Page 38 of Screwed
“Wow. Youhavebeen busy. What can I do to help?”
“Well, there is something you can help with.” She turned her cold beer in her fingertips. “I need a website. And you’re a graphic designer.”
Kristy grinned and lifted a hand. They high-fived across the table. “Done!”
“Thank you. It’ll just be me at first. I’ll see if I need to hire help if I get busy enough.” She scrunched up her face. “IhopeI get busy enough. You can also help spread the word. Once I’m up and running.” She paused. “I want to do as much as I can by myself. As in, without Beau or my parents helping me.”
“You have your own money.”
“Yes. But starting a business is risky. I don’t want to throw it all away. So I’m going to be very frugal.”
Kristy looked doubtful. “You?”
“Yes! You think I can’t stick to a budget?”
“No idea, ’cause you’ve never done it.”
“Well, I can.” Callie lifted her chin.
Kristy leaned forward. “Honey, you have more money than you know what to do with. I don’t think there are any worries about throwing it all away.”
“I know, but still. I’m trying not to become my parents.”
“I hear you.” Kristy nodded. “I mean, I love your parents, but they’re notmyparents, and I didn’t grow up with them ignoring me while they made money and did philanthropic good deeds for everyone but their children.”
“Exactly.”
“How are your brothers, by the way?”
“They’re good.” Kristy had always maintained that Griff and Josh Junior were hot, which she supposed was true even though they were her brothers. “Griff was just home for Mama’s birthday party. It was so good to see him, but we barely got a chance to talk because he was only here for one night.” She pushed her bottom lip out.
“You miss him, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me more about your bakery.”
Callie needed no more invitation to share all the ideas that had been bouncing around in her brain, and Kristy was quickly on board, even throwing out some suggestions for ways to get customers. Callie showed her the Instagram picture of her mother’s birthday cake. “Look how many likes it has.”
“It’s gorgeous, Callie! I mean, I know you make pretty cakes, but wow! That’s amazing!” She sat back. “I think you can do this.”
“Aw. Thank you. I love you.”
Kristy grinned. “Love you, too.”
One of the men seated near them spoke up. “Aw, damn, you two are carpet munchers.” He shook his head in disappointment.
Kristy turned, wide-eyed, and looked back at Callie, who pressed her lips together. The term was offensive, but the man’s disappointment was hilarious. “I told you I was waiting for my girlfriend.”
“A man can hope.”
They both giggled.
Callie focused back on her friend. “So, I even have my first client already.”
“No way.”
She nodded eagerly. “Way! Guess who? Melanie Walden.” She told Kristy what had happened. “And she’s willing to pay a fortune for it!”
