Page 15 of Let Me Keep You

“Gemma…” I step closer.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It doesn’t matter. I’m over it.”

The bitterness of her tone makes me stop. She never got closure. Neither did I, but honestly, it was my own stupid fault.

“We—”

The phone rings before I can finish telling her that we should talk in private.

“Don’t worry about it. I gotta take this.”

I purse my lips and give her a curt nod. “Alright. See you Monday then.”

She gives a slight wave as she answers the call with a sweet greeting. I make my way out of the shop and blink hard, avoiding the sun.

Fuck. That conversation didn’t go as planned. I hope working there isn’t the worst fucking idea I’ve ever had. If it all backfires on me, things will end worse than they did the last time I left.

Instead of going home, I stop at Everleigh’s boutique.

“Well, how’d it go?” Everleigh asks as she counts money from the cash register.

“I start Monday.”

“Did you see Gemma?”

“Yep. Apparently, she had no idea her dad was interviewing me.”

She averts her eyes and purses her lips. “Oh, really? I must’ve forgotten to mention that detail.” She closes the register, then hangs the dresses in her hands on a rack.

“Oh, right. Even though you have an impeccable memory and can recite exact conversations from twenty years ago. I’m sure you just…forgot.”

Everleigh rolls her eyes. “I have selective memory.” Even though she’s younger, she often tries to keep me in line as though she’s my big sister.

“Well, tell me how it went.”

“More awkward than when you tried stealing a box of condoms from the store when you were thirteen.” I chuckle at the memory. She was embarrassed the sheriff called and begged me not to tell our grandparents.

“Tyler!” She grabs a balled-up piece of paper and throws it at me. “That was a dare!”

“And you’re lucky Father Tim was there shopping and talked the owners out of pressing charges.”

Everleigh blushes, then buries her face in her hands before meeting my eyes. “Ah, I almost forgot that part.”

“Well, times that by two, and that’s how awkward our interaction was. And now I’m gonna see her every day.” I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I’m surprised my phone isn’t blowing up yet, though she might never talk to me again for not warning her.” Everleigh bites into her lower lip, then waves it off. “She’ll get over it.”

I snort. “She blurted out that she was engaged.”

“It’s not like you can miss the massive rock on her finger.” She moves around the store, and I follow her. She stops and hands me a few shirts. “Make yourself useful and hang these on the back wall.”

“I don’t work for you.” I smirk.

She glares. “You’re living in my condo rent-free. Shut up and use your height to hang those up so I don’t have to use my extension pole.”

I nearly choke. “Your stripper pole?”

“Goddammit, Tyler.” Everleigh bursts out laughing, then walks to the corner of the shop. “An extension pole. It’s a garment hook or hanger retriever for clothes that are high up.”