Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

Nico is staring at me. “What?”

“It’s been sold. To me.”

Nico lights up. “Good! The loan is good?”

I shake my head. “No, someone bought it for me,” I say slowly, unsure what the hell is happening.

“I got a name. Florence Tremblay. And the only reason I got that was because I called her lawyer. He’s out of Buffalo, New York, and I demanded answers. He said he doesn’t know much about her but that she wanted to make sure you were taken care of. He wouldn’t give me her number or anything, but I’ll get it, don’t worry. I don’t know who this chick is, but if she’s buying shops for people, maybe she can buy me some stuff.”

My stomach is in knots. “I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either, but I’ll find out.”

The line goes dead, and I look up at Nico. “Some woman bought me the shop because she wants me to be taken care of.”

He just blinks. “Do you know who she is?”

“No, and I don’t know why she would do this,” I say, and then I grab my computer from the office.

“What are you doing?” he calls out to me.

“I’m going to Google her.”

“You have a name?”

“Yeah.” But when I type it in, nothing comes up. I look up to see him on his phone. “Are you searching?”

He looks over at me. “Huh?”

“Are you searching too?”

He nods. “Uh-huh. Sure am.”

I love him so much. “I’m not getting anything, but Jaylin will figure it out. She’ll find her, and then we’re gonna have a talk.” He looks tense, and I’m bewildered. “What?”

“Nothing. I’m just a little confused. What will you talk to her about?”

“I’ll demand that she let me pay her back!”

“Okay, that’s a good plan. And if she says no?”

“Then I have no clue what the hell I’ll do,” I say slowly. “Why would she do this for me? She doesn’t even know me.”

He shrugs. “I don’t know.”

I’m beyond bewildered. I don’t understand why anyone would do this. While the fact that I will never have to deal with Dustin again is appealing, I don’t want someone buying the shop for me. I had an issue when Jaylin wanted to. But now a complete stranger? I don’t think so. How can I accept something like that? I am still struggling with someone paying my mom’s bills. I sent the amount I usually paid on the bill to the YMCA After Breast Cancer program instead. Even doing that doesn’t make me feel right. I feel like a charity case.

As Nico wraps his arms around me, he kisses my lips. “Hey, it’s all okay.”

“I don’t know, Nico. I feel pathetic.”

“Why? You mean so much to someone that they want to help you and make your life and Callie’s better.”

The only person I know who would do that is him. I look up at him. “And you didn’t do this?”

He shakes his head, his eyes burning into mine. “No, but I would if you’d let me.” I swallow hard as he cups my face. “Listen, don’t think about this right now. You guys are leaving for the conference tomorrow, and you’re going to have a blast. Don’t worry about it. Everything will work out.”

As much as I want to believe him, I don’t. I knew things were too good to be true. Yeah, it’s awesome someone bought me a shop, and anyone else would be dropping to their knees thanking the good Lord above, but what happens when they come back, demanding things from me? I’ll owe them, I’ll have to do what they want, and that makes me apprehensive. I don’t want to owe anyone, because if something happens to me, it all falls on Callie.

Like it did on me when I lost my mom.

* * *

I sit between Callie and Jaylin in the packed ballroom. A stage is in the middle of the room with chairs surrounding it. The room is full of women of all types, shapes, and sizes. I have never been around so many women in my life. While I know Nico wanted to be here with us, he wouldn’t be able to handle this. Too many people. Plus, come to find out, men aren’t allowed in here anyway. I’m not sure why. Even Security is women. I guess Lacey is all about girl power, and I, for one, love it.

The conference has been amazing, and we’ve gotten so much information and, to Callie’s delight, so many free samples. We’ve met so many women and heard so many stories of survival. It’s amazing, and I am truly enjoying myself—when I stop thinking about everything that is happening outside the conference. Jaylin hasn’t been able to find out anything about the person who bought the shop or what their motive is. I know there has to be one, and it makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. I just want to know. I want to talk to them, and I want to demand that they allow me to pay them back. I’ve gone back and forth on if I should be happy about this or not. I mean, it’s awesome to be out from underneath Dustin, but this feels like a handout, and everyone knows I hate those. Jaylin doesn’t believe it’s bad, but she wants to know too so that I can figure this out.