Page 86 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
Ella fanned herself. “I love this story more and more.”
“Our own personal romance novel,” Morgan murmured with a dreamy gaze. “And you!” she said, whirling on Olive. “You’re sneaky. I thought you had some secret life, but it was right here in front of our eyes. When did you know Stevie was endgame?”
“When she opened the door for the first time and invited me in for book club. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.”
In that moment, Stevie blossomed like someone finally seen—her eyes shining, her whole body stilling as if she didn’t want to miss a single word. It was the kind of softness that comes when a heart hears exactly what it’s been waiting for.
The room went quiet as they took it all in.
“I’m so happy for you both,” Ella said, her voice laced with reverence. “That you were lucky enough in this great big world to find each other.”
One at a time, they each chimed in with their own words of sincere congratulations, and the evening shifted into more of a celebration, the book forgotten, at least for now. They used the time to catch up, lounge, eat, and get to know each other even better than they had before. It felt like they were stepping into a deeper level of friendship.
“Hey,” Stevie said, cradling her wineglass. “I’m just really excited about this group.”
Ariana slid a brown strand of hair behind her ear. “We’re an unlikely gang, aren’t we? But dammit, we work.”
“To working!” Max said, hopping up and extending her glass to the middle of the room. The others followed suit and clinkedtheir glasses together, laughter bubbling up as Morgan nearly spilled her drink.
“To working and wine!” Stevie added, grinning. She cranked up the music that had played quietly in the background until now, and, just like that, the room burst back to life, full of voices, movement, and the easy joy of people exactly where they were meant to be.
TWENTY-THREE
Romantic Headquarters
Doug’s Books had been through a lot, but was slowly beginning to show signs of rising from the literal ashes. The building had undergone quite the overhaul, including debris removal, water damage mitigation, specialized cleaning for the removal of smoke and soot, and electrical rewiring to ensure future safety. While they awaited the building inspection, they worked toward transitioning the interior back into a bookstore.
Ella pitched in as much as she possibly could, whether that meant helping Doug in his quest to choose new bookshelves or unpacking new inventory, which was actually her favorite task ever. Slicing open a brand-new box of books and seeing the covers revealed in all their glory was her own personal form of worship. Who would have imagined that when she lost her job at a marketing firm, it would bebooksthat not only saved her but also transformed her life in every way possible? As she held a copy of Casey McQuiston’s newest release, she inhaled the wonderful scent of a fresh, new book ready for someone special to creep off to a corner and devour. People would host book club discussions about this book, hold it in the highest regard ontheir favorites shelf, or conversely, throw it across the room in frustration. She smiled at the impact it would have on so many.
That’s when she heard a noise she distinctly recognized, sniffling. She stood and turned, looking for Doug, the only other human in the closed shop at 9 a.m. on a Thursday. He had to be the source.
“Doug?”
More sniffling, but no answer. She heard a higher-pitched sound akin to a whimper.
“Are you okay?” she called, frowning, peering around the corner to see Doug in his maroon cardigan, sleeves too long, sitting in a chair with his head in his hands.
Hearing her approach, he lifted his face, tear-stained and twisted with sorrow.
Her breath caught. “Doug,” Ella whispered, her heart shattered at the image.
“I just want it back the way it was,” he choked out. “I want to go back. I won’t plug that coffee pot in again. I promise.” A sob shook him. “I miss my store.”
Ella took a deep breath and nodded. It made perfect sense. Doug had spent so much of his time working to restore the shop and thanking everyone for all they’d done that he likely hadn’t taken time to grieve for what was. Instinctively, she moved to him. He wasn’t a touchy-feely person, but she wrapped her arms around him anyway, and he leaned into the hug. For several moments, they sat just like that as she allowed him to cry. “I’m so sorry,” she said finally. “I don’t know why things like this happen, but maybe Doug’s 2.0 will be every bit as amazing. Maybe it will even surpass your expectations.”
“Yes. Maybe.” She could feel him nod and straighten. “I’m crying like an old fool.”
“You’re well within your rights as a human being. I think you have to let yourself feel, grieve.”
He sighed and sat back. “Sometimes I just can’t imagine starting over. I’m a creature of habit and like things just so.”
“I definitely identify.” She gave her head a shake. Her path hadn’t been as catastrophic, but it had been daunting. “I upended my life, took on a whole new job and relationship. But you know what? I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” She was, too. For the first time in a very long while, she felt in the foreground of her own life. She wasn’t the faceless woman behind a laptop, turning in projects that no one even recognized as hers. She had a girlfriend who appreciated the little things about her. Her quirks. And that made all the difference. “And maybe in the end, you’ll be happier than ever before, too. But I think it’s okay to let yourself mourn for the old store.”
He stared into her eyes. “You’ve been a nice friend to me,” he stated. His gaze was coated in gratitude and warmth, two emotions that weren’t common for Doug, at least on the exterior.
She nodded. “You’ve been a good friend right back.”
“We’re a couple of book weirdos, aren’t we?” He sniffled.
