Page 8 of One Salty Beach

Just then the bell on the front door rings as Brody walks through smiling. “Hey Sis, how’s it hanging?” He asks.

“Oh you know, just talking to your girlfriend,” Ella says snarkily.

Brody smiles, Ella’s snark going right over his clueless head. “Good, you told her. I told you she wouldn’t be upset.”

I shake my head. “I can’t do this right now,” I say, then walk to the back and grab my purse before walking out the back door and to my car. Tears are welling up in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall until I’m out of here where no one can see me shed them. I drive to the only place I know that will make me feel better.

* * *

Brody

Iwatch Winnie bolt to the back of the shop while Ella stands there with her arms crossed, staring at me the same way she did when she found out I was the one who cut all of the hair off of her Barbies’ heads. “What did I miss?” I ask.

“A lot,” Lola says, dragging Bria to the back with her.

“Are you and Winnie sleeping together?” Ella asks me point-blank.

“Why… what did she tell you?”

“Until those flowers arrived a few minutes ago she hadn’t said a word. Then the cat was out of the bag and she said she didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Damn, I knew I should have sent them to her house,” I say. “Look Sis, I’m in love with her. I have been for a long time.”

“How did I not know about this?” She asks in disbelief.

I shrug. “I just never said anything. I didn’t want to screw this up before it had a chance to begin.”

“Well, she must mean a lot if you were able to keep it a secret for that long.” Ella laughs.

“Hey!”

Ella shakes her head. “I was going through a lot with my divorce the last couple of years. I’m sure that’s why I didn’t notice what was going on between you two before now.”

I put my hand on her shoulder and squeeze. “It just happened last week. I wouldn’t beat yourself up over it.”

Ella shrugs. “What I don’t get is why she kept it a secret to begin with. She’s my best friend.”

“She was worried you’d quit being her friend.”

“What? Why would she ever think that?” Ellas asks in disbelief.

I shake my head. “Ella, you don’t have to like it, but she’s the woman I’m going to marry one day. She’s going to be the mother of my children, and part of our family. You need to make things right with her, if not for your sake, then for mine.”

Ella grins wide. “You’re going to marry her?” She asks excitedly.

I nod. “As soon as I can get her to agree to it.”

Ella gives me a huge hug then starts walking to the back.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“I love you Bro, but I have to go find Winnie,” Ella calls before disappearing out the back door.

A couple of women walk into the shop and I take it as my cue to get the hell out of there. “Lola, Bria, you’re needed up front,” I call.

The girls come out a few seconds later and I leave through the front door, carrying the flowers with me. These did not go as I had planned.

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