Page 18 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Cleo’s grin was almost shy as she set down her old fashioned.

Her curls, pinned back on one side, artfully grazed the wide-neck indigo top that exposed a delicate clavicle.

“We’ve officially launched the events calendar.

So far, we’ve selected dates for our art show night and the free painting class for the youth group.

Mainly Books also agreed to a joint effort for a writing class.

They’re so excited, said they know of a few relatively local authors who’d love to do a guest spot. ”

They were a chorus of excitement and support.

Charlie beamed at her friend. Cleo’s shop had been open for two years, but her dream of expanding within the community had always been a goal.

Her top priorities were interacting with youth and providing ways for those who couldn’t afford extra training to have access to additional classes for the arts.

The Village shops all had basement storage, but Cleo’s had a bonus back room as well.

It was a blank canvas, perfect for staging events.

“When’s the first one?” Charlie asked.

“Mid-January. A little breathing room after the holiday craze.”

“Oh, God, the holiday open house!” Magnolia yelped. “I don’t know why I keep forgetting about that.” She opened her phone and brought up her calendar. “When is it again?”

“Two weeks before Christmas,” Cleo said.

“Shit, right.” Magnolia tapped furiously, pausing to shimmy out of her jacket and briefly tug at her black silk blouse with giant flowers in creams and golds. She gave a thumbs-up to Amber, who’d picked up the menu card from their table and fanned her dramatically.

“I think we need another round of drinks,” Amber said, signaling for a server.

“You’ve been a bit busy prepping for the store opening , Magnolia,” Charlie said. “It’s okay if you don’t do anything special for the open house.”

“Yeah, people will still come by,” Cleo reassured.

Magnolia winced. “I’m already nervous we won’t open in time. My boss just informed me that a couple vendors are changing. I also have to make extra of my products to send out to the flagship in Ojai and have ready here. I should be working right now,” she added in a strained tone.

“When’s she letting you hire people?” Cleo asked.

“Apparently, she has someone lined up already. Some daughter of a friend or something,” Magnolia said.

“That you haven’t met?” Charlie asked.

Magnolia hummed as she took another sip.

“Your boss is frustrating,” Amber said.

“It’s fine. It’ll all work out,” Magnolia said, brow furrowed as she stared at her glass.

“Can I help?” Charlie asked.

“Uh, don’t you have enough going on right now, with Daniel being out and his son occupying your physical and mental space?” Amber challenged.

Charlie was known to stretch her time a little thin, but she could use the distraction.

Besides, Magnolia had been under a lot of pressure since arriving in Elmwood Falls.

She hadn’t planned on moving across the country to open the shop’s second location, only to face major construction mishaps.

Plus, Charlie knew there was more on Magnolia’s mind than she let on.

Which was fair. They’d known her less than a year.

Charlie gave her cousin a look. “I’ll need a new project, okay? Besides, I’m happy to help.” She turned a reassuring smile to Magnolia.

Magnolia squeezed her arm in acknowledgment, then looked down. “Goodness, this shirt is soft. It’s like butter.”

“I know!” Charlie looked at her emerald-green wrap top, its neckline just daring enough to make her feel like she could evoke "I know how to use my body" vibes without drawing too much attention simultaneously. “It’s from the company you told me about!”

“Really? That’s where mine is from. Sustainable, washable silk right here.” Magnolia tugged at her own blouse, then turned a pout at Charlie, her dark brown eyes glazed. “I’m so touched you ordered from them. Even my family is slow to jump on some of these businesses I tell them about.”

“She’ll probably buy one of everything in your shop when you open too,” Amber teased with a loving smile.

“Alright, I really need to hear more about the young Dr. Lee, cause I don’t remember. We barely talked about him on Halloween. Someone was too busy trying to score us free drinks,” Cleo said. She smirked at Amber’s playful shove.

“There’s nothing to tell.” Charlie dodged.

“I’ll start!” Amber said. “He was the love of young Charlie’s life—”

“No! He was not the love of my life. You’re making it way more dramatic.

Don’t say shit like that!” Charlie sighed but couldn’t help giggling at the tipsy satisfaction on Amber’s face.

“Fine. We met when I was in high school, working for Daniel as an office assistant. Zachary worked on weekends home from college and over school breaks, so we became friends. But when he graduated and finished up his residency training, he married his girlfriend and went to work for her father’s veterinary practice in Chicago.

I hadn’t talked to him since he left. Now he’s back and filling in for his dad. ”

Amber shot up in her seat. “You forgot to mention he’s hot!”

