Page 82 of Happy Endings

“You were amazing.” Andre came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She let herself relax in his embrace for a few seconds. If this conversation didn’t go well, this may be the last time he’d hold her.

“There’s something I have to ask you.” Andre gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

“Andre, we need to talk about the co-op.”

She unlatched his arms and turned around to face him. She grabbed his hands. He bit his lip and his eyebrows furrowed, but he didn’t speak.

“I want to do it.” There. She said it.

“Do what?” His confused eyes searched her face. “You mean open your store at the co-op?”

Trixie released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Yes. It’s the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. It’s a perfect starter space until Happy Endings can have its own store.”

“I thought we talked about this already.” He released her hands and stepped back. “Can’t you see my side of this?”

“I understand you hate what District Market represents, but Kait’s co-op isn’t the enemy. Me turning down this lease won’t stop what’s happening in your neighborhood.”

“If you cared about me and Mama Hazel’s, you’d find a different way to open your store.”

“You said you loved me. How does giving me an ultimatum show me that?” Trixie was livid. How dare he suggest she didn’t care about him or this restaurant? After all the time she’d spent with him, to taste his new dishes and their pop-ups.

Andre was stunned. She’d heard him that night. Heard him profess his love to her and ignored it. Now she wanted to open her shop at District Market. Of all the places in the DMV, she had to choose that town center. He wanted her to be happy and succeed, but there had to be another way.

“I—I do love you,” he whispered. “You heard me and didn’t say anything.”

“I’m sorry, Andre. I needed time to think.”

“Do you love me?”

She opened her mouth and closed it.

There was his answer right there. She didn’t love him. Or if she did, not enough. Now she was doing the one thing he didn’t want her to do. And to think he was going to ask her to officially be his girlfriend tonight.

“We can save Mama Hazel’s together,” Trixie pleaded. “OnceI’m up and running, I’ll send customers to Mama Hazel’s for lunch. We can still do pop-ups here.”

“It’s too late.” He shook his head. “I have a meeting with the new landlord next week. He probably wants to deliver the bad news in person.”

“Do you want me to join you? What if Keisha and I get a petition started? We can call the news and see if—”

“Trixie, I need time to think.” Andre’s head began to pound. He’d finally felt a little happiness and now it was gone. Everything was tumbling down again. “I’ll call you in a few days.”

“I’m sorry you think I’m choosing between you or District Market. I’m not.”

She leaned in to kiss him, but he turned away. Andre was all out of ideas. Maybe it was time to admit defeat.

Trixie opened her mouth and closed it. This time, it was she who walked out on him.

Chapter 30

Imiss my Babes.” Reina raised her drink for a toast. “I get out of sorts when we go too long between meetings.”

“No kidding,” Zoe said. “I’m up to my neck in custom orders. For which I have Josie to thank.”

“My boudoir clients are looking for unique lingerie for their shoots, so I have to refer them to the very best,” explained Josie.

“A toast to the Bitchin’ Boss Babes!” Trixie raised her glass to meet her friends’.

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