Page 118 of Show Me How
“You’rea doll for letting us have the meeting here,” Shelly says, patting my arm.
I lean my hip against the kitchen counter and cover her hand with mine. “Anything for you.”
“However, I am still a bit bitter that you took Millie from me. The camp has been too quiet without our morning visits.”
“I didn’t take her from you,” I argue lightly.
“Oh, don’t try it. She’s not staying at Shimmer Lake anymore, is she?”
“Don’t start complaining now. You wouldn’t have had this place for your meeting if it wasn’t for that.”
And even I’ll admit that it worked just fine. There was enough space, and I didn’t hear any complaints. Before the majority of women left, I even heard one of them ask if they’d be coming back here next time.
Shelly huffs. “Fine.”
“You could always ask her to stop by the grounds more,” I suggest, winking. “She’d do it if she knew you wanted her to.”
Fidgeting with the stack of sangria-stained, pink wine glasses beside the sink, Shelly says, “You’re right. Somehow, you’ve gotten wiser in the last few weeks.”
“I’ve always been wise.”
“Mm, but this is a different kind.”
“It’s all of the plants in here now. The air is cleaner,” I joke.
“I did notice the plants. And not the easy-to-care-for ones either. There’s not a single cactus to be found.”
“Millie’s got a green thumb. She likes to water them all every morning before work.”
There’s a scary twinkle in Shelly’s eyes when she smirks. “Is that so?”
I immediately wish I hadn’t said anything. I’ve made a grave, rookie mistake opening that floodgate. Especially after all but forcing Millie to sit on my lap for the last half of the book club meeting.
“Don’t make me dip on our conversation, Shelly.”
Her nails press into my arm when she tugs on me, keeping me in place. She narrows her eyes, scrolling them over every inch of my face.
“Are you serious about her?” she asks lowly, a fierce streak of protectiveness there.
“It’s hard to be serious about a woman who’s bound to leave.”
“Cut the shit with me. You’ve got feelings for her, right?”
I stiffen with discomfort. With a quick check for Millie, I force an answer up my throat when I don’t see her close enough to hear.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Give her a reason not to leave, then. Encourage her to stay.”
“You’re kidding me, right? Be serious, Shelly. If you want her to stay, then ask her yourself.” I clench my jaw in response to the shitty attitude I’m giving her. Forcing myself to soften as much as I can, I add, “I’m not going to force her to do anything.”
“I wouldn’t ever force someone to stay somewhere they don’t want to be, Shade. I’ve just grown to care for her and would hate to see her go back to the life she felt the need to run from in the first place.”
“I’d hate it more than you would. That doesn’t mean she’d be happy staying here forever either. This place is small. It’s got nothing to offer her.”
And there it is. The fear that’s been cramping my stomach for weeks.
If she chose to stay, this place might not keep her happy forever.
