Page 35 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

I stand and pull her in for a quick hug. “That’s exactly why I need you, friend. The Bodice and I aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye, and I thought she’d appreciate a friendly face.”

She cocks her head sideways, big tusks sticking up from her lower jaw. “Exactly how not getting along are you?”

Overhead, every ceiling beam creaks and wriggles. Shoe boxes fly off the shelves, hitting me. Although, at this point, it’s happened enough that I lift my hands just in time to avoid getting a box corner to the eyeball.

“Okayyyy then,” Tiana says. “Buxom, girl, you should be ashamed of treating Bluebell like this. She was a customer for decades, honey.”

Thank you, I mouth when the Bodice lets out a sorrowful series of groans.

“I thought you’d be happy to see an old friend,” I say loudly to the building. “She’s going to take over some of my shifts.”

Tiana drops to a knee beside me, gathering up an armful of boxes. “Listen, honey, I’ve got this, and I’ll be here until closing. If this is like any other day of yours, I imagine you’ve got a to-do list a mile long. Why don’t you get on outta here and I’ll see if I can figure out what’s going on?”

I squeeze her shoulder as I flash her another grateful smile. For the first time when I leave, the Bodice opens the door for me and doesn’t slam it behind my back.

Outside, I stop in the street and lift my arms like I just won a gold medal. Hopping up and down, I squeak out my excitement.

“Making progress with the store?”

Hadrian’s deep voice shocks me, and I freeze, turning slowly to find him standing to my left. I run a hand through my hair, laughing. “Yeah, I think so. Just a little bit, but yeah? I mean…we’ll see.”

He looks at the front door, lifting a hand from his pocket to wave. “Hey, sweet girl, you being nice to our neighbor?”

Silence.

“Just a bit of progress,” I admit.

“Keep at it,” he says softly. “I know you’ll get there. I think you could win over anyone you want, Bluebell. Anyone. And I mean that.”

Fuuuuuck me.

His eyes drift to the leopard-print leotard I’m wearing as a shirt today. It’s rare I let my whole arms hang out, but I was doing porch yoga this morning, and I ran out of time to change.

He smiles. “Can you take off today?”

I yank my to-do list out of my pocket and wave it at him. “I don’t know, Hadrian. Whatchu got in mind? Because this is all the stuff I’ve got to get done today. Where’s Jasper?”

“I don’t know,” he says simply. “I wanted to hang with you.”

“Are we doing this?”

I don’t realize I actually asked that aloud until he smiles at me. “We’ve been best friends for two decades, Miss Tucker. What could be more normal than hanging out?”

Not hanging out?! Not almost kissing?!

I shrug. “Right, yeah, of course you’re right.”

He hands the to-do list back to me. “Why don’t I come help you with some of the stuff on that list? Then we can grab some lunch together. As friends.” The saucy look on his face suggests “friends” might not be exactly what he has in mind. Last night showed me a side of Hadrian I wasn’t expecting, but in the light of day, I sorta thought I dreamed it up.

I’m second-guessing that right now.

“Okay,” I chirp. “Now that Lemon’s moved into Furyon’s place, I’ve got to get hers fixed up for a new tenant. You want to come help me clean?”

He laughs. “Can’t imagine anything I'd rather do. Why don’t the Jays help you with this stuff?”

I bark out a laugh at his nickname for my three brothers. “Jasper cleaning?” I shrug as I wave for us to head toward the rental cottages around Main Street’s corner.

“He would,” Hadrian says. “If you asked.”