CHAPTER 9
GREYLIN
Even though I’m aware the world is not out to get me, it certainly feels like it is. And I know right when the tide of my life turned. It was days ago when I was enjoying the afterglow of a life-changing orgasm.
Aiden went from the man who woke me up by worshiping my body—and what a way to wake up—to some closed off version of himself I had never met before.
Even when we were allegedly on opposite sides of the Simmons divide, he wasn’t distant.
Nor did he avoid me which was obvious with the number of times the man pulled me over.
And now where is he?
I have no fucking idea.
Because even though it was awkward after we woke up in bed together, and he practically ran out of my house like his ass was on fire, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Which is why I texted him that I hoped he got all his laundry done. And, by the way, what a lame ass excuse. He should have just said he had to wash his hair.
And all of that after a spectacular orgasm.
While Aiden didn’t ignore my text, he only replied with, “Sure did.”
That was it.
Sure did.
And it was the last time I heard from him.
It’s only been a few days, but still. I thought we shared something. It felt like something changed between us.
I don’t know what to make of what is going on, but I know I don’t like it.
What I’m not going to do is show up at his house like a mad woman. Desperation is not a good look and maybe, just maybe, I have to cut my losses and walk away.
My heart aches at the thought, but it could also be heartburn. Yeah. You know what, that’s probably all it is.
“Definitely heartburn,” I mumble to myself as I’m trying to look over the numbers for the months so far to see if I need to tweak any of the orders coming up. Sometimes something will surprise you and trend. If I can see it happening, I can get in front of it. It’s a flimsily choreographed dance.
And all of it is giving me a headache.
Or maybe it’s more heartburn.
“What are you talking about over there?” I look up at Meadow’s question.
I wave my hand dismissively, “Nothing. Don’t mind me, just looking over the trends.”
Meadow huffs and looks at me like she’s not buying what I’m selling. Yeah, well, that makes two of us then. When I glance at Mayer and Gemma, they’re not buying it either.
“Really,” I try to tell them, knowing it won’t make a bit of good, “it’s nothing.”
“I don’t know what you’re hiding,” Mayer points to me, her eyes narrowed, “but you know it’s always better when you don’t hold things in.”
“No one likes secrets,” Meadow chirps.
“Well,” I grouse,” not everything is for public consumption either.”
Gemma gasps and a hurt look crosses her face. “We’re not public consumption,” she says the words like they’re curse words.
“I know,” I groan as my shoulders slump. “I’m just not ready to talk about it.”
“Fine,” Gemma agrees before shooting me a look that promises we’ll be circling back whether I’m ready or not, “for now.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I huff and when she smiles, I know it’s all good.
“Since we’re not talking about Greylin and what’s bugging her, after walking through here on a rampage for days, can we rant some more about that inspection?” Meadow’s eyes flash with something that would concern me if I was the health inspector who visited us a few days ago.
I found out the inspector dropped by when I came into work after the whole laundry excuse incident.
Laundry!
Can you believe it?
I couldn’t. Not after he had been so intense and came after me with so much intent.
It’s hard not to shiver when remembering how it felt to have all of his focus. Then I remember how I haven’t heard from him and I strengthen my resolve. The audacity of that man.
“Meadow,” Gemma groans and flops back in her desk chair very dramatically, “we have been over the entire inspection so many times that I feel like I was right there in the room when it all happened.”
“No,” Meadow gripes, “it was just me, him, and his smug bullshit. I swear I thought he was going to pat me on the head and tell me keeping all the rules straight must be so hard because clearly my tits make it impossible.”
I choke on my laughter, which is probably why she said it. She winks at me and some of the tightness in my chest eases. As long as I have these women at my side, I can get through anything.
Mayer rubs her temples, her voice wary, “I’m not looking forward to when he emails with the results.
” She shakes her head. “He tried to say the entire building would need to be looked at because of the bakery. When I argued with him about the codes he’s supposed to be upholding, he backed off.
I have a feeling we won’t be so lucky next time. ”
“I just don’t get why mayor asshole has such an issue with Storyville having a dispensary. You would think he would want new businesses to thrive,” Meadow muses. “We’re bringing in new visitors as well.”
“That’s because Gemma is a genius when it comes to social media,” I throw in there and she tosses a smile of thanks my way.
“I don‘t have my communications degree for nothing,” Gemma teases us.
“I don’t know why Simmons has such a problem with this place, but I don’t care anymore,” Mayer snaps before shooting us apologetic smiles.
Just as her lips part, I’m sure to voice those apologies, a ding comes from her computer and she sits up straighter. She’s not the only one. I think we all practically leap out of our chairs.
Because we all know what the sound was.
An email has arrived.
Could it be spam? Possibly. Could it be completely unrelated to the whole health inspector situation we have going on?
More than likely. Could it be the results of that inspection?
I fucking hope so because waiting for it, especially after how things have been going with Aiden, is fucking with my nerves.
Mayer closes her eyes briefly before murmuring something far too quiet for me to hear. When she focuses on the computer the rest of us stare at her, but she’s intent and doesn’t look our way. I’m not even sure I want to know at this point.
My stomach is in knots, and I desperately want to run away. But I can’t.
