Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,77
find out everything we possibly can about our competition. That we won’t be able to formulate a plan to save Buns if we don’t know what we’re up against.”
“And so?” she asks as she finishes unpacking the bags.
“And so I went to Sweet Things last weekend.”
“No!”
Why is that so hard for people to believe? “I had to. I didn’t have a choice. I would never have found out about our competition without setting foot in the place.”
“That makes sense.” She hands me a plate and some napkins. “Let’s dish up while it’s hot. I want to hear all about Sweet Things. I still can’t believe you went.”
I pick up a spoon and start dishing. “It was the opposite of what I expected.” I tell her all about my visit. The decor, how busy it was, the coffee, the sandwiches…all of it. Then I tell her about the exchange I had with my father this morning. I don’t mention the statement I found about the foreclosure on their house.
She finishes her wine. “That’s horrible. He wouldn’t even listen to you? Told you you’d bailed on Buns?”
“I can’t take it personally. I think he’s scared. I think he’s petrified, and he doesn’t know how to handle it.”
“What are you going to do? Burying their heads is not going to solve anything.”
My thinking exactly. “I have no idea. I plan on trying to talk with him again. I’ve put a whole business plan together. I wish he’d implement a couple of easy fixes for now, like a coffee station. I’m talking filter coffee, or one of those machines that takes pods. Something simple. There’s a lot we can do right now. I don’t know where we’re going to get the money to really make significant changes though. Ones we have to make if we want to stay relevant.”
“No wonder you were so quiet when you got here. You also look like you might have lost a little weight. Your eyes are a bit bloodshot as well. You have this washed-out look.”
I choke out a laugh. “Gee, thanks. In short, I look hideous.” I laugh some more.
“You could never look hideous. I do think you could do with some fun.” She has this mischievous grin on her face.
“I don’t like whatever your mind is cooking up.”
“I mean it. I know you have a lot on your plate right now, with the new job and the bakery in trouble. You need one night just to let your hair down. It’s been close on a year since you and Sean split up. Quite frankly, you could do with getting laid.”
I snort-laugh and suck in a breath. “You did not just say that!”
“Of course I did. I said it because I mean it.”
‘I’m not into casual sex. I don’t think it’s for me.”
She looks at me like I’ve lost it. “What? Not for you? A good bout of hard, sweaty sex with someone cute is for everyone. Sometimes, that’s exactly what a person needs to set them off in the right direction. You, my dearest friend, have been floundering. You need direction. We’re going to that club that opened a few months ago. It’s called The Lagoon.”
“The Lagoon?” I make a face. “What kind of name is that?”
“It’s apparently gorgeous. The bar is made from solid ice. The walls have water running down them. The pillars are glass with water inside them. They send air bubbles through the pipes or something. Everything is water-themed but done in a super stylish way.”
“Okay, okay.” I’m smiling. Maybe I should get out. I’m not going to meet anyone – certainly not to sleep with some stranger – but a night out couldn’t hurt. “It sounds lovely.”
“You’re in?”
“Let’s do this!”
“Tomorrow night?” Candice lifts her brows. “It’s Friday.”
“It’s a date.” I nod.
“No going home early. You don’t have to be at the bakery the next day.” She wags a finger at me because that’s always my excuse. A bonafide one.
“Deal!” I drink the last of my wine.
She lifts a finger. “Make that, no going home early unless it’s with a hunky guy.” She breaks out in a huge smile.
I laugh. Candice has always been so good for me. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You never know.” She stacks our plates one on top of the other. “Can I pour you some more wine?”
I cover my glass. “I have work in the morning. Let’s save it for tomorrow.”