Magnolia burst out laughing, and Charlie reached across the table to smack her cousin’s hand, even though Amber was wiggling in her seat with a victory dance.

Cleo shook her head at Amber, amused. “You’re such a menace. Though, Charlie, that’s pretty much the gist I got from her already. With the detail of him being hot added in, of course.”

“You’re welcome,” Amber said, flipping her ponytail.

“How long has it been?” Cleo said, eyes glittering with excitement. “Wait, is he still married?”

“Yeah, give us more dirt!” Magnolia’s eyes were glassy with boozy consolation.

“Six years. And no, divorced.”

Amber clapped her hands excitedly, causing all three women to turn their attention toward her.

“What? Makes this the perfect opportunity. You adore Daniel, he adores you. Now you and Zachary have reconnected and get to share that cozy little office together, day in and day out. Things are gonna get juicy.” Amber wiggled her eyebrows again, taking another sip of her drink.

Magnolia’s face twisted. “I hate that word. Juicy ,” she added in a whisper.

Charlie and Cleo laughed as Amber grinned with satisfaction, gesturing for Magnolia to keep drinking .

“You’re jumping to a lot of conclusions, Amber,” Charlie said.

“Seriously, there’s no dirt. He’s not as friendly toward me anymore.

I mean, aside from yesterday. He gives very comforting hugs.

And this morning, I guess. Getting me my favorite cookies to make up for my bad day was really thoughtful. What…”

Amber had both hands pressed firmly on the table, eyes mockingly wide. Cleo rubbed her lips together, trying to hide a smirk. Magnolia grinned openly.

“You guys touched,” Amber said in a measured tone.

“ Hugged ,” Charlie corrected. Wow , the word touched sounded so intimate.

“He bought you cookies ?”

Charlie nodded. She bit her lip, remembering his eyes as they roamed her face.

How close his mouth had been to her hand, how she’d ached for his lips to brush her skin.

To move up her arm… It was ridiculous. Why allow herself to go down this fantasy road?

It was different when she was young, when they’d actually had a fun relationship to make the fantasy enjoyable.

Amber’s mouth gaped open, and she pointed a finger at Charlie’s face. “You’re blushing. Why’s she blushing? Why are you blushing?!”

“Holy moly, Amber, the whole bar can hear you.” Brooke sidled up to their table bundled in a charcoal peacoat, her ivory skin brightened by pink cheeks, her dusty-blue eyes piercing. She grabbed a cocktail napkin from the table to dab her red nose.

“Brooklyn Rose Marchand, where the hell have you been?” Amber turned her pointed finger at her older sister, and Charlie released a slow breath .

“My sister’s name is Rosa!” Magnolia said, her cheeks and nose flush from her whiskey.

“Sasha loves roses!” Cleo said.

Amber turned her head toward her friend, keeping her finger pointed at Brooke. “Don’t even get me started on Sasha,” she warned.

Cleo snickered into her glass.

“You’re all well ahead of me, I see,” Brooke said with a smirk.

Amber dropped her hand, concern rushing over her face. “Hey. You alright, Brookie?”

“Mm-hmm,” Brooke said. She picked up Charlie’s old fashioned and took a long sip. “Chilly out there tonight. Wonder if we’ll have snow before Thanksgiving.”

“Ugh, don’t say that. I’m not ready for it!” Magnolia moaned.

Charlie patted Magnolia’s hand gently. Her friend was in for a treat. “You can’t truly prepare. At least you’ll get about six months of practice,” she said helpfully.

“What do you mean, six months?” Magnolia whispered.

“I need a drink. Hey, did you see the new bartender tonight?” Brooke asked.

“You’re changing the subject. Wait, who?” Amber strained her neck to look at the bar.

Brooke winked at the table as Amber stood for a better view and gasped, fanning herself.

Cleo strained to look. “Oh yeah, he’s right up your alley.”

Amber faced them and started slow steps backward toward the bar. “Okay, don’t think I’ve forgotten what we were talking about. All of you.” She pointed to each of them in turn. “Actually, Mags, yours is easy. Your sister’s name is Rosa. Rose and Rosa…cool. ”

Magnolia tipped over giggling, grabbing hold of Charlie’s hand to avoid falling off the seat, which set the whole table to laughing.

“Come on, next round’s on me!” Amber turned and shimmied her way toward the bar.

They filed out after her. While this was a far cry from any drunken college night out, Charlie was thankful for the silliness of her friends just the same. It was exactly what she needed to keep her mind off the practice, off Daniel’s health. Off Zachary Lee.

Who was not the love of her younger self.

Definitely not.