Always a Bridesmaid by Lizzie Shane

Author:Lizzie Shane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: hollywood, billionaire, wedding, millionaire, bodyguard, friends to lovers, bridesmaid, indian heroine, best friends brother, sisters best friend
Publisher: Lizzie Shane

Chapter Twenty-One

Common Grounds closed without fanfare.

Her customers bought their last coffees, told her they were sorry to see her go, and went about their lives, resigned to going a few miles down the road for Starbucks in the future, the loss of Common Grounds a tiny blip in their lives.

Some asked her what she would be doing next, seeming relieved when she told them she’d be working down the street at Lacey’s Cakes for a while and they wouldn’t be completely losing her as a source of baked goods.

Others stocked up on the beans of their favorite coffees and got the supplier information from Parvati so they could support their expensive coffee habits without her as the go-between.

But no one cried. Not even Parv. In fact, she felt pretty good about the whole situation. It was a relief to pay the final bills—and know there wouldn’t be another round coming. Every piece of furniture that was sold off after they were officially closed for business was another weight lifted off her back. She felt lighter every day—until she could almost float right through the ceiling with the freedom of it.

She wasn’t a business owner anymore. And it felt incredible.

Her only regret in the whole thing was Madison and Anna.

Anna had landed an internship with an indie music label that started in January, so she’d found her feet, but Madison had been evasive about her future plans. The two had been even more snippy and contentious with one another over the final few weeks, but it wasn’t until they showed up on the final day of the lease to pick up their checks that Parv got the first inkling why.

She didn’t mean to eavesdrop. She wasn’t used to Common Grounds being so quiet, to voices carrying so easily in the newly empty space. The door to the kitchen had been propped open by the movers who’d taken out the ovens. Parv came out of her office with their checks in her hand and froze in the kitchen when she heard the low, intense note in Madison’s voice carrying from the front of house.

Madison who was always chirpy and happy and never said anything in that serious, intent way.

“I love Common Grounds, but maybe ultimately this is a good thing.”

“How can this possibly be a good thing?” Anna snapped, true to form.

“I love you.”

Parv had started to walk again, to intervene in the fight, but she went still at those words—and from the silence echoing from the front room, so did Anna—who had never been speechless a day in her life.

“I was never going to tell you that,” Madison went on. “I was going to go on, coming to work every day because you were here. Even when you weren’t on shift, there was always this feeling when I was here, like you might drop by to pick up a check or check your schedule. I love Common Grounds, but I came in every day to see you. And I know you don’t feel the same way.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.