Page 30 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
“I politely declined her offer to send some nude toe pics my way. I think she was hoping I’d offer the same.” She met Max’s gaze solemnly. “I’m afraid I let her down.”
“Only you, Ari.”
“I once had a guy massage my scalp in his car after dinner,” Ella said. “We’d known each other for under two hours.”
Stevie leaned forward. “Now, that doesn’t sound half bad. There’s a lot I’d do for a scalp massage.” She added a bark of laughter, which made Max smile. “Ella, you seem sweet enough to attract some weirdos.”
Ella scrunched one eye closed. “Is that code for pushover?”
“She’s hardly that,” Max said gently, taking a seat.
“Thank you,” Ella said back quietly.
“Rough day at the office, M?” Olive asked with sympathetic eyes. “You look a little stressed.”
“Not a single person offered to massage my scalp.” She relaxed into a smile, attempting to let the day fall off of her. “Sorry,” she said quietly to Ella, who nodded once.
“Speaking of not being a pushover, I have a bit of a career announcement to make,” Ella said. She held up a hand. “It’s minor, but I think I want to launch a new business and startdesigning these.” She turned this week’s cover around and pulled a nervous face.
“Ella, that’s perfect,” Ariana said with a wide grin. “You’re gonna be the coolest member of the Weepers. You’re legit going to be part of the romance industry.”
“I want an autographed copy of your first book design,” Morgan said, hand to heart.
“It’s a great idea,” Max said. “You have such a good handle on these books that I’m sure you’ll come up with some amazing covers.”
“Real talk.” Ella hooked a thumb her way. “This is all very new, and Max was partly responsible for planting the first seed.”
She sat taller and grinned, surprised to hear she’d been a part of this process. That’s what attention from Ella Baker did—left you grinning like crazy. “I definitely can’t take credit. I asked a question at a grocery store.” But the kernel of having been a part of the process lodged, and her face felt hot.
“Well, it landed. Then I got to meet Alexandra Raymond at Doug’s when she saw the flyer I’d designed and asked, guess what? If I did covers.” She looked over at Max, incredulous. “The back-to-back mentions felt like a sign.” She shook her head, grinning, looking adorable and excited. “I guess I’ve been really stressed about my career, and now that I have a project, even if it’s small, I can breathe a little better.” Max had zero right, but she wanted to remember the way Ella looked in this moment. Passionate Ella was a favorite. Excited was up there now, too. She was less of a fan of the judgmental slash angry version, but at the same time, Ella was never cruel. Her one regret was that Ella couldn’t see her for who she truly was.
“I love when we do group updates. Stevie, what about you?” Ariana asked. “How’s your journey into the lady pond going?”
“Ah, hell. It’s just easier if I stay in my house and host my friends who talk about books.” She reached for a celery stick, looking more vulnerable than Max had ever seen her.
“You take your time,” Olive said, nudging her.
“Or don’t and rip the fear off like a Band-Aid,” Ariana said with a shrug. “There’s always Sally Sue’s.”
Morgan sat upright like a child whose parents had just dangled Disneyland. “I’m with Ari. Sally Sue’s would be fun.” Her eyes went even wider. “Hey, we could all go.”
Stevie raised an intrigued brow. “So, I’d just walk around and offer to buy some woman a drink.” She covered her eyes. “I don’t think I could ever do that. Wait. Maybe I could do that.”
“You certainly could do that.” Ella leaned in and regarded the group. “Is this a gay bar?”
“Exactly that,” Morgan said. “Halfway between here and the city. It’s part jungle cruise, part country and western. Sal couldn’t decide on theming. There’s line dancing and safari imagery.” A lightbulb went off. “That’s right. Everyone, Ella’s new! We have to introduce her to Sally Sue’s.” She swiveled, excitement flying off her like sparks. “And Stevie, you can just tag along and get your bearings. Dip your toe into the sexy woman scene and maybe even flirt a little.”
Max smiled, impressed by the expert manner in which Morgan had just taken the pressure off Stevie by making this about Ella. Knowing her big heart, the low-pressure delivery had been intentional. “A group event it is, in Ella’s honor.”
“Now, I need a new outfit,” Ella said. “I don’t have western wear or safari clothes. Except, I’m on a spending restriction until I sell some book covers, so you’re stuck with the wardrobe I own.”
Max shook her head sadly. “I don’t know that we can take you with us under those conditions.”
Ella sucked in air in offense.
“Ignore her. You’re coming,” Ariana said. “You, too,” she told Stevie.
“Oh, fuck a duck,” Stevie said. “I’ll work on getting myself primed.”
