Part 18 (1/2)

I smiled again.

”You're an a.s.s. This isn't funny. I'm a little blown away here.”

”Relax Star, she's fine. If she does it again tonight just talk her down. She's not going to do anything crazy if that's what you're worried about.”

”I'm worried about her.”

That was the last message and I quickly laid her phone down and crawled back into bed when I heard the shower shut off.

I stretched and pretended that I had just woken.

”Good morning, hungry?” Star asked with her carefree smile.

”Yeah, I could eat, but I need a shower.”

”Go. Get a shower. We have a busy day. I can't wait until you see these vendors today. It's epic.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm for the hippy festival.

”Star, I'm really sorry about last night.”

I don't know why I felt the need to apologize to her. I just didn't want to ruin what I had going on, although the thought had crossed my mind to run away and start over again somewhere, neglecting the relations.h.i.+p and friends. I would be safer the next time. I knew what I could and couldn't do, and having people in my life that wanted to get close wouldn't and should have never been an option. But the truth is I couldn't imagine not having Dawson, Star and Lauren in my life.

”Honey, you don't have to be sorry for anything.

Just tell me if there is anything that I can do to help. I owe you so much already.”

I looked at her puzzled. I owed her everything. I didn't understand.

”Why would you owe me anything?”

”You are joking, right? You turned my money pit dive into a striving, profitable business. I would have never done that. It was just something to occupy my time. I never dreamed that it could be what it is now. I owe you for that.”

”You don't owe me anything. I think that I love that place more than you do.”

”I owe you breakfast and one h.e.l.l of a fun day so go get your skinny little b.u.t.t ready.”

I was glad that Star was letting go of my night. I would just have to make sure I didn't sleep that night.

We had to take two cabs because there were six of us. I rode with Starlight and Sunny and couldn't help but laugh at the two sisters. They were talking about how a fortune teller once told them that they both would marry and have three girls each. Star was said to have two marriages in her life. She didn't have any. She had an illegitimate daughter. Of course, her name was part of the universe as well, Moon Beam Straights. She went by Moonie.

I could feel my heart begin to beat faster when we got close to the jewelry store. I knew that the chances of Drew being there were slim to none. I had heard enough of his business calls to know that he was hardly ever in any of his stores. That's what he had Derik for. Derik did all of his dirty work.

I think I stopped breathing. I don't know how I even saw him. There were so many people on the sidewalk, but I did. He was pacing with one finger in his ear and his cellphone to the other one. It was Derik for sure, in his expensive, elaborate suit and tie. He never looked up and kept his eyes down. I knew without knowing that Drew was on the other end.

”Riley?” I heard Starlight call my name. I was sure that it wasn't the first time.

”Sorry, did you say something?” I asked the stupid question.

”Not anything important. I was just telling you about all of the coffee vendors that will be set up here.”

I couldn't believe all the cars and people that were at this expo. I would have never dreamed that so many people were into the retro hippy crave. I was happy to see that we were someplace that you wouldn't find Drew or his sidekick, Derik. We had to walk a mile because our cab driver refused to go any further into the mult.i.tude of traffic. I didn't mind. I wore my dark sungla.s.ses and my oversized sunhat proudly.

Starlight and I both had ordered a new outfit for the special day. I wore a brown and green tie dye Mudmee wrap skirt and a brown hippy style fringed leather vest with a pair of water buffalo sandals. Starlight wore a patch work sundress and the same sandals as me.

We spent the entire day at the swap meet. We did eventually go our separate ways. There was way too much to see everything in five days, let alone two, and we wanted to acquire some new and exciting merchants. The store room had quickly started to get cleared out from our robust sales over the past few months. Starlight of course went for the coffees, teas, aroma oils and scented candles.

I spent my time with Sunny and we hit up all of the clothing, novelty items and pictures. I definitely wanted more of the artwork. They seemed to be one of the hottest items for the tourist that we attracted.

It was after seven before we finally made it back to the hotel. I was hot, tired and excited all at once.

Starlight went to the shower, and I called Dawson.

”I was beginning to think that you forgot me,” he answered. I could sense the smile on his face.

”Never, how are you?”

”Lonely. I'm not used to sleeping alone anymore. I didn't sleep much.”

”I think you are lying to me. You probably slept like a baby without me there to wake you during the night.”

”I promise I didn't. I would much rather have you here waking me. I kept throwing my arm over you, and you weren't there.”

I laughed. I missed him. I really missed him. The only person that I had ever missed in my life was Justin. I didn't even miss my mother although I often wondered where she was.

”I have to say that I missed you last night too.” I didn't say why. He knew why.

”How was your expo?”

”It was amazing, Daw. You should have seen the people at this thing. I talked to a guy that came there all the way from Florence, Italy. He flew there just for the meet.”

”He wasn't cute was he?”

I laughed at his jealousy. ”No. I promise. He wasn't cute. We have twenty four new catalogues to go through.”

”You didn't buy anything to have s.h.i.+pped back home?”

”No. Star wanted to, but I talked her out of it. It'll be much cheaper to order and have it sent direct from the wholesalers then to have it s.h.i.+pped from here.”

”Have I told you how much I loved you today?”

”No. I haven't talked to you today, silly.”

”I love you more than the stars, the sun, the moon, the ocean, the air...”

I laughed before I cut him off. ”Okay. I get it, and I love you too, but Star just got out of the shower, and I desperately need it.”

”So you don't love me as much as a shower.”