Page 92 of Untethered Heart
“How are the interviews going, Claire?” Freya asks as we sit around the table at Chord and Coupe, sipping margaritas.
Since Claire and Lee got together, his mum, Freya, decided she and Claire’s mum, Margot, were destined to be besties. Which meant Wednesday night became our new girls’ night.
After the charity ball for H&H Mining, Caleb, Beth, and Tenley raved about Claire’s salon to the point that she needed to find more staff to keep up with bookings. She’s booked two months in advance right now, and my heart is so full of love at the impact their words have had.
“I’m so glad I hired Maeghen last year as my assistant manager. She has been a Godsend throughout this. We managed to hire another senior beauty therapist. She started yesterday, and she totally fits our vibe. I have another interview tomorrow, so fingers crossed that goes well.”
“I’m so happy for you,” I say as I reach across the table to squeeze her hand.
“Me too. This is everything I’ve ever wanted,” Claire beams. “I just feel so content with life right now.”
“As your mother, nothing is better than hearing that.” Margot smiles.
Lee coming into Claire’s life has not only changed Claire, but his family has included Margot in a way that feels like she’s slowlybecoming less jaded, too. Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed her joking around more with Freya and being more comfortable with her emotions. It would be so nice to see her open up further. We all deserve to find a place where we can be appreciated for being our true selves.
“And what about the distillery, Lex? How is that going?” Margot asks as a waiter comes by to deliver our tasting board of tacos.
“Really well.” I nod as I put my glass down so I can pick up a spicy cauliflower taco. “Isabelle, our branding manager for the project, has been wonderful at including me in all the stages of brand development. It’s so interesting. I love all the market research that goes into it, and then applying it in a creative way that works for Legacy Malt.”
“So, does Isabelle work for Legacy Malt? How does it work once the distillery opens to the public?”
I shake my head. “She’s more of an advisor. She develops the voice of our brand and gives us the tools to carry it on. We’ll check in with her every few months to see trends in sales, but having Heart Assets invest in us means we have their whole network to collaborate with. Kind of like Gage’s new bar having its own whiskey made by us.”
Claire smiles. “Dylan did well. A matchmaker professionally and personally.”
At the mention of my brother’s name, I’m hit with guilt over the fact that I still haven’t told him about me and Caleb. Our relationship is feeling more solid, more real. Caleb has assured me many times that even if we didn’t work out, he wouldn’t let it affect our business. I don’t know why I’m hesitating. Maybe it’s more to do with me than Dylan, though.
My feelings for Caleb are so unexpected. Since the night we met, it’s felt like a fever dream in the best way. It’s so good, I almost don’t believe it. That feeling of abandonment lingering inmy brain is still nagging me from the sidelines. The more I fall for Caleb, the more scared I am of losing him.
“Claire showed me the photos of you two from the ball the other week. You looked stunning together,” Freya says, dipping a chip into some guacamole.
“Dylan didn’t see the photos online?” Claire asks.
“If he has, he hasn’t called me out on it.” I take a sip of my margarita, licking the crisp sweetness off my lip. “I will tell him soon.”
“What’s the problem with telling Dylan?” Margot asks.
“I don’t know how he’ll take it.” I shrug. “I don’t want him worried about how my relationship with Caleb might affect Legacy Malt, since Caleb is also an investor. The tavern we own and the whiskey brand that Dylan’s developed are just so important to him. And me, but it’s different for Dylan. If the outside world were to see my sleeping with Caleb as a mere favour on his part, like a pity investment, all of Dylan’s hard work would be a joke.”
Claire tips her head back and blows a raspberry with her tongue, making people at the table next to us glare.
“Claire!” Margot scolds her daughter, then mouths an apology to the people beside us. “We can’t take you anywhere.”
“No. But if you want to have any fun, you should.” She winks and pokes her tongue out at her mum. “And girl, are you serious? Sleeping together. That man would do anything for you. What you have is so much more than that. Trust me. I’d know.”
“Oh, what have you heard?” Freya leans in, and Claire meets her with a grin before the look on her face sours, and she looks at me with a grimace.
“I don’t think I can talk about sex with my boyfriend’s mum, even if it isn’t about me.”
“I, for one, would also like to not be a part of that conversation,” Margot adds, with a finger in the air and her eyes pointedly fixed on her tacos.
“Sex is nothing to be ashamed about. You should try it sometime, Margot. Dust off those cobwebs.”
“I can handle things on my own.”
“Yes, but why should you? It’s nice to have a partner to take care of your pleasure. I guarantee you’ve forgotten, especially if your underwear drawer is anything to go by. Oh, look at the bar, that man with the dark hair, I’m sure he’s looking at you.”
Margot looks up, rolls her eyes, and dives back into her food with a tut. “He’s looking because you’re waving, Freya.”