Meadow jumps up and screeches, “No, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to know what it says.”
“We passed,” Mayer’s voice is grim, “but barely.”
Meadow’s shoulders slump and I swear the woman is about to become a puddle of despair and disappointment on the floor. Gemma is closer to her and leaps into action, grabbing our best friend and steering her towards the sitting area.
“You’re trying to sell me the sugarcoated version, Mayer,” Meadow’s tone is full of accusation.
“Sugarcoated,” I snort out the word. “She said we barely passed,” I point out.
“There is so much more here,” Mayer says.
All of our attention snaps back to her and I swear she’s gone a few shades lighter than normal while reading the email. I can also see the pure rage in her eyes.
Bart Simmons might think he’s dealing with four girls who simply grew up in this town, but he’s underestimated us. He’s forgotten growing up here means we have deep roots. He’s also forgotten that we’re four grown fucking women.
We aren’t going to cower just because a man thinks he has some power and wants to throw it around.
Gemma’s voice is tentative as she asks, “How bad is it?”
Meadow, at the same time bites out, “He screwed us over, didn’t he?”
“Bad,” Mayer says and glances at Gemma. “Screwed over would be preferable to the way he outright fucked us.”
When she looks at Meadow, I can see the shadows in her eyes. This has taken its toll on our best friend. Something is going to have to change, and it’ll have to happen soon.
She can’t keep doing this.
I have no idea how I can possibly end this. If Mayer hasn’t gotten it to stop yet, I’m not sure anyone can at this point.
Making peace with that is next to impossible.
My chest aches and I find myself rubbing the spot. Missing Aiden is a strange sensation. There’s no reason in the world for me to be missing him.
We spent one night together.
“I have a laundry list of changes and adjustments which must be made.” Mayer says the words while eyeing Meadow like she’s expecting the woman to explode. I’m kind of bracing for it.
Meadow takes a few deep breaths and then nods slowly. “Okay. Print the list, please. I want to see it.”
“What else?” Gemma’s question is tentative in a way I feel down to my bones.
“There’s a fine,” Mayer explains, her eyes squeezing closed. “And we have to post our inspection grade.”
“I already knew that was a requirement,” Meadow gripes.
“I don’t like it. If we lose business because of this health inspection crap, isn’t that malicious intent?
It’s theft, in a way, and he’s using his office to do it.
” Meadow looks toward the woman we trust to hold us all together.
“I know you’re trying, but this needs to end Mayer.
The plan cannot be for us to keep our heads down and hope he tuckers himself out, or the evidence tips in our favor. ”
“I know,” Mayer reminds us, “but he’s too good at keeping up appearances. People really believe he’s some great mayor who cares about the people in this town.” Her lip curls in disgust, “Bart Simmons only cares about himself. The whole thing is ridiculous.”
“Do you think people will stop coming to the bakery?”
Meadow’s question is so small that I almost don’t hear it. Gemma sucks in a breath while Mayer’s eyes turn a little glassy with unshed tears; and she is not the type to cry.
“I think Storyville has fallen in love with your treats,” Mayer says as she gets up from her desk and makes her way over to the couches while grabbing whatever printed out. “They also can see how meticulous you are when it comes to the bakery.”
“Yeah,” Meadow breathes out, “but I can’t help but think that people could stop coming in. What if this inspection grade is like the scarlet letter? No one will want anything to do with us. All of our hard work will have been for nothing.”
“Meadow,” Mayer snaps. Meadow snaps her mouth shut and turns toward our friend. “Sorry,” Mayer winces, “you were going off the deep end and there was no way I was going to slap you.” She waves around the list of issues that need to be addressed and Meadow snaps it up.
I watch Meadow’s face intently as she reads through it. She points to one and then looks up at us, “I’ve never been so insulted in all my life. He smiled to my face, even made a few jokes, and then he goes behind my back and tells lies about me and my kitchen.”
She stands up and starts to stalk toward the door. I call out to her, “Where are you going?”
When she looks over her shoulder and back at us, she’s so mad she’s practically breathing smoke.
“I’m going to defeat all the evil in the world,” she sasses and then scoffs.
“No, I’m going to go knead some dough. It’ll help me get out my frustrations, of which there are many.
When I’m sure I won’t drive to whatever government building he calls home to smack the shit out of that man, I’ll be back and we can put a plan together for how to take care of everything on the list. Most of it is petty crap, but if it can make us better then I’ll deal with it. ”
She stalks off which is when I turn toward Mayer who winces when she notices that Gemma and I are looking at her intently.
She sighs and shakes her head. “The good thing is we can afford this fine. What I’m worried about is it becoming a regular occurrence.
We already get hit with enough crap with him pulling out archaic city ordinances and laws. ”
“At least we can get over this hurdle and onto the next one.”
As I look at the way Mayer grimaces and tries to hide it, I’m starting to wonder what happens when we don’t clear a hurdle that comes our way. Too much is at stake to fall flat on our face, literally and metaphorically speaking.
And, to top it all off, I still haven’t heard from Aiden.
Is it wrong that I really wish I was going home to be wrapped up in his arms? It’s been a shitty few days and I know it would help a lot of it melt away.
But he won’t be waiting for me when I get home. It was silly of me to think we could have something more together.