Page 45 of Love Arranged
No worries. All is forgiven!
Me
Really?
Willow
Yeah. I can’t completely hold your drunk actions against you when I’m the one who suggested opening another bottle.
Me
I’m old enough to cut myself off before I ever let myself get to that point.
I was too down on my luck to stop, but I’ve learned my lesson.
Willow
Out of curiosity, how did you convince Lorenzo to keep working with me?
It takes me a few seconds to remember, and when I do, I groan.
Me
I may have threatened to run against him.
Willow
I had no idea you’re interested in politics.
Me
I can get a little sassy when drunk.
Not that I think my attitude had any sway over Lorenzo’s choice to keep working with Willow.
Willow
I’d say!
Willow
Thankfully whatever you said worked because he’s pretending last night didn’t happen.
Willow
But don’t assume you’re off the hook because I need to know everything about you, Lorenzo, and the Eros app.
So much for my plan to put last night behind me, and it’s all thanks to my big mouth and hurt feelings.
Two days later, I’m scheduled to open the shop before our second-newest employee takes over for the afternoon. I’m not much of a morning person, so I treat myself to an iced coffee from the Angry Rooster Café.
A few people in the café stop me to chat, and I entertain their conversations before I have to drag myself back to my car and drive over to the Historic District.
My stomach sours when I find the mayor and his two sons standing in the middle of Lavender Lane, reviewing what looks to be architectural plans. I’m tempted to keep driving around until the Ludlows leave, but I still need to wrap up the flower-wall design before we open for the day, so I park my car in an empty spot and walk over to Rose & Thorn.
My shop is in the Ludlows’ direct line of sight, so I brace myself for the inevitable.
“Lily!” the mayor calls out. I would love to ignore him, but I’d risk looking too immature in front of Richard, so I turn to face the three of them with an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.
