Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“Ew, gross,” Maya commented. “At least pretend to have some dignity.”
“Never,” I replied cheerfully, heading toward the front of the store where Mrs. Hoffman was indeed examining my menorah display with the intensity of a museum curator.
The next hour passed in a blur of final preparations and the arrival of more friends and family. After greeting everyone for a solid hour, I finally grabbed a cup of my grandmother’s hot cocoa and joined Foster and Tommy by the window display.
“This place looks incredible,” Foster said, looking around with obvious approval. “You two have really created something special here.”
“Thanks,” I replied, feeling that familiar flush of pride. “It’s been a team effort.”
“Speaking of team efforts,” Tommy added with a knowing grin, “has anyone seen Chief Kincaid? He said he needed to do a ‘routine safety inspection’ before the opening.”
Maya snorted. “He’s in the back room with Alex. Has been for the past twenty minutes. Very thorough inspection, apparently.”
Foster and Tommy exchanged amused glances. “You think they realize the only fire danger around here is the sparks flying between the two of them?”
I chuckled, but then I spotted Adrian talking to several people across the room, and my attention caught on him as it usually did.
Watching him discuss the merits of different hiking boots with a family from Colorado, I felt a familiar surge of pride and love. He wasn’t Adrian Hayes the brand; he was just Adrian, sharing something he cared about with people who appreciated it.
“You’re staring again,” Maya murmured with her phone held out to capture candid shots of the crowd.
“Can you blame me?” I asked, not bothering to deny it.
“Not really. He does look pretty good in Sullivan Hardware merchandise.” She paused her filming to give me a more serious look. “You know, this time last year, I was worried what would happen to you when I left for school. Worried you’d fall into a pattern of working too much and not taking care of yourself.”
“And?”
“And I’m really glad I was wrong. Well, you’re still a workaholic—both of you are—but you look… lighter. Happier. Like you remember how to have fun again, too.” Her smile turned mischievous. “Plus, our online sales have tripled since Adrian took over the marketing strategy, so clearly, this partnership is working out.”
“Clearly,” I agreed, laughing. “Though I hope you know this partnership includes you. You’ve worked your ass off helping Adrian build out our online presence.”
Her involvement was a topic of constant check-ins, times Adrian or I—or both—reminded her to make time for fun.
Maya’s smile was indulgent. “I can tell what you’re thinking. I promise I have a life outside of work and school. You’ve met my friends and seen our Thursday night game nights.”
“As long as you’re happy,” I said, still worrying despite her admonishment.
“I’m happier than I ever imagined. I love what we’re doing here, and it makes me proud. I wish Mom and Dad were around to see it.”
“Me too. But I agree. They’d be proud of us.”
She poked me in the side. “They’d tease you for your social media stardom.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s all Adrian. He’s impossible not to obsess over. I, of all people, understand why his fans are his fans.”
“Please. Half our female followers are here for your grumpy mountain man aesthetic, and the other half are here for the relationship goals content with the two of you.”
She wasn’t wrong. Adrian’s documentation of our life together—both the travel adventures and the quiet domestic moments—had resonated with people in ways I still didn’t fully understand. He didn’t share everything, of course. Not even most things. He was often too busy enjoying our life to think of making it content. But when he did post photos of us drinking coffee in the morning or assembling furniture for the store expansion, or candid shots of me working on a photography project, they consistently got thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.
“I still don’t get why people care so much about our normal, everyday stuff,” I admitted. “But I’m happy the income has enabled us to do this expansion.”
“They care because it’s real,” Maya said simply. “In a world full of fake relationships and manufactured content, you two are genuinely happy together. People can tell the difference.”
Before I could respond, a commotion near the back of the store caught my attention. Through the crowd, I spotted Judd Kincaid emerging from the storage room looking slightly rumpled, followed by Alex, whose hair was suspiciously messed up and whose lips looked recently kissed.
“Safety inspection complete!” Kincaid announced to no one in particular, his usual stern expression somewhat undermined by the fact that his shirt was partially untucked.
“Everything… er… passed,” Alex added, his cheeks slightly flushed. “After a very… thorough evaluation.”
Maya snorted. “Subtle as a brick to the face, those two.”
The crowd had grown substantially, with people spilling out of the store and gathering on the sidewalk despite the cold. Adrian had set up the outdoor speakers to play a mix of holiday music, creating a festive atmosphere that drew even more curious passersby.