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“I wanted to talk to you about Ivey’s,” I explained, taking a steadying breath. “I know I haven’t made the transition easy and I’ve thrown a lot of proverbial spanners into the works.”

“Indeed.” She chuckled. “But I wouldn’t be where I am today if a little challenge threw me off.”

I grinned. “Well, I want to work with you.” I clarified. “I want to hear the ideas and changes you have planned for the store. I want to try to be more helpful, if I can.”

Hayden’s grin softened around the corners, her eyes boring into mine.

Like she was searching for any hint of a lie.

“As much as I love hearing those words,” she said, her voice taking on a harsher edge, a business-like tone I was all-too familiar with. “What brought on the sudden change of heart?”

“I’d be a lot more help to my parents if I helped improve the store where necessary instead of doing everything I could to keep it the same.”

“Is that all?”

It was the way she asked, the hint of concern that maybe seeing her ex had made me feel pity for her, that churned in my gut.

“There are a lot of reasons,” I admitted. “Many of them are personal, but the ones that count are the ones I can share. I want to be able to help my parents, to make sure they’re happy and healthy, and not worried about the store. But I also want to make sure that, even after all these changes, it’s still Ivey’s. If that makes sense.”

The suspicion cleared from her eyes, her face relaxing a little. “I’m really happy to hear that, Frankie,” she said. “I’ve been honest from the beginning, and you know that I want Ivey’s to retain its family values. I just want it to grow, so that it can reach more people who need it.”

I nodded, the anxiety slowly releasing its grip on my lungs. “I also wanted to apologize,” I added.

“What for?”

“For making things a lot more difficult than they should have been.”

“That’s normal,” she said, her fingers toying with a long gold chain around her neck. “I wouldn’t have expected any less, and you weren’t being difficult; you were being protective. A lot of businesses force themselves to move with the times because they’re afraid of falling behind. But by adopting modern practices or technology, they lose the competitive edge that made them unique.”

I listened, enraptured by her, by the quiet confidence she held when talking about business. The hard-earned wisdom that, when paired with her razor-sharp intellect, was lethal.

“Which is why I wanted you to be a part of the transition,” she continued. “As someone who not only works there, but practically grew up in the store, you have a unique insight into what truly makes Ivey’s special. I don’t want to lose that.”

“I don’t know what to say to that,” I confessed. “I’ve only ever known business as it is at Ivey’s. So when I was faced with these sudden changes, I hated everything about it.”

“Again, that’s normal.” Hayden shrugged. “I’m kinda surprised you didn’t throw me out that first day.”

I blinked in surprise. “Has that actually happened to you?” I blanched.

Hayden smothered her laugh with her hand. “I was once escorted out by security in a building I’d just bought,” she explained.

A bubble of laughter escaped my lips and I quickly covered my mouth. “I’m so sorry.” I giggled. “What did you do to be escorted out? And, wait, wouldn’t they have beenyoursecurity detail?”

“They were.” She chuckled. “I’d made the grave mistake of suggesting the conference walls be made glass instead of the hideous mustard yellow and the previous owner wasnota fan.”

“To be fair.” I shrugged. “I’d have been pretty mad if you changed the color scheme of the deli.”

“Just the deli?” she asked, brows furrowed.

I nodded. “I chose those colors when I was twelve,” I explained, my voice edged toward mischief. “I consider that my very first masterpiece.”

This time, Hayden didn’t try to smother her laughter. “I’d been wondering who thought mauve and electric green were a good pair.”

Something in my chest fluttered at the easy conversation, how simple it was to talk about meaningless things while we ate. And how comfortable the bouts of silence felt.

Too soon, the waiter dropped off the check and I snatched it off the table before Hayden could reach for it.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her brow raised quizzically.