streamers? And a cake?
I step closer. On the top of the cake is GOOD LUCK VIVIE.
“What—” My brain is struggling. “What is all this?”
Cassandra grins. “We couldn’t let you go without a party.” That’s when I realize the thing in her office wasn’t a halfhearted attempt at reprimanding me or even a goodbye drink. She was distracting me. So, they could do all this.
My eyes prickle. Don’t cry, Vivian. I don’t have time to redo my makeup before my call—and that’s when I spot him. My sweet, sexy man is standing off to the side like he doesn’t want to take away from my moment. If my heart swells any more, it might become a medical emergency.
And now there are more tears. “Jonah? Was this your idea?”
“Not me, babe. Cassandra and Greta planned the whole thing.”
I dash at my face, and then Jonah is beside me, handing me a tissue.
“One’s not gonna do it,” I tell him. “I’m gonna need the entire box.”
He laughs, handing me the rest. Taking a step back, he gestures to the crowd crammed in the small shop. “Everyone’s here for you, babe.”
I look around the room, grateful for all the people here for me—no, not just people. These are my friends. My family. My neighbors. Greta and her daughter, who owns the dance studio. Even Mrs. Walsh and her daughter, Janie. They’re all here for me.
When I was forced to move to Hopeview, I was an outsider. I couldn’t wait to leave. Now I am leaving—and it’s hard. When did I start thinking of Hopeview as home?
“Thank you all for being here. And Cassandra and Greta for planning this—I will get you back.” Everyone laughs. “I’m not one for big speeches—”
“Ha! That’s a damn lie. You love a big speech.”
My heart leaps as I search for my bestie. Is she here? Jonah holds up his phone, and Frankie grins at me from the screen.
Then the enormity of it all hits. “You were all in on this?” I look around the room. And then back at Jonah and Frankie. “And you kept it a secret?”
“It wasn’t easy, babe,” Frankie says, “and Jonah here almost cracked several times.”
I laugh. My face is wet from tears, and I can’t seem to get a handle on my emotions. All this for me?
“Can we have cake, Vivie?” Maisy asks. “Baby Hank is hungry. Then you can open your presents.”
I shake my head fondly. Maisy thinks every party has to include those two things. “There aren’t any presents—”
“Uh, babe.” Jonah turns my face so I can see the pile of wrapped gifts next to the shampoo station.
I stare at them and then at him. “Presents? For me?” Tears stream down my face, and I’m helpless to stop them.
Jonah takes my hand, and his smile is full of love. It’s hard to believe I get to be this happy. He squeezes my hand and tries to let go. No way. I need more than a hand squeeze. I haven’t seen this man in person for over two weeks.
“Cassandra, can you cut the cake? Everyone else mingle. I’m gonna say a proper hello to my boyfriend, whom I’ve missed terribly.”
People laugh, and I don’t really care if they take me seriously or not. My eyes drink in Jonah. God, he’s so sweet and sexy—
“I’m still here, Vivie. And I don’t need a front-row seat to you snacking on your man.” Frankie covers her eyes and then peeks through her fingers. “Jonah, can you hand me to someone else or call me when we get to the good part. Usually that’s the cake, but obvs, in this case, I mean the presents.”
“Okay, bye-bye, Frankie.” Jonah’s eyes never leave mine as he hangs up his phone and slips it into his pocket. He smiles. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I laugh, feeling giddy.
He ducks his head. “Sorry I lied to you about not coming down—”
Only Jonah would feel guilty about keeping a surprise party a secret. I place my fingers over his lips. “You’re such a good guy.”
He pulls my hand down and smirks. “You like that about me.”
“I do.”
“And,” he says, moving closer, his hands going to my hips, “I’m not always nice.”
“I definitely like that about you,” I say, wrapping my arms around him. Jonah is more comfortable with punishing me now that he knows how much I want it. Need it.
“Kiss him already,” Greta shouts.
“Oh my God.” I hide my face in Jonah’s chest. “We have a cheering section.”
He keeps his voice low. “Good thing you perform well under pressure.”
Greta’s cane clicks against the floor—I know that sound well—and it sounds like she’s getting closer. “Move, Vivie. I’ll show you how it’s done.”
Laughing, I hold up a finger to stop her. And hope I don’t have to take down an older woman with a cane. There’s no guarantee I’ll win. “I’ve got this, Greta.”
Then I focus on my man. Grabbing Jonah’s shirt, I pull him against me and kiss him. Not a peck on the cheek. A real kiss. Right here in the Cut & Curl with half the town watching, and our parents beaming at us.
His lips are warm and sweet, tasting like Jonah and Red Bull Summer Edition.
There’s an edge of urgency as our mouths find familiar ground.
My stomach swoops with excitement. Later, his man will be in my bed doing all kinds of naughty things to me.
And tomorrow, we will be in our bed. In our home. Starting our life together.
I cling to him, overwhelmed by the moment. This man was once my enemy. My stepbrother. The person I disliked the most in the world. And now?
He’s my best friend—don’t tell Frankie—and the love of my life. My person. But even more than that, Jonah is the one thing I never thought I’d get to have.
He’s my home.
Thank you for reading One Wrong Step! Looking for more Pride-themed books from me? Check out Camping with the Boss!