“Agreed.” She sighed. “I’ll figure out something soon.”
“Hey, we’ve been getting by, and we’ll continue to do that, all right?”
“Thank you, Willow, for everything.” The woman went above and beyond what was necessary to keep Bunch-A-Blooms afloat.
“You gave me a shot at my dream while I was still in college. My loyalty will always lie with you. Plus, you’re my best friend … so, you’re stuck with me for life, bitch.”
Petunia giggled as they went back to work. The sacrifice was worth it. It wasn’t like Mason was a stranger. No, he’s the man who already owns too much of my heart.
***
“How did I let you talk me into this?” Mason grumbled as he watched her get ready from his perch on the edge of her bed.
She slipped a silver hoop in her left ear. “Three words. Great Escape Adventures.”
“What? That was awesome!”
“Trapped in a room with a zombie?” She turned her head to the right and put in a matching hoop.
“It wasn’t scary.”
“No, it was an hour of what felt like pop quizzes under pressure an
d jarring moments. Not scary but startling.”
“Even Bryce and Olive enjoyed it.”
“Bryce is your best friend and Olive loves mysteries, Sci-fi, and Horror. So, of course, she’d be on your side.”
“Hey, there are no sides. We’re coupled up and taking turns.”
“I know, dear. That’s why we’re going to Paint Night at A Stroke of Art. You were the one who swore we needed to launch the dating campaign. I’ve never been out so many nights in a row in my life.” She rubbed the small of her back. Running a business and having an active social life were about to kill her.
“We don’t want it to be a shock when we take the next step.”
“I think the whole damn town’s gotten the picture, and newsflash, no one is shocked. The general consensus has been it’s about time, or I knew it.”
“You sick of me already?”
“No, I’m sick of always being on like an actress.” Gripping the edge of her vanity, she bowed her head.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You tired, little flower?”
“Exhausted.”
“Is it more than just the evenings out?”
“The fridge in the back is about to die. Holiday hours have me pushing payroll to its limits along with my body and my mind. It’s so hectic, I don’t know if I’m coming or going half the time. I remember the reason why my social life died a painful death over the past couple of years. Running a business is all-consuming.”
“Especially when you don’t have what you need. Let me make the necessary purchases to take some of the weight off you.”
“No.”
“What’s the big difference between when it happens?” He nuzzled her neck with his nose. “I hate seeing you so stressed and stretched too thin. I’m here to prevent that. No more burnout on my shift.” He nipped her neck, and she shivered.
“Stop.”
“Or what? You might relax? I’ll make you a deal. You lighten up and hand over some of that burden, and I’ll stop bashing this paint shindig.”