Page 62 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“I’m really good. Busy, thanks to you.” They sat across from each other.

Carly did a little fist pump. “I was happy to do it. It’s been fun to help some of my favorite people around town. Hell, Blythe offered me free cupcakes for life for connecting you two. What’s better than that?” She laughed, face bright and happy.

Elliott searched for any visual indication Carly was depressed, lonely, or suffering and found none. No dark circles under her eyes, no slouched posture, no wrinkled clothes. Carly looked perfectly put together and sublimely happy.

Not like someone who’d just lost the love of their life.

Carly leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. “I actually came here to thankyoufor everything you’ve done for me.”

Elliott thought for a moment but couldn’t come up with anything she’d done to help Carly. “What do you mean?”

“That’s one reason I wanted to meet with you, besides just catching up. I’m going to post it on my socials soon but wanted to tell my friends in person. And you, because you played a big part in this decision.” She clasped her hands together under her chin, dark hair spilling over her shoulders. “I’m moving back to Oklahoma.”

“Really?” Elliott had never been to Oklahoma and didn’t know much about Carly’s childhood there, but Carly’s smile was bigger than Elliott had ever seen it.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved style and fashion. But it never seemed like something I could make a career out of, so I went the safe route and picked accounting. I figured I could always express myself through what I wore, no matter what my job was.”

Clothes weren’t something Elliott paid a lot of attention to, but now that she thought about it, Carly was the best-dressed person she knew. “That explains all the fashion boutiques you’re always posting about.” Elliott had checked one out once and felt so out of place she’d made an awkward loop around the store and gotten the hell out of there.

“Yes! Leaving Silvia’s behind might be harder than all the free cupcakes I won’t get from Blythe, but she promised to ship me stuff whenever I want. Anyway, I have this friend back in Oklahoma City, Mai, who’s a personal stylist. She’s tried to get me to come work with her before, but I never had the nerve to actually do it. I didn’t have a lot of money growing up, and doing something like that just seemed too risky. Working on commission? No way. So I stayed here with my safe accounting job, watching Mai’s business flourish and wishing I could be part of it but never doing anything about it.

“Then I met you. The way you didn’t let your past stop you from getting what you want out of life was so inspiring. And when I heard you talk about how much you love what you do and why you want to do it? It reminded me why I love fashion and why I want to share that with others, so I called Mai to see if the offer was still on the table. You’re such a badass, moving and starting a new business from scratch, and I guess ... I guess I want to go after what I want with that same intensity, you know?”

Elliott couldn’t help but match Carly’s enthusiasm with a wide grin. “I had no idea you were interested in that, but personal styling suits you. I’m so happy for you.”

“Me too. I can’t wait, honestly. I mean, I’m so glad I came here for school, and I’ve loved living here. I really needed to get away from Oklahoma City for a while after high school, and I’ll never regret coming here. But it never really felt like home. And then, when Jamie and I broke up, I kept asking myself what was keeping me here. When Mai said she had a spot for me, it felt like a sign.”

It never really felt like home.Would that have played into the staying power of her relationship with Jamie if they’d stayed together? What if a long-term future with him had never been Carly’s plan?

Elliott shoved the thoughts away, ashamed for grasping at excuses to justify pining for Carly’s ex. “So it’s, like, official, right? You’re doing it?”

“Yup. The styling gig is part-time for now, but I work for a regional accounting firm, and they have an office in Oklahoma City. I’m going to do both for a while until I build up a client base.”

Elliott laughed. “Just like me.”

“You, me, Stephen ... We’re all out here hustling to pay rent and do what we love, too. I feel like I’m finally doing something for myself for the first time in forever.”

Elliott was a little envious of how certain Carly was about her decision—must be nice not second-guessing yourself all the time. “I love that for you.”

“We’ll keep in touch, right?”

“Of course, are you kidding? I’ll be living vicariously through your new fancy fashion life.” Elliott shot her wide eyes. “Especially if you pick up any famous clients. Who’s famous in Oklahoma?”

Carly frowned, thinking. “Carrie Underwood?”

“I think James Marsden is from there, isn’t he? I want to say Brad Pitt was born there, too.”

Carly’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God, I’ll move tomorrow.”

Elliott laughed. “None of those people still live there.”

“Hey, you never know where a good fashion connection will take you.”

“In that case, if you happen to meet Nick Jonas, maybe casually mention you’ve got a friend in Nebraska who makes a damn-good vanilla latte and gives excellent back rubs.”

“Nick Jonas? Really?”

“Don’t judge me.”

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