Page 80 of Happy Endings

Zoe rubbed Trixie’s arm, encouraging her to continue.

“He’s not supposed to fall in love with me. We were keeping it strictly casual. And Keisha has joked about us getting married.” Marriage was not in her five-year plan. Though Trixie was relieved that Keisha finally knew about her and Andre. They’d become close, and she didn’t want to sabotage her friendship with Keisha. Though now it might be too late.

“That escalated fast. His sister only learned about you two yesterday.”

“He said he’d never stopped loving me. He has no right to say that after everything he put me through. Like it’s supposed to make everything all right?” Trixie was angry. At herself for letting him back into her bed. Angry at him for—what? For loving her?

All this time, she’d reminded herself over and over that Andre was only a fun detour. She thought she could handle keepingthings physical only. Then he shared his feelings with her. He let himself be vulnerable around her. All things he didn’t do back in New Orleans. Hehadchanged.

“I think I love him, too,” Trixie whispered. Saying it out loud scared her, but she repeated it. “Oh my God, I love Andre.”

“That’s not bad, is it?”

“When I’m in love, I make bad decisions,” said Trixie. Like in New Orleans when she second-guessed her decision to tell her parents. “Not this time. I have to tell him I want to be a part of this co-op.”

“Wait, what did I miss?” Zoe’s eyebrows furrowed. “You just admitted to loving him and now you’re talking about the shop?”

“I want to lease this co-op so bad, Zoe. It’s one step closer to my dream.”

“But?”

“By choosing the co-op, I’m choosing his enemy. How could I do that to the man I love?”

“Trixie, you are not his enemy,” Zoe scoffed. “He should never have put you in that position.”

“Why do I feel like I should turn down the co-op for him? I can’t put my dreams on hold.” Her boutique was just beyond her grasp. She only had to step forward. Once the co-op was open and flourishing, her parents would be proud of her again. Her dad would talk to her once more.

“I’m going to tell him after community dinner,” Trixie resolved. “If he loves me like he said, he’ll understand why this is so important for me.”

“Wait!” Zoe held up a finger. “What if you don’t have to choose between him and District Market?”

“What do you mean?”

“I have lots of space in my shop. Why don’t you open Happy Endings at Something Cheeky?” Zoe’s eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands.

“Wait, you’re serious?” Trixie studied Zoe, whose body was visibly buzzing with excitement.

“It’s a great pairing and we’d have so much fun together!”

Trixie could tell her roommate was mentally rearranging her shop to make room for Happy Endings. Zoe’s spacious lingerie boutique had plenty of room, one of the luxuries of leasing a spot in a suburban Falls Church strip mall.

“Can I think about it?”

Zoe’s face fell.

“Oh, no, I mean we would have fun together. My toys complement your custom lingerie so well.” Trixie hugged her friend. “You’re always so generous and I love you for it. I’ve had my heart set on my own shop for so long. It’s hard to change your dreams overnight.”

“I get it. I felt the same way about Something Cheeky and didn’t want to settle.” Zoe squeezed Trixie’s arm. “You should never settle when it comes to your dreams.”

“Thanks for understanding.” Once again, Trixie thanked the universe for putting Zoe and the rest of the Boss Babes into her life.

“You have to do what’s right for you.” Zoe pointed at Trixie. “Not me. And definitely not Andre.”

Trixie nodded. She had plenty of time to think about all of it before next week’s community dinner. Then she’d talk it over with Andre. He loved her. She’d heard him. He would support her no matter what. He had to.

MAMAHAZEL’S WASpacked the following Monday for community dinner. Andre sent Xavier to the coffee shop two blocks downto borrow chairs. Columbus Day—or Indigenous Peoples’ Day, as Keisha called it—was a federal holiday. In DC you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting someone who had the day off. He hoped Luis and Keisha had prepared enough food.

The last time their dining room had been this full was his mother’s celebration of life two years ago. Neighbors had packed into the restaurant to pay their respects and recall their favorite memories about his mother.

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