Page 65 of The Reality of Us
He was right. Her social media had been going off ever since she shared the logo for The Emancipation of Alice and teased her candles. Her last post, a cartoon picture of a pair of budgie smugglers covered in cocktails with the matching candle, had been shared thousands of times. It was the first time she’d been excited about going viral in ages.
Owen slowed to a walk, and she followed his lead, breathing deeply. She pulled at a loose thread on her coral-coloured top. The cool breeze hadn’t bothered her when they were running, but now a chill crept over her skin. “But what if …”
“… it doesn’t go well?”
She nodded, not wanting to give her fears more room inside her mind by voicing them.
“I’m going to tell you what every business owner I know said when I opened my firm. Okay? It’s clichéd and annoying and stupidly, frustratingly true.”
He waited until her gaze met his. His eyes were full of golden flecks today, and his running shirt clung to his chest, which rose and fell steadily. No hint of exertion or worry.
“These things take time.”
“I don’t want to fail …”
He looked around the trail, checking they were alone before he pulled her into his arms. “You’re not going to fail. Didn’t your last post have a gazillion likes or something?”
She mumbled against his chest. “Just because people like something doesn’t mean they’re going to buy it.”
An alarm went off on his phone, his arms returning to her waist once he’d silenced it. “It’s going to be great. You’ve worked hard, done your research. People are chomping at the bit to support you. Put on something sparkly and gorgeous and Alice-y and be yourself. You’ll smash it.”
She leant into his embrace a little more, focusing on the steady beat of his heart against her cheek.
“Something Alice-y, huh?” she whispered.
His voice lowered, like whatever he was going to say was only for her, even though no one was around. “I like all your shiny, bright clothes.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “You thought they were stupid in the beginning. I could tell.”
The now familiar curl of his lips sent a thrill through her. “I didn’t understand them, that’s all.”
“And now you do?”
Owen brushed his lips across her forehead, and her heart went boom, boom, boom. “Your clothes are a part of you, honey. They reflect your lightness and exuberance, how you want to make people smile. At least they always make me smile.”
She’d always thought of her clothes as a defence or her armour. A distraction. No one would ask the girl wearing a burnt orange dress and tights covered in sequined pineapples how she planned to solve world hunger. She wasn’t expected to be clever. It didn’t hurt they were fun to wear and always cheered her up. Knowing Owen liked her clothes made her love them even more.
They ambled towards his Jeep, the only car in the car park, his arm firmly around her shoulders. “I thought I might shower at your place this morning if you were still looking for a little distraction,” he whispered against her hair. All her senses fired up, energy flowing through her tired limbs as she leant away from him. “But Teddy will be there.”
“And Murphy. I guess you’ll have to be quiet,” he teased before his expression grew serious. “I believe in you.”
Those were dangerous words. How long had she been waiting to hear them? She cuddled back into his chest, savouring the strength of his body under her cheek. His heartbeat was strong and true, just like his words.
“I believe in me too,” she whispered.
The soft jazz Owen was used to at Lulu’s Boutique had been replaced with the buzz of chatter and eighties tunes. He spotted Alice in the corner, her face alight with happiness, hands dancing in front of the display as she showed people her candles and smiled for selfies.
“Owen,” Lulu called, and he tore his gaze away from Alice. His mother beckoned him towards the register where she kissed him on the cheek quickly and took the tray of coffees out of his hands. “Can you get another box of candles from the back room? We’re almost out. Again. I think we might sell out!”
“Sounds like a good problem to have.” He scooted behind the counter.
“Alice is a hit! I knew she would be!” Lulu cheered, and he didn’t even try to stop his grin.
Owen had known it, too.
“Grab some more bags while you’re back there too, please, darling.”
He disappeared through the beaded curtain hanging across the storeroom doorway, scanning the room for the boxes of Alice’s candles. Once Owen had one, he ventured back out into the store, walking to the corner where her display was.
