Page 103 of The Life We Left Behind

“Miss Moneybags doesn’t need a job,” Blake added before I could shut her up.

“Idoneed a job. Well, I think it’s more that I need, no, Iwanta business. I want to work for myself.”

“It does have its perks,” Emma agreed. “How about growing efficient lilacs out of season? I hear there’s a lot of demand for that nowadays.”

I laughed because it was honestly impossible not to when you finally found someone who was willing to make fun of Regina this much.

“Ooooh. You’ve got an idea,” Blake said, lifting her head and looking at me. “I know that face. That’s your. I’ve got an amazing idea, and I’m trying to talk myself out of it face.”

I stuck my tongue out at her. “I do not have a face like that.”

“Babe, I hate to tell you, but you do.”

I waved her off, giving a slight shove for the audacity to call me out on my bullshit constantly.

“Violence is how she expresses her love,” Blake whisper shouted at Emma, who smiled wryly, waiting for me to carry on.

“Okay. It is a bit crazy, though. But I think I want to do it, but I don’t know if it will ever make any money, and I?—”

“Just tell us already,” Emma blurted out before putting a hand over her mouth in surprise. “Sorry. This is just the mostexciting thing that’s happened to me in ages. I feel like I’m living in a soap opera, and I am totally here for it.”

Blake held up a hand, and Emma high-fived her before the two of them turned their undivided attention on me.

I cringed at the attention. This was not how I thought this would go, and it was a totally crazy idea.

“I might want to make cider,” I said quietly.

“Oh, that’s a good idea,” Blake cooed. “Your dad’s cider was really good.Yes, you should do that! How exactlydoyou do that?” she added, looking confused.

“Well, we already have the orchards and the equipment to make small batches, so I guess I’d start with that and getting it into some county shows and things, try to get some recognition. Brand it. Look for small sales outlets to start with while we upgrade the equipment. I’d need to source a reliable local source for the fruit because expanding the orchards is going to take time. The trees are going to need to get established before they reach a maturity where they’re?—”

“See, this is what happens when you put a Delaney in her natural habitat and allow her the opportunity to think for herself,” Blake whispered loudly to Emma. “She’s going to roll through her thoughts, oblivious to the rest of us until she reaches thelist stage. This usually requires extensive stationery supplies and sometimes, if the conditions are right,spreadsheets.”

Emma ooh-ed like she was watching a documentary, and I rolled my eyes playfully, holding in the fact that I may have already started making a spreadsheet the other day when I first started thinking about this.

“Really?” I sighed in exasperation.

“Ignore me.” Blake laughed. “I’m just happy you’ve started thinking about the future again, Lanes. You’ve kind of been stuck in the present and not wanting to look outside of your comfort bubble for a while.”

I wanted to deny it. I really did, but she was completely right.

“Okay. I’m getting us another round, and then we’re moving on to what we really all came here for,” Emma said, sliding out of the booth and heading to the bar.

I looked at Blake, and she gave me her evil grin that made me know she was up to no good. No amount of glares or questions broke her until Emma came back with our drinks and then stared at me expectantly.

“I have no idea what’s happening right now,” I admitted nervously as I took a deep drink from my beer.

Emma and Blake exchanged a look, and that evil grin spread to Emma as well. Oh shit, I really was in trouble now.

“This would be the sex portion of the conversation, Lanes. We need inches. We need ‘O’ scores. We need signature move details.Every. Single. Detail.”

“What? Absolutely not!”

“You’re right.” Emma nodded seriously. “Tequila is needed before we do this.” And then she slipped out of the booth again.

I was in so much trouble with these two.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

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