Page 126 of The Lies I've Told
Like throw up a couple more times.
Looking around the stockroom, I tried to smile. I was pretty pleased with everything I’d gone with as far as inventory was concerned. As much as I wanted the place to be filled with my own stuff, that simply wasn’t possible so early in the game. I needed income and I needed it quickly, so establishing a steady stream of cash was priority number one. Once I had that done, I’d slowly start introducing my own designs.
Or at least, that was the plan.
For now, I had an eclectic mix of boho and beachy styles that would appeal to young and old alike. It wasn’t your typical touristy shop, but it wasn’t so high end that it would scare off the typical traveler.
God, I hoped this worked.
I’d never wanted anything so bad in my life. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. But not everything worked out the way you wanted it to.
It had been seven months. Seven months of waiting and wondering.
Seven months of hoping to hear something. A friendly text, a call—something.
I didn’t know how long to wait before I faced reality and moved on, but I didn’t want to move on. Ever.
So, for now, this store was my everything.
And I was pretty okay with that. Mostly.
Now, if I could just keep this place afloat.
Just as I was trying to decide how many more dresses to pull into the front, the front door chimed.
“Did they have sprinkles?” I hollered, waiting for my sister to reply. When she didn’t, I stood up from my spot on the floor. “Hello?”
No answer.
Okay, great. Either I was being robbed or someone was loitering in my store, and I would have to shoo them out.
Because nothing said warmth and hospitality like kicking people out of your brand-new store.
“Um, we’re not open,” I said, the confidence in my voice astounding even me. “So, if you could just come back tomorrow…”
No door chime, which meant the loiterer was still here. I guessed I’d have to leave the stockroom now and confront the person.
Great.
I was pretty sure I had a stain on my shirt from the taco I had eaten at lunch and dust all over me from hauling and unpacking boxes. Maybe I’d scare them away from my appearance alone.
Stepping out from the stockroom, I took a brief look around but stopped immediately when something caught my eye on the checkout counter.
A single stone bird.
My breath hitched as I looked up and found my loiterer.
Standing on the other side of the counter was Aiden, holding the matching bird. His matching bird.
Only now, the raw edges had been smoothed. The beak was pronounced, and tiny, intricate details had appeared all over its beautifully shaped body.
It was finished.
My heart nearly exploded as I took him in. His hand was mended, no longer in a cast, and his eyes… they held me captive.
“You’re here,” I said. “I didn’t think—”
“You didn’t think I’d come back,” he finished.
