Page 63 of The Love Wager

I sit forward in my chair, teetering on the very edge of it. “Hit me.”

TWENTY-THREE

Indie

The California sun beats down against my freckled shoulders. Even though it’s only March, we’re having an unexpected heatwave I wasn’t ready for. My heels clack against the sidewalk as I pace back and forth outside the museum. My clients demanded a second viewing of the space before deciding to pay the hefty price tag to host their twentieth wedding anniversary in the place where they first met. I had to pull a few strings to get the manager in on his day off to walk them through.

My phone pings with another email notification. It’s been non-stop the last couple of weeks since I returned from Georgia. I’m working harder than ever before, but at least this time, the work amounts to something. Indie’s Event Co. is off the ground and turning a nice profit for the first time.

Our client list is a mile long, and our services are booked almost a year in advance. I never thought something like this could happen in just a few short weeks, but once you’re on the coveted referral list, it never stops.

Madi’s adorable face pops up on my screen, and I swipe to answer the video call.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey! Our linen vendor for the Baxter event on the sixteenth called the office because they couldn’t reach you. They said Mrs. Baxter called them directly to change the table colors again. They said they didn’t promise her anything but that she was adamant about the change. Do you have time to reach out to her and get back to them, or do you need me to do it? I know you’re on site right now, but you have a special way with her that makes her listen, and to be quite honest, she scares me.” Madi finally stops and takes a breath.

“Good morning to you, too.” I laugh, and her shoulders relax.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m almost done here with the Fredricks, and then I’ll head into the office. I can handle it then.”

“You’re the best, Indie. Thank you! I’ll see you in a bit. Later!”

That girl deserves a raise, and I need to hire another full-time staff member because client and vendor issues shouldn’t fall on her plate. However, someone has to pick up the slack I can’t keep up. I add reviewing resumes to my mental to-do list for the day.

Chatter behind me pulls my attention away from my phone, and I look up to find the Fredricks walking down the museum’s front steps, hand in hand, looking so in love, as if they’re planning their wedding instead of an anniversary party.

“Well?” I ask as soon as they’re within earshot.

“It’s perfect, Indie. We’ll take it.”

“Wonderful. I’ll send over the contract with the final numbers for the dates, and we can start plugging away all the smaller details now that you have a venue. If you have any questions, you have my cell and my email.”

Mrs. Fredricks pulls me in for a hug I’m not prepared for, whispering her thanks into my ear, and her husband shakes my hand before they turn to leave.

I check the time; it’s only ten-fifteen, but my coffee from this morning is already wearing off. It's not surprising, consideringit’s been fueling me on its own for the last five hours. I have time to stop for another energy boost, and right on cue, my stomach growls, demanding more than liquid to keep me going for the next eight hours.

I shoot off a text to Madi for her lunch order and drop into my tiny Toyota.

Let the hectic day begin.

“Hey, Tay. I can’t really talk right now. I’m in between meetings with clients. What’s up?”

“Oh, now that she’s a busy boss bitch, she doesn’t have time for little ol’ me. I see how it is. Dropping the bestie as soon as she’s useless, huh?”

“Oh lord, did you already finish off a bottle of wine over there?”

Taylor’s giggle tells me I’m onto something.

“You caught me. But I’m on my honeymoon. I’m allowed to enjoy the better things in life. Anyway, I wanted to let you know Brooks knows what you did.”

I choke on my iced coffee. “Tay! I told you not to tell him.”

“I didn’t. Well… I didn’t mean to. He called me in a huff, and it just kind of slipped out. I thought I’d warn you in case he reaches out. Unless…”

“Unless, what?”

“Has he already reached out? Have you finally realized you made a huge mistake and now know you two were meant to be together?”

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