Page 6

Mindy

It’s almost been a week since I started working for Maddox Locke. And I’m already exhausted.

Canyon is waiting as I step out of the changing room. “What you doing, beautiful? Wanna have lunch with me?”

“Nope. I’m meeting someone.”

“Oh, really?” Canyon steps forward. “What’s his name? I didn’t know you were dating someone.”

“Her name is Dahlia. And whether I’m dating or not has nothing to do with you.”

“Not yet.” He gives me a cute little grin like you see on boys when they want something.

Time to break his heart or not. “Not ever. I’m always willing to have more friends, but I’m not interested in dating you.” Will he pout or handle it? Guys can be weird when you reject them.

“Told Louisella you wouldn’t be interested.”

Who? What? “Huh?”

“Don’t worry. I’m good with being flirting friends. Enjoy lunch.” He walks into Maddox’s office.

Flirting friends. I shake my head.

This place is odd.

Though he was a nice distraction from having to worry about this lunch.

Hopefully, they have something cheap on the menu. A seven-dollar drink isn’t in my budget. There isn’t much that fits in my budget anymore.

Now isn’t the time to worry. Dahlia and Fea are new friends, and I can use some real friends who live in Urbium.

The bakery is decorated in a blend of shabby chic and bold colors. Instead of the pink and black colors feeling feminine, they’re bold and powerful. How can a bakery feel powerful?

On Willow Street, anything seems possible.

Dahlia waves to me from a table in the back by a window. Right outside of the window is yet another graffiti mural. I should sit facing inside, or I won’t be able to focus on anything else. But I don’t.

It takes all of two seconds for her smile to hit me. “What happened to you? Did you win the lottery or something?”

“Better. Way better than that.”

What could be better than winning the lottery? A whole week of doing absolutely nothing? Nah, the lottery would still be better. I could pay off Waylon’s debt and quit two of my jobs. The question is which ones? “So?”

“We should wait until Fiona and Daria are here.” Dahlia is practically bursting with excitement. She might explode before they get here.

“Did someone say my name?” Fiona sets down menus at our table. “What can I get you to drink?”

Water! But if I order water, I have to order a sandwich or pastry, and those have to be more expensive than a small black coffee.

“I’ll take a water.” Dahlia opens the door for me to do the same.

It’s too tempting to save money. “Water too, please.” Maybe I can find a cookie or something small to order on the menu.

Oh… They have a slice of focaccia for a dollar. Perfect.

“Be right back with them and some snacks.” Fiona rushes off, leaving us staring after her.

This place suits her. She flits from table to table with a smile and a friendly word to everyone. “I couldn’t smile that long if I tried.” At least not a genuine smile, which she always seems to have.

Dahlia grins. “Me either. I’d make it like fifteen minutes. Then I’d glare at everyone because I was tired of peopling. Our job is so much better. We don’t have to pretend to be happy. That and helping people are the best parts of the job.”

The adrenaline rush without any danger to myself isn’t bad either. “You’re a natural at it.”

“Thanks. I wasn’t sure that I’d be any good at it. But I don’t know how long I’ll keep the job.” Dahlia glances out the window to where her husband is standing, chatting with Maddox. “We’re talking about having kids soon.”

What? “Already?”

Her smile softens. “Yeah.”

“Maverick is already overprotective.” That’s a bit of an understatement, considering he follows her everywhere but work. “Can you imagine how he’s going to be with his kid?” I peek over at the terrifying man. What could he possibly be talking to Maddox about?

Maddox in a metal tee and jeans is a whole other thing. If his hair was mussed and he had more leather on him, he could be a rocker hiding from his groupies in this small town.

“Oh yeah. But he’ll be an amazing dad.”

I pity the boy who tries to date his daughter and hope they find the body when Maverick is done with it.

“Who will be an amazing dad?” Fiona sets down two waters and a cup of froth-covered coffee next to a three-tiered tray of pastries and sandwiches.

“Dahlia. She’s talking about having kids with Maverick.” Relationships that progress this fast never go well.

“Whoa. Weren’t you two going to get married first?” Fiona’s eyes are wide as saucers.

“That’s actually one of the things I wanted to talk to you guys about. Is Daria coming soon?” Dahlia picks up a giant chocolate chip cookie.

“No. Daria just messaged that she’s in the zone with this book and can’t walk away. Which, as you know, means that she won’t do anything but write today. I’m going to have to stand over her and threaten her to eat dinner.” Fiona’s fierce look is anything but.

“Being in the zone rocks.”

Dahlia is so sincere but a bit out of touch with modern slang that I hold back the laughter bubbling up inside of me. Though keeping up with it has been a challenge since I graduated almost a decade ago.

“That’s it. I can’t wait anymore.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m already married.” Dahlia holds up a hand covered in two diamond rings, one in an antique setting and the other’s setting could only be described as sleek and massively modern. That diamond could probably pay for a penthouse. “We got married Friday.”

Wait! What? “Wasn’t that the day you were supposed to meet his family?”

She nods. “We had the ceremony right in Louisella’s backyard.”

Louisella? Isn’t that the woman Canyon was talking about?

“And the one time I miss a get-together,” Fea whines.

Who elopes in the middle of a family event? That’s completely wild and insane.

“My mom wants us to have a big wedding, too. And I can’t deny I love the idea of a pretty dress and all the flowers.”

Who doesn’t love a pretty dress and oodles of flowers? But a wedding? Maybe I’m jaded, but I can’t stand weddings.

“That’s actually another thing I wanted to talk to you guys about.” Dahlia sets down her cookie. “I wanted to ask the three…two of you to be my bridesmaids.”

Oh yippie, yet another dress I have to pay for, not to mention a bachelorette party and wedding gifts. I just can’t afford all that.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEE.” Fiona jumps up and hugs Dahlia. “Yes. Yes. We’re so excited.”

I try to fake a bit of excitement. Dahlia is my friend. This is a big moment for her.

“So, what colors did you pick?” Fiona takes a sip of her coffee and grabs a muffin off the platter.

“Mom was thinking of a theme more than a specific color.”

A theme?

“A spring garden. She found these bridesmaid dresses.”Dahlia passes over her fancy cell phone with the images pulled up.

“Beautiful,” Fiona gushes. “I love that they have different cuts to fit each of our body types.”

The ethereal floral dresses are covered in layers of probably hand-cut flowers. I barely hold in a gasp when I see the designer’s name. Does she really think I can afford a dress that expensive? We aren’t all best-selling authors.

What am I going to say? There’s no way I could afford a single flower on that outfit.

“The shoes are what make it.” She passes her phone around to show us these ankle-wrapped crystal floral shoes.

Those are to die for. Quite literally, most women would kill to own a pair that lovely. But that’s the only way I’ll ever be wearing them.

What in the world am I going to say? Dahlia has to know this is too over the top. She works the same job.

“I’m determined that the only drama during this wedding is going to be the battle between who gets to foot the bill, my parents or Maverick.” Dahlia reaches for a croissant. “We decided to do a joint bachelor and bachelorette party. All the expenses will be covered for both the wedding and all the events. So, all you need to do is come and have fun.”

That means… I can do this. I can be her bridesmaid!

A hand lands on my shoulder. “You’re showing promise.”The crazy woman I’ve met all over Willow Street stands over me and then disappears.

“Who is that?” And why is she so terrifying? Too frightening for me even to ask the question out loud.

“That’s Louisella. She helped establish Willow Street. And is one of the scariest women I’ve ever met.” Fiona grins.

Elopements, babies, and scary maybe matchmakers… what an odd day.