Page 76 of Love on the Waiver Wire

28

ISLA

It’s been three days, and I can’t stop thinking about Owen’s lips on mine. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more comfortable in someone’s arms, and as cheesy as that sounds, it’s true.

But it’s gallery day, which means that I need to focus on different things.

Nerves have been eating at me for the last two days, which is why I’m here at the gallery hours before I should be in shorts and a t-shirt making sure everything is hung up in the right spots.

I’m dusting one of the displays one more time when I hear a knock on the glass, finding Amara with her arms full of boxes.

“I got your snacks!” she exclaims as I let her in. She sits them down on the table with a huff, unstacking them to reveal one large box of grazing board items, the other various wines.

She looks at them, her head cocked to the side. “Hmm. I think Heidi is bringing the wine glasses.”

“I think they have some here,” I tell her, heading to the back to look.

I come back with a whole box of them, and she texts Heidi to let her know we don’t need them.

“Thank you for the board,” I tell her, hugging her firmly.

She waves her hand at me. “Don’t even mention it. You’re helping me. I think I want this to be my new venture.”

I look over her things, watching her unload different crackers, fruits, and other items to spread along the table. Amara has never talked about making grazing boards before, so her words come as a bit of a shock.

“Yeah?” I ask, watching her work. “When did that happen?”

“When did the business happen?” She shrugs, stacking her cheeses. “These go in the fridge until about half an hour before doors open,” she tells me with a wave. “But yeah, I’m not sure. It feels like a calling.”

“To, to make cheese boards?” I ask again, gathering the various cheeses in my hands.

She nods vigorously. “Yeah. I mean I love a good grazing board. I love working for myself. Boom. There.”

I nod, a little concerned for my friend.

But then again, who am I to talk? If she wants to do it, she should try.

Which is exactly one of the reasons she’s here today.

“I’ve got glasses!” comes a call from the front. I walk back to find Heidi with a box of glasses.

“Oh! I thought Amara texted you! We’ve got glasses covered,” I tell her, gesturing to the box. She purses her lips, looking down at her box.

“I did text her! I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner,” Amara apologizes, continuing to line crackers on the brown paper she laid out.

“No that’s my bad,” Heidi smiles. “Can I just put these in the back? I don’t feel like lugging them all the way back to my car down the road right now.

“Yeah, just stick them right back there.”

The three of us continue setting up, occasionally being dropped in on by the gallery owner. She’s a very nice older woman who’s owned this place for decades. She always makes it a point to let me know that she caters to smaller artists, and that some day I won’t be able to show here.

You know, because I’ve made it big.

It always makes me smile, despite how unsure I am about my current career path. I mean, maybe I’ll get enough commissions to make a great living. But I’m not sure if I’ll ever be good enough to show my art at more prestigious places.

An hour before opening, Mila dances through the doors, looking more chipper than she has in months. I send the other two questioning looks, but they look just as perplexed.

“You look happy,” I say slowly, watching as she tosses her shiny hair over her shoulder.

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