Page 70 of Friends With Benefits

Kerri’s mouth turned down. “Yes, I did. Because her clients loved it and kept asking for it.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Sela. I know you like to control every detail of your business, but it just didn’t seem that big of a deal. And it seemed to be a popular thing; I thought it was actually helping your business.”

“My business doesn’t need your help!” Sela shrieked.

“You know, I think you’ve been under a lot of stress lately. You are really overreacting to this.”

Sela looked even more outraged, apparently annoyed by Kerri’s calm reaction.

“While we’re having this discussion,” Sela continued tightly. “I’ve noticed all the stuff you put in the lounge. The Buddha statue has got to go. Same with the tinkling little water fountain. It’s annoying. And your plants can go back into your studio or your office. If I want plants, I’ll get my own plants.”

Kerri just stared at her. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Sela shook her head. “You are leasing space here, and I’m the boss. If you want to make any changes that impactmybusiness, you come seeme. Got it?”

Despite her numb detachment from the situation, a little spiral of anger started deep down inside. Her sister thought she could walk all over her and call all the shots. Well, not any more. She was so tired of people thinking she was flaky, with no mind of her own and no need to be taken seriously. Despite Mitch’s compliments the other day, he clearly felt that her desire to be married and have a family was inconsequential.

She stood up. “You are not my boss,” she told Sela clearly and coldly. “Do not ever say that again, and do not eventhinkthat. I am myownboss. I apologized for doing things without your knowledge, but I was only trying to make things better. My clients come here, too. You are totally overreacting, which just shows what a stressed-out control freak you are.”

“Control freak!” Sela sputtered. “Well, at least I have a profitable business.Youwouldn’t even have a business if it weren’t for my help, after losing your lease.”

That kind of stung, mostly because it was true. No. Kerri shook her head. It wasn’t true. She would have found a way to keep going even if Sela hadn’t come along with her offer to share space.

And what the hell did Sela know? Her yoga business was making money. Maybe not seven figures like the day spa, but it was making her very comfortable, thank you, even with having hired two instructors.

She narrowed her eyes at Sela angrily. “I don’t need your help.”

They glared at each other for a long moment, then Sela turned with a huff and exited Kerri’s office. Kerri stared after her, throat aching, eyes burning.

Suddenly it all seemed too much. Mitch’s hurtful refusal to commit to her despite the fact that he said he loved her, and her sister’s cutting words were just too much to bear.

Tears stung her eyes as she leaned against the edge of her desk, staring blindly into space.

She hadn’t wanted that much. A man to love, to spend her life with, make a family with. Respect from her family and friends. And sure, a successful business, although she already knew her definition of success was different than Sela’s and maybe her parents’, and maybe even Mitch’s. Everyone was so focused on money and profits. Kerri liked the fact that she was making a difference in people’s lives.

Even with the stupid massage oil. She’d been so proud of the formulas she’d developed and how popular they had been. Even the fact that Amanda had apparently given the oil to the other therapists andtheytoo were using it was a compliment to her abilities. Nobody seemed to recognize that.

Nobody would ever take her seriously now.

Glumly, she contemplated her office, blinking back tears.

Clearly this wasn’t going to work out with her and Sela in the same space. For some reason, Sela thought that gave her the right to criticize and tell her how to run her yoga business, too. She sighed. Back to the drawing board. She’d have to start again looking for some space for a studio.

It was going to be even harder now, though, because she’d added all those classes, which were really popular. People liked it here—the warm décor, comfortable waiting area and changing rooms, and all that parking. She sighed.

She pushed a hand wearily through her hair. She was emotionally drained from her disagreement with Mitch and now this. She’d lost her best friend, the love of her life that she’d only just found, and now her business was in jeopardy too. Shit.

She glanced at her watch. She had one more class today and then she could go home and hide and maybe she’d never come out.

***

She couldn’t get out of it.

Kerri sighed. Hailey had convinced her to make an appearance at the birthday party she was throwing for Miguel, even though she knew Mitch was going to be there. Kerri hadn’t wanted to talk about what had happened between her and Mitch, so she hadn’t told Hailey about their break-up. It was too humiliating. She was completely, helplessly in love with a man who refused to marry her.

But when she’d refused to come to the party, she’d had to tell Hailey something. Too bad Hailey’s sympathy just made her start crying all over again, when she’d thought she had finally cried herself dry and gotten control.

Now here she was walking into Hailey’s home, knowing she was about to see Mitch, her stomach in tight knots, her mind a whirl of frantic thoughts.

Her eyes searched the room even as she greeted her friends and followed Hailey into the kitchen. She didn’t see Mitch.

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