Page 93 of Her Marine
Journee smiled at her. “You’re more than welcome, and I only suggested them; you decided to use them.”
“And I’ll have to for any future large events I have to attend.” Alijah held up a folded piece of paper to her. “I wanted to give you this.”
Journee took it, and as she unfolded it, she found it was a check. “Oh, no. Kieran already paid the balance. I’m going to send you a receipt once the night comes to an end.” Journee was figuratively and literally speaking since it was almost midnight.
“I know,” Alijah responded. “You went above and beyond, and I wanted to show you my appreciation and give you a tip, so to speak.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to,” Alijah told her, and Journee got the distinct feeling that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Kieran’s waiting on me so we can go, but please know I will be calling on you for help with the company Christmas party this year. Planning it myself the last two years has been almost headache-inducing.”
Journee laughed. “I’ll look forward to your call.”
Alijah hugged her again before hurrying off to find her husband. Journee watched her go for a few moments before going to her satchel. She placed the check inside and emailed Alijah her receipt before putting her tablet in.
Usually, Journee would have stayed to oversee cleanup, but Alijah told her she didn’t need to since the staff would take care of the dishes and trash; the decorations wouldn’t come down until the following morning. She was going to her car when she heard someone trying to get her attention.
“Excuse me.”
Journee turned around and saw one of the guests. If she remembered correctly, the woman had sat on Alijah’s side.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I know it’s late, and you’re trying to leave, but I was wondering if you had a business card on you.”
“Of course,” Journee responded, reaching into the side of her satchel and pulling one out. “Here you go.”
“Thank you. I would have asked Alijah, but I don’t want to bother her on her honeymoon, and I’m prone to forget until the last minute,” the woman said with a laugh.
“It happens to the best of us.”
“I’m sorry. I’m Layla,” she introduced, holding out her hand.
“Journee.” She took the other woman’s hand and shook it.
“Nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be calling you soon.”
“I look forward to it.”
Layla turned and walked away, and Journee continued to her car. She pulled her phone from her back pocket and tossed it into the passenger seat with her satchel before starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.
Journee rolled over in bed at the incessant banging on her front door. She sat up, glancing over at the clock on her bedside table, to find it was almost four in the morning. She’d only gotten home three hours ago and hadn’t been asleep but a couple of hours.
She wiped the sleep from her eyes, got up, and went to her front door. She looked through the peephole to see Kaydence and Axel on the other side. Journee unlocked the door, and no sooner than she’d cracked it open, Kaydence was walking into the house.
“Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” her friend questioned.
“My phone?” It took a moment for the question to register in her sleep-heavy brain. “Oh, I had to turn it off at the wedding and forgot to turn it back on. Why are you banging on my door at four in the morning?”
“Well, I would have let myself in, but I went off and forgot my keys,” Kaydence stated. “You need to get dressed. Killian…he’s…” Kaydence trailed off, glancing at her husband, and Journee felt the fog begin to lift from her mind.
“What about Killian?”
“He’s been hurt,” Axel supplied. “He was in an accident and is in the hospital.”
Journee could do nothing but blink at them. Axel’s words settled in her ears, and she turned, briskly heading down the hallway. She needed to go,hadto go.
