Chapter 37
JUNE
In Fiona’s experience,summer never eased its way into Savannah. It simply dropped in one day, bringing a heavy heat that wouldn’t let up until the fall. Normally Fiona dreaded the Georgia summers, but this summer marked their first season in the new space for Savannah Glam. After nearly two months, the repairs had been made and the space was ready for her and her friends to move into and make their own.
The lighter floors and white walls brightened up the place significantly, and let the areas of exposed brick shine.
Today, Fiona carried iced coffees up the stairs to the space, and was pleasantly surprised to see her friends already at work.
The sound of a drill startled her, and Fiona spotted Cassie on a ladder, Stella standing below.
“There,” Cassie said, stepping down. “That’s high enough, right?”
“I think we have to get the curtain up, first,” Stella said, her eyes brightening when she saw Fiona.
“Coffee!” she said, running over. She looked adorable in her overalls and floral bandana headband, her blonde ponytail in perfect waves. Unlike Fiona and Cassie, Stella apparently didn’t believe in working in old gym shorts and a t-shirt.“Thank god. Cassie asked me to come over here at the crack of freaking dawn.”
Fiona handed Cassie a coffee. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“You were up too late with that cut and color, I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Well I’m here now,” Fiona said, taking a sip of her own coffee. “What do you need?”
“Stop and close your eyes,” Stella said seriously. “What do you think of the scent in the room?”
Fiona obeyed, and breathed in the scents of bergamot, lemon and magnolia.
“Isn’t this the same candle you had lit in the salon yesterday?”
Stella rolled her eyes. “Of course not, that was more lemongrass-y.”
Fiona laughed. “Obviously.”
“Our signature scent is crucial, and I expect a consensus on it by the end of the day,” Stella said, sipping her coffee. “Anyway, Cassie hung the dressing room rod, which I think looks about right, and those couches are getting delivered this afternoon.”
“And we need to get our suites cleared out,” Fiona said with a groan. “That’s going to be a pain.”
Stella and Cassie shot a glance at each other. Fiona narrowed her eyes.
“What was that look?”
She looked at Stella, who was smiling sheepishly.
“What have you done?”
“Don’t freak out,” Cassie said, holding up a hand. “But David and Porter offered to help move everything today.”
Fiona nodded slowly, letting that information simmer.
“How did that happen?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“They stopped in this morning to drop off the copy of the paperwork, and they heard Stella talking about how stressed out she was about trying to rent a moving truck,” Cassie said.
Stella tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. “I’ve never had to rent one before, okay? David said they have that big van they use sometimes, and they said the massage table and your stuff would definitely fit. Plus it’s their day off.”
Fiona massaged the tense spot between her brows. “That’s…totally fine. Great, even. Really nice of them to help.”
“Fiona,” Cassie said, raising a brow. “What’s wrong? You can’t still be weird about the Porter thing.”
Fiona sat on a rickety folding chair and sighed.
“I’m definitely still weird about the Porter thing.”
There was a sting of regret whenever Fiona thought about Porter. He’d tried to get in contact with her over the past couple of months, but outside of signing the paperwork, she’d avoided him. It probably wasn’t fair; after all, he’d done so much for them.
But when Fiona realized how quickly she was willing to change her plans for him, it made her feel like the powerless girl she’d been in New York. It didn’t make sense to risk that now. Their business was thriving, but it was still new, and she needed to focus.
“You did fine at the lease signing,” Stella pointed out. “You two were talking and laughing like nothing was wrong.”
“Yes, that was my stylist voice,” Fiona said. “I was secretly freaking out.”
Cassie picked up a small package and waved Fiona and Stella over for help.
“Regardless, we could use the help,” Cassie said, opening the package. “And something arrived that I think will lift your spirits, Fi.”
Cassie opened the box and pulled out the vinyl decal of their logo for the glass door.
Stella gasped, and Fiona lifted it reverently.
The logo had taken weeks for them to settle on. They’d gone back and forth so many times that Fiona was positive they’d had to give up on the business right then and there. But all that work paid off, because every detail of the logo and branding was gorgeous. It was the perfect shade of a serene, shimmering blue, that managed to strike a balance between glamor and serenity.
The three of them worked to center it exactly where they wanted it, and they were nearly done smoothing it onto the glass when Porter and David walked up.
Fiona’s response to Porter’s smile – and the stunning bouquet he was holding – was an instant pit in her stomach. She’d expected things to get easier, but they only got more difficult. Her mind constantly betrayed her by playing a highlight reel of their date, the feeling of his hair in her hands, his lips on hers. Shared smiles and glances at the restaurant. A stroll in the park.
It didn’t matter now. She was certain he’d have moved on by this point. If he was as affected by her as she was by seeing him, he didn’t show it.
“The logo looks great,” David said, when they opened the door.
“Wait until you see the couches we ordered,” Stella said, grinning. “It’s all going to be so beautiful.”
Fiona had been so impressed at how well the three of them worked together to create a plan for the space. Cassie had spent the past month drawing up sketches for potential layouts and decor, and she’d already created floor-to-ceiling curtains with a stunning magnolia fabric that she’d found at her favorite fabric store in Atlanta.
Stella’s guest bedroom had become the staging space for all the pieces they’d been finding at thrift shops, antique stores and online. Stella also had the green thumb of the group, so she would be bringing in a couple Areca palms, peace lilies and some herbs to add to the infused water they planned to serve.
Fiona had been working on their business plan, getting all the permits they needed and handling the logistics.
It felt like a dream, Fiona thought. Sure, there was the slightly crippling fear that it would all fail miserably, but she didn’t even care. They were building something of their own, and she was proud of it. When Fiona looked around, she could perfectly imagine it. It would be a happy, relaxing place, and she couldn’t wait to see it come to life.
It was all happening so fast that Fiona didn’t have much time to think about Porter, or their date, or him kissing her in her apartment. She definitely didn’t think about it every single time she sat on her couch or walked out her front door.
Fiona smiled cordially at David and Porter as they walked in, and tried to ignore the way Porter’s eyes seemed to linger on hers.
“We just wanted to congratulate you on getting the keys,” David said, handing the bird of paradise and purple orchid bouquet to Cassie.
“Thank you, this is really sweet,” Cassie said, setting the flowers on a table.
“So,” Porter said, looking far too pristine in his crisp white t-shirt, shorts and sunglasses for a day of hard work. “We pulled up the van, do y’all want to follow us to the salon?”
A realization hit Fiona, and she couldn’t have been more grateful.
“I’m so sorry, I forgot that my sink is being installed this morning,” Fiona said. “He should be here within the hour.”
“No problem,” Porter said. “The four of us should be able to get everything.”
Stella made a hesitant sound, and they all looked to her.
“Actually, Porter, would you mind staying with Fiona?”
Fiona shot a look at her that she hoped no one else saw.
“It’s just that you were here for the inspections, and we have an idea of where the sink should go, but if the guy has any questions…”
Porter looked at Fiona, and she hoped she looked a little less frantic than she felt.
Porter cleared his throat. “Uh, sure. I can stay. You think you three can handle moving the furniture?”
“Definitely,” Stella said, waving a hand. “Right, Cassie?”
“Mhm,” Cassie said, her arms crossed, raising a brow at Stella.
“Great,” Stella said, smiling innocently. “We will see you soon.”