Page 76 of The Snowflake Effect

I pause, unsure if I should list number six. The girls are already staring at me, agog, shock written all over their faces. No point holding back now.

“And,” I say, “I could be falling in love. Like, in the future sometime,” I add and give them a toothy grin.

Raven schools her shocked expression. We’re both in fitted black T-shirts, but her inked arms look as intimidating as the pointed stare she aims at me. “Let me get this straight. You’ve been on the verge of getting booted from your apartment, and you haven’t spoken to us about it?”

Lily, on the other hand, covers her heart with her hand. “You’re falling in love?”

These women couldn’t be more different. Needing to address both topics, I start with the unpleasant one and face Raven. “I should have told you, but I was embarrassed and didn’t want to ask for money. I kept thinking I’d figure things out on my own.”

“You know we’re your friends, right?” Raven huffs. “It’s our job to help you when shit goes sideways.”

“I know. I just get so stuck on doing things my way. But I really am sorry,” I say again. “Am I forgiven?”

“This time.” Raven blows me a kiss. “But if you hold out on us again, I’ll be tattooing the word ‘stubborn’ on your forehead.”

“I second everything Raven said,” Lily adds. “Except for the tattooing. But can we get back to the love part? The living with Kolton part?” Her gray eyes sparkle as bright as her beaded necklace.

Once I’ve filled them in on the wooing, my firing, and my new living arrangements, Raven clicks her black nails on the table. “When does Kolton go back home?”

I chew my lip. “Five weeks or so. Someone needs to stay a bit after the opening, so things run smoothly at the new shop. With the amount of work Kolton’s missed, it sounds like that part will be Sawyer.”

“Then what?”

Raven doesn’t mince words. Words I’d rather ignore. So focused on keeping Kolton away, then dealing with my apartment drama and the Moondog project, I haven’t allowed myself time to worry about the future. But if we get in deeper, I won’t have a choice. I just hope that choice doesn’t involve giving up a promotion at Concept.

“One thing at a time,” Lily says. “You have five weeks together. Enjoy it. And if you really do fall in love, you guys will figure it out. There’s always a way to make things work.”

She’s right, and it’s time I shake the shadows hanging over my head. I deserve to enjoy Kolton without stressing about the next step. “Agreed,” I say, then I touch Lily’s arm. “I almost forgot. Kolton asked if you can help coordinate the grand opening. He needs someone to make sure it flows with the design. Since you rock at detail stuff and can shop anyone under the table, I suggested you.”

“Seriously? I’d love to.”

Raven coughs on a sip of water. “You know she’ll just turn it into a coffeehouse theme and force the guys to grow beards and wear lumberjack shirts, right?”

Lily rolls her eyes. “Better that than a goth party with bats and vampires.”

Raven slaps the table. “That’s genius. We should totally do a goth event.”

As they joke, I let their banter roll over me. I’ve come clean with my friends, Kolton and I are in the clear with Hilary, and tomorrow he’s taking me on an actual outside-of-the-house date. Life is looking up.

CHAPTER 33

SHAY

“Does this mean you’ve been wooed?” Jackson asks.

He’s on a stool at the kitchen island, swinging his legs, while Stella finishes plating his dinner. It’s the second time he’s asked me that question, but I’m too entranced watching Stella to answer. She places a stack of sliced cucumbers in one corner, two chicken fingers in the other—layered just so—five slices of red apple in the third, and in the fourth and final corner she mounds what might pass for peas.

I squint, studying the maybe-peas. “Are those purple?”

Stella, operating like a brain surgeon, places the final pea in place. “Yep. It’s Saturday,” she says by way of explanation and nods to the beet juice on the counter, probably used to dye them. Jackson and his quirks.

He pokes my arm again. “Are you wooed? Did Daddy woo you?”

My answering grin speaks for itself. “Yes, Jackson. Consider me wooed.”

And nervous as a schoolgirl for our first date. It’s a simple night out, the two of us enjoying a meal together, but we’ve never done something so couple-y. It took me ages to select my white skirt, the bottom printed with blue blades of grass, and my complementing white tank and sandals. The first five outfits didn’t cut it.

Stella passes Jackson’s dinner over the counter to him, but he doesn’t pick up his fork. Focused on me, he says, “So…does that mean Daddy found your G-spot? You know, your happy spot?”