“Yeah, I mentioned it, the same way I’ve mentioned it the twenty times before. But that’s the beauty of being a business owner. We can set our own schedule. I did tell her the holidays are going to be tricky. She agreed to compromise.”
“What kind of compromise?” My suspicions rise.
“We’ll have to see. I’ve already signed up to participate in the Small Business Saturday street event on Thanksgiving weekend. So maybe they’ll come here.”
“Seems reasonable.”
“I’m going to do a few things in the office, and I’ll be ready to finish this up. Fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Sure.” As if on cue, my phone rings, and I can’t help my grin when I see it’s Nick.
“Better yet, come get me when you’re off the phone.” Logan walks away.
“Hello,” I answer a little too chirpy. Cool it, Grace!
“Hey, Sweet Peach.”
“Sweet Peach?”
“I came up with it on the way to the stadium. It’s a combination of Sweet Grace and Peach Princess.”
My chest spasms. “You gave me a nickname?”
“Oh yeah, and considering you always smell like peaches, I think it’s perfect.”
“I like it,” I mostly whisper.
“Are you planning another late night?”
“Actually, I think we’ll be through in a few hours. Logan just arrived, and if everything goes as planned, I’ll have all day tomorrow to crate and ship the old pieces to their owners. It’ll be a great reset, thanks to you. They’ve never gone this smoothly.”
“What do you mean?”
“In the past, we’ve worked until the last minute to get this place ready.”
“You’ve done this before?” he asks, his tone switching.
“A few times over the last year.”
He’s quiet, too quiet, the entire mood changing.
“Nick?”
“I’m here, trying to figure out how you could have been in Miami and not called.”
There’s nothing I can say. How do I explain that I was sure he wouldn’t remember me? Or, after the way I ignored his calls after Grandma died, I was ashamed?
“You know what? Don’t answer that. It’s over. What’s done is done.” He may speak the words, but he’s not very convincing.
“I’m sorry, Nick, really sorry.”
“Two years, six months, and seventeen days, Grace, and this morning you changed all that so let’s not go back there. We’re moving forward. I’m taking my second chance.”
&n
bsp; “I’d like that.”
“I’ll be here a while longer, and then I’ll come back by the gallery. Anything not done, I can help. Then I’ll drive you home.”