“Another?” Sloane doesn’t sound quite so sure. Her mimosa appears to be completely untouched. “It’s a Friday morning. Just get me an orange juice.”
“It’s boozy brunch, Sloane. It’s tradition. Put your big girl tutu on and chug that. You got somewhere to be? Or are you wussing out because your new bestie Winter is busy with her new boy toy?”
A pout forms on Sloane’s lips. “No, Jasper is at training camp in Rose Hill and so I’m pretty much just dancing to pass the time.”
“Perfect!” Willa slaps her leg, plops her baby into Summer’s lap, and says, “I always dance better when I’m drunk.” She stands and waltzes toward the counter without a care in the world.
There’s something inspiring about Willa.
“I want to be her when I grow up.” I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but the words slip out in a moment of wonder.
“I think we all do,” Sloane says softly, nodding.
“Speaking of when we grow up,” Summer ventures in, “what are your plans? You don’t strike me as a lifer at the bar, Bailey.”
“Ha!” The champagne has me feeling loose and a laugh bursts from me loud enough that people turn to stare. I’ve mostly stopped caring about judgmental eyes on me. But Summer has always been kind to me, so I know she means well with the question. She’s probably looking out for Beau. “How could you tell?”
She smiles at me but offers nothing. She’s always treated me normally, the way any stranger who doesn’t know a person would treat someone new. But now she’s been in Chestnut Springs long enough to know the stories about my family, and she still hasn’t changed her tune.
Maybe I want to be Summer when I grow up.
“Yeah, my ultimate plan is to get outta here and go to school in the city. Probably kinesiology and then chiropractic school.”
“Oh my god, I would love to be related to a chiropractor.” Sloane moans the words. “I could ask you to fix my back any time I want.”
Summer’s chocolate eyes stay on mine. “You’d be great at that.”
“Thanks.” I smile and lift my mimosa.
“How does Beau feel about you moving to the city?”
I freeze as it hits me how thoroughly I’ve stepped in it. Why the hell would two newly engaged people be planning to part ways so soon? Or does she think Beau is planning to move with me and hasn’t told his family?
I cover by finishing the sip and then smiling as I carefully place the flute back on the table. “We’re going to cross that bridge when we get there. It’s not that far to commute. Right now, with his hours plus mine at the bar, we’re sometimes ships in the night anyway.” My head wobbles. “And if I ever pick up another job, I imagine our schedules will be even more chaotic.”
Sloane shrugs while Summer analyzes me, far too closely for my taste. “Makes sense to me. Jasper and I are always busy during hockey season. School semesters would be the same.”
“What do you mean if you ever manage to pick up another job?” Summer asks.
I sigh, averting my gaze out the window to hide my embarrassment. “No one in town wants to hire me, thanks to my dad and brothers. The bar is the only place I’ve been able to hold down a job. But I need more shifts, and there aren’t any available because everyone who works there loves the money.”
Talking about my problems to two women who remind me of Disney princesses feels odd, but I continue. “The manager likes me, but I guess he can’t fire other employees to make work for me. He offered cleaning the bar for extra money when I told him I was in a bind, so I do that a few times a week too. I’ve moved up and into better shifts over time, but it’s not enough to save for university.”
“Oh, Bailey.” Sloane reaches across the table to hold my hand. Everything about her is soft and sweet. I momentarily want to ask her for a hug. I bet she gives superb hugs.
“I’ll hire you.”
I jolt in my seat, hand turning to clamp onto Sloane’s as I stare at Summer. “What?”
“At the gym. I barely have time to do my own workouts anymore. I’m always at the front desk, or answering emails, or ordering this thing or that thing. Why don’t you just tell me what time of day is good for you and I’ll work with that.”
I straighten, my shoulders shimmying as I hold myself tall. “I don’t want you to pity hire me. That wasn’t what I was trying to do by telling you this.”