AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Make that guilty and ungrateful,” I say as I wipe my hand down my face and lower myself into a new chair in the corner of the store. “You put chairs in here?”
“For the brides,” she confirms. “When they come in for consults.”
“Oh, smart. Love that. Good idea. Anyway, he dropped too much money on me. Not just on Paris, but on my house, too. It’s too much, Summer. We’re just dating. We’re not engaged or married, or anything like that.”
“But you’re exclusive, right?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, we haven’t said the words, we’re exclusive, but we’re not seeing anyone else. And exclusivity doesn’t mean that he should drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on me.”
“Okay, I’m going to be real with you here,” she says with a sigh. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I don’t think you really understand just how wealthy that man is. Polly, he’s not simply rich. He’s filthy rich. The filthiest rich there is. What he’s spent on you? It’s pocket change for him. He’ll never miss it.”
“I—”
“Whoa.” She puts up a hand, stopping me. “I love that you don’t want to take advantage of him, but you’re not, Polly. Ryan is a generous guy. He paid for a good portion of our house.”
I feel my eyes go wide. “What? Why?”
“That’s between Chase and Ryan, but I think part of it was as simple as because he loves his little brother and wanted to buy him a house.” Summer shrugs. “I don’t know. I wasn’t there for that conversation. He’s generous, and he likes to give like that.”
I worry my bottom lip with my teeth. “He did tell me that his love language is gifts.”
“He didn’t lie,” she confirms. “He’s not trying to impress you or buy you. He just wants to give you nice things. And he can. It’s actually really romantic.”
“And really overwhelming.”
“Do you hate the kitchen? Did he overstep and approve something that you don’t like?”
“Are you kidding? It’s beautiful. It probably doubled my property value.”
Summer laughs. “I can’t wait to see it. It’s okay to get spoiled. You’re not a jerk about it or anything.”
“I guess.” I sigh, feeling marginally better. “But maybe I should take a few days and keep a little distance. Let Jake and Ryan settle back in and smooth those ruffled feathers.”
“I don’t know that I agree, but you know them better than me.”
My phone pings with another text, and I pull it out to check it.
“This is from Jake,” I say, surprised.
Jake: Sorry I was a big jerk. I’m glad you’re back and had fun. Dad didn’t make me send this.
I laugh and show it to Summer, who grins at me. “I think those boys like you, my friend.”
“Yeah, I think they do. Okay, I feel better. Have you been over to my shop lately?”
Suddenly, Summer looks guilty.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything until you were back.”
“I’m back now, so spill it.”
“Well…oh, hell.” Summer shakes her head. “Grace quit while you were gone and left the others in a bit of a bind. They’ve been working extra shifts to cover, but it’s been rough being down two people, you know? I actually went in and helped one afternoon, but I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
“Holy fucking shit!” I can’t believe this! “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I would have come home.”
“That’s exactly why no one told you,” she says. “Because although it’s been tight, they’ve done it and will continue to do so until you’re back to work.”
