Page 106 of Wild Flower

“I’m serious,” Arie continues. “You want a job, come and fill out an application. That’s a formality, of course, as long as you can carry a tray of cocktails, you’re hired.”

“She lives in San Diego,” I point out.

“Right now she does,” Arie gives me a wicked smile, before turning to my sister. “But I have my ways of enticing talent from the mainland.”

Val gives me a concerned look. “Is your boss hitting on me right now?”

“Maybe,” I turn to Arie with a questioning frown. “Is your boyfriend Connor aware that you’re making a pass at my sister?”

“Oh please.” Arie rolls her eyes. “You’re a gorgeous, female Archer,” she says to Val. “And if you’re anything like your brother, you’re sure to make the throuple look enticing, but I’m a one-cock unicorn. I’m not letting anyone get between me and Connor. Not even what would be an amazing one-night threesome.”

I whistle. “An offer that’s too hot for Arie!” I joke. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Clone Connor and I might eat my words,” she tosses back.

“The crazy things we do for love,” I sass, only, I squeeze Becca. I can see why Arie doesn’t want to share Connor. When you find your person, you never want anyone else.

“The job offer’s still on the table,” Arie points at Val again, “if you ever get sick of San Diego.” And with that, Arie takes her whirlwind of red hair and sass back into the restaurant.

“You work for that woman?” Val asks, still in shock. Arie’s abrasiveness can be hard to handle.

“She’s a culinary genius,” I defend. “And she puts up with my shenanigans.”

Val whistles like that’s high praise. “The woman might be a saint.”

“Sit through one staff meeting and count how many times she says cock and balls and you might feel differently,” I warn.

“Hey, Becca,” Finn says, his voice serious and cutting through our silliness. “You need to take this.”

He holds up her phone that was left on the table top. Becca stiffens when she sees who the call is from.

It’s the bank.

61

BECCA

Fear plunges into my stomach like a rock. I’ve been waiting for this call for days, and now that it’s here it’s paralyzing. What if they sayno? What am I going to do if they don’t give me the loan?

Muscle memory takes over and I grab the phone, slipping off of Archer’s lap and striding to the far side of the patio.

“H—h—hello?” I stutter after I hit accept. “This is Becca at Birds of Paradise.”

“Hello, Ms. Laurel,” the loan officer says, rattling off the bank’s name and some pleasantries about the weather. “I’m calling to discuss your loan.”

I’m at the far side of the rooftop, but I still turn to look back at Archer and Finn who are staring at me in anticipation. I take a deep breath and remind myself I have two amazing boyfriends who love me fiercely. We can face cancer together, and we can find a new place to live together, and we can sure as hell figure out what to do if this loan falls through.

“Ms. Laurel? Are you there?”

“Yes, yes, of course. I’m here.” I say quickly. “You were calling about the loan, please go ahead.”

“After careful consideration, Ms. Laurel, we’ve decided—”

“Please say, yes!”

The loan officer laughs, and I realize I’ve said that out loud.

“Sorry, sorry!” I back pedal. “You were saying …”

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