Page 69 of Love at Teamsgiving
“But there’s only one of you, Junie.”
I won’t ask her whether she’s bringing a date. Because she is. It’s me.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Margo sitsat the bistro table in the front section of Once Upon a Romance while Gracie makes us each tea. I’m more of a double espresso drinker, but am still new here, so I don’t want to turn down the loose-leaf potion she’s concocting.
Pumpkins of various sizes fill the display window along with flossy spider webs and floating plastic bats. Artificial candles and leaves, along with an assortment of spooky romances, stock the sill. Fall garlands drape along the bookshelves and there’s a stack of books with yellow, orange, and white spines next to a bowl of candy corn on the checkout counter.
She tells us about the town’s trick-or-treating event coming soon, where shopkeepers are welcome to pass out candy as well as encouraged to dress up their storefronts for an extra splash of festivity.
“Last year, Mr. Skelebones and I passed out candy.” She gestures to a skeleton wearing glasses and reading a vampire romance.
I look forward to decking out the salon for different holidays.
“Things are looking great across the street,” Margo says.
“Yeah, but my business plan did not include having the Cruz family do the build-out for my hair salon.”
“And that’s a problem because ...?”
“It means Miguel is back in my life. And I’m pretty sure I’m still in love with him. Stubbornly in love with him,” I blurt before slapping my hand to my mouth.
Margo throws herself back in the chair, arms slack, and stares at the ceiling. “Thank goodness. I was waiting for someone to say something about you wearing his jersey, blowing him a kiss, and then the post-win kiss. That was something. It shocked the room to silence. Well, just because I know a bit about your history, but still.”
“I was caught up in the moment. It turned into an unintended test to see if I’m still in love with him.”
The results: Yes, yes, I am. At least his lips.
And his shoulders.
The dimple in his chin.
The low rumble of his voice.
As if she misses her husband already, Gracie points out, “He’s part-time back in your life. The season has started and they’ve had a lot of away games.”
Margo sighs in agreement.
“I also wanted to slow my city-pace hustle to more of a bucolic countryside roll.” It’s already October and the old, worn-out hair tie within me feels like it’s going to snap.
Margo laughs. “Relatable.”
Gracie brings us tea on a tray, which is so cute and quaint that it makes my hardened urban heart soften. “Juniper, you’re sitting here with us, in a bookstore, sipping tea, so I’d say achievement unlocked.”
I scrunch up my face because the sweetest and gentlest human on the planet just called me out without so much as raising her voice. I come from a loud family that isn’t afraid to use volume to make a point.
“The A-2 Carpentry Crew has been working long hours, bringing my vision to life—as modified by my mother and Mrs. Cruz, but still.” Yes, I’m conducting a gripe session.
“The ceiling is repaired, the floor is tiled, the stylist stations are constructed, the paint and wallpaper are up, along with the mirrors, and—” Margo says as if still not seeing the issue.
“It’s getting real.” Gracie taps the air, hitting the nail on the head.
“Exactly. I’m going to have to manage employees, build my clientele, and operate a business.”
On the upside, there haven’t been any more calamities apart from the bowling ball—must’ve been a fluke.
She looks around. “It’s a lot of work, but think of it as a labor of love. Plus, you get to call the shots. If you want to be open on a Monday instead of closed, which seems to be customary for salons, that’s your prerogative.”
