Until Sage (Until Him 2)

“You would really sell it to us for less?” I ask, wondering exactly how much it costs to own a salon. I’ve always had it in the back of my head that one day I would open my own shop, but I figured that would happen in a few years, not now.

“For you two?” He looks between both of us. “Absolutely. You girls have made me so proud. You are both amazing young women. This place has been my baby for ten years, and there is no one I trust it with more than the two of you.”

“That would… God, that would be amazing,” Ellie whispers, reaching over to take my hand, and I wrap my fingers around hers. “I mean, we will have to talk about it, of course, and see what you’re asking. But it would be amazing!”

“What about you?” Frankie asks me softly, and Ellie’s fingers squeeze mine.

“Like Ellie said, we need to talk about it, but if we can get things worked out, I think you know we would both be honored to have this place.”

“That’s what I was hoping.” He smiles. “I’ll have the real-estate broker come in and talk to you two so that you know exactly what the details are before we move forward. But everything can stay unless you feel like you don’t want some of the stuff, and then I’ll have those things moved out, sell them, and take that off the list price I give you.”

“Kimellie Salon,” Ellie says, and I turn to her and raise a brow. “Just testing it out.” She smiles, and I return it while rolling my eyes at her.

“All right, Alex will be happy I’ve finally talked to you.” Frankie smiles as he stands. “Now, let’s get this bitch cleaned up. I need a drink.”

“On it.” I stand with Ellie, and we go to the back and finish getting things cleaned up while talking quietly about the prospect of the shop being ours. I can’t help but be a little more than excited over the idea, and I can’t wait to tell Sage about it. I just hope it all works out.

“WHAT DO YOU think?” I ask Sage when the phone in my hand goes quiet. I just told him about Frankie’s offer to Ellie and me, but he’s been quiet, and I don’t know him well enough to understand what that means.

“I think you should do it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, baby,” he replies gently, and my stomach melts at the endearment. He doesn’t call me baby all the time, but when he does, it always has an effect on me. “You and Ellie know how to run the shop. You’ve done it in the past when Frankie’s been out of town. I’m sure there’ll be a lot to learn, but with the two of you together, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out and make it a success.”

“I hope so. The idea of owning a business freaks me out a little, but I’m also very excited to see what will happen.”

“Don’t focus on the freaking out part,” he says, and I hear the smile in his voice.

“I’ll try.” I grin, watching the night sky twinkle above me.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asks, and I hold the phone a little tighter in my hand, wishing he were close instead of all the way in Kentucky. I didn’t think I would miss him as much as I do, but after spending so many days with him, I miss him a lot—maybe even too much.

The only good thing to come out of him being so far away is we’ve gotten to know each other a little more, since every night before I fall asleep, I give him a call and we talk. Or I talk, and he breaks in every once in a while to add something about himself or something he did when he was younger that fits in with whatever I’m blabbering on about.

“Kimberly?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s all good. I thought you fell asleep,” he tells me quietly as I roll to my side and get more comfortable in my bed.

“No, just thinking,” I murmur. “Tomorrow, I have work in the morning then…” I pull in a breath. “Ashlyn’s called again, so I think I’m going to visit with her for a little while after that.”

“Are you ready for that?” he asks, sounding concerned, and my eyes close. Knowing Kelly’s killer is behind bars has helped me feel more at peace but I still need to hear what took place firsthand from Ashlyn. I need to learn what happened so I can hopefully let it all go.

“I…” I pause when I realize I’m going to say I will be okay, instead of being honest. “I don’t know, but I want to know what happened.”

“I get that,” he mutters, and I hear a car door slam on his end of the phone.