“There’s no point,” Adley said, and she meant it. She’d been over and over it all in her head. “She’s not even staying, so why should I bother? It’s probably better it ended the way it did, just”—she made a chopping motion with her hand—“done.”
“Yeah, ’cause you’re handling that so well.”
“You know what, Brody? What do you know? You’re cheating on your husband.” As soon as the words were out, Adley regretted them and clamped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That was mean. Ignore me.”
But Brody shrugged. “Don’t apologize. You’re not wrong. I am cheating on my husband. But it’s because I’m tired of putting my needs off to the side so they’re never met, never even addressed. No, I’m not doing things the right way, and it’s probably going to bite me in the ass at some point if I don’t figure out a plan of action.” She shook Adley’s arm until they made eye contact again. “I don’t want you to settle for something less and then spend the rest of your life wondering what would’ve happened if you’d given Sabrina a real shot. That’s all.”
This wasn’t news. Scottie had said the same thing, which was interesting to her, as they’d both changed their tunes fromPlease be carefultoAt least hear her out. What neither of them seemed to remember was that, whether she meant to or not, Sabrina James pretty much held the fate of Get the Scoop in the palm of her Sweet Heaven–employed hands. Adley’d spent far too much time on the Sweet Heaven website, growling low in her throat when she realized that guy who’d been in last month and wanted to sample every fucking flavor actually worked for them. Probably there to steal her ideas. If Adley could get some kind of investor, an influx of money to help update some equipment and maybe come up with a marketing campaign, that might help. But her parents weren’t interested, and she’d already used up all her good graces at the bank. The reality was that Get the Scoop likely wouldn’t survive a conglomerate like Sweet Heaven so close, even if its ice cream was chemical-laden and cheap. And while she’d told Scottie this and she’d told Brody this, she didn’t think they actuallygotit. Because there was no way she could go back to seeing Sabrina, knowing that Sabrina’s ice cream shop was going to cannibalize hers.
Brody seemed to understand that Adley was in no mood to go down this road yet again. Not today. She was barely hanging on right now. “You’ll be at the fireworks tonight, yeah?” Complete change of subject, for which Adley was thankful.
She nodded. “Scottie will have my head if I don’t show.” She looked up at her sister and pointed a spoon at her. “But I amnotstaying long.”
Brody saluted. “Yes, ma’am.” She slid off the stool and kissed Adley on the cheek. “Love you, Smudge.”
“Love you, too.”
And then she was gone, and Adley was alone in her ice cream kitchen once again.
Happy to be alone.
Sad to be alone.
* * *
The shop was coming along nicely. Sabrina was pleased. The counter was in, and the freezers were being delivered later in the week. Next week would be the tables and chairs and dishes and utensils. The painters were hard at work yesterday, but it was a holiday today and everybody was off. Sabrina was there alone. Well, Sprinkles was with her. Thank goodness. She didn’t know what she’d do without the little guy. Teagan had said that the Universe knew she was going to need him, and maybe they were right. He’d certainly kept her on her toes. Kept her busy. Kept her occupied. She’d taken him to a local vet, gotten him checked out. A little malnourished, but otherwise, in perfect health. Her Airbnb host was surprisingly amenable to having a puppy in her place, so Sabrina had promised up and down and sideways that she’d clean up any messes. They did everything together now, which was new for her. He’d kept her steady.
He hadn’t stopped her from thinking about Adley, though. Or from texting her. Or from sending photos of him to her.
She’d gotten exactly zero responses, which was hard. And which hurt. And she’d thought about driving her ass over to Get the Scoop, knowing if Adley was going to be anywhere, it was there. But she alsoknew what a huge line she’d be crossing if she did that. So she stayed away.
She missed Adley. God, how she missed her. And that made her angry. How had this happened? How had she allowed it to happen? This was exactly why she didn’t date when she was on the road. Too many entanglements. Too complicated. Too…
She sighed and leaned against a counter, suddenly feeling too tired to even stand up straight.
How did I get here?
That was the question that echoed through her head more often than any other thought. She considered herself a highly intelligent woman, and how the hell she’d ended up in this space, she had no idea. It just made her mad.
Andthatdidn’t stop her from thinking about Adley.
Giving herself a mental shake, she finished checking out the shop, pleased with the progress. They’d be ready to open in about three weeks or so. August first was the grand opening. They had a booth at the July Fourth festival tonight, and while she’d make an appearance just to be sure things were running smoothly, she was relieved she no longer had to do things like actually man the booth. She’d done enough of that in her early years with Sweet Heaven—didn’t matter that her mom was the CEO. She still had to earn her way up the corporate ladder. And now?
“Now, I make lots of money, have no roots and nobody to put them down with. Go, me.”
Sprinkles whined at her and pawed her leg as if he took offense to that remark. She bent down and scooped him into her arms.
“I’m sorry. Of course, I have you now, don’t I? Don’t I?” She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass door of a cabinet and stared in wonder. Dressed in joggers and a T-shirt, no makeup, hair up in a messy bun, wiggling puppy in her arms. Not at all the image she was used to seeing of herself. She was used to being all business. Power suits. Heels. Perfect hair. Makeup on point. It’s who she was. It was how she was most comfortable. But this? This new, casual, more relaxed version of her? Where had she come from? And more importantly, why did Sabrina like her so much?
She set Sprinkles down on the floor and walked him toward the back door. “Come on, little man. Let’s take a walk and then we haveto go home. I need to change and get ready for tonight. Wanna be my date?”
* * *
Adley wanted to be somewhere else.
Anywhere else, really.
But the Fourth of July Festival was a big deal in Northwood, and everybody went. To mingle. To eat awesome things like cotton candy and fried dough and candy apples and kettle corn. To sip beer and wine and ooh and aah over fireworks. She’d gone every year, as far back as she could remember, and she knew there was no way the one-two punch of her sister and Scottie would let her get away with not being there tonight. Toss in her parents, and she was doomed.
