Page 17 of When Forever Falls Apart

I force a smile, then nod. “Yep, it’s something. So, let’s get straight into it, shall we?”

There’s a wide range of commercial stoves and ovens, fryers and grills, and then a section for smaller items such as mixers, slicers, and processors—row after row of stainless steel. Edgar’s voice flows over us, his polished spiel a calculated sales tactic designed to convince us to spend big.

I listen attentively, interested in learning about each brand, but I’m mindful that he’s also talking out of his ass with these prices. In the back of my mind, I try to remember that the Manhattan store will experience a surge of customers that could easily overwhelm it. The equipment we choose needs to withstand the pressures of a bustling kitchen. If all goes well, Eva has projected that this store will have three times the traffic, if not more, compared to the store in Cinnamon Springs.

And once these New Yorkers get a taste of perfection, I guarantee it will be just the beginning of Donuts Ever After. As Aston intelligently put it, global domination is around the corner. Eva, of course, spiraled after that.

As Edgar continues his repetitive monologue, he turns his back to us momentarily. Eva leans in, her eyes squinting with exhaustion, and whispers, “I could fall asleep right here.”

I stifle a laugh, leaning closer to her. “Snap out of it. We want the crème de la crème. These appliances don’t come cheap, and you don’t have the biggest of budgets to work with.”

“You’re preaching to the choir,” she retorts, her voice heavy with exasperation. “Aston tells me there’s no budget, but with the house construction in full swing, I’m worried we’re spreading our finances too thin. A lot is going on and so quickly.”

I can’t help but smirk at her concern. “Your fiancé is a billionaire. I doubt forty thousand dollars is going to make a significant dent in his wallet.”

Eva rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitch upward. “We can’t just buy one commercial fryer,” she counters, glancing sideways at the now-perked-up salesman, whose eyes gleam with opportunity.

Fantastic! Now we’ve handed him an advantage in negotiation.

“Why don’t you check out the refrigerators while I try to get us the best deal?” I suggest, keeping my voice low enough so Edgar doesn’t get all excited again.

Eva opens the door to the stainless-steel refrigerator, then purposely sticks her head in it while pretending not to be listening.

“We only sell the best,” Edgar pitches, then continues with, “You’ve come to the right place.”

“Listen, Edgar. Let’s get straight to the point.” Like a predator stalking its prey, Edgar observes me closely. I keep my tone strong and authoritative, knowing it’s time to play hardball. “We want the best of the best. I can give you a list of exactly what we need. This will include our delivery schedules and the dates by which we need the equipment installed. Our timeline is tight, so give us your best deal because Carmen’s Catering has a storewide sale and we’re happy to walk the three blocks over.”

I’ve already done my homework, and Carmen’s pricing isn’t worth getting excited about.

At the mention of Carmen, Edgar’s expression falters, his pride evident through clenched teeth—a long-standing rivalry, it appears, which may work in our advantage. I’d spoken to a few people in the industry, and almost all of them pointed me to Edgar and Carmen.

“All right, all right,” he concedes, his demeanor shifting as he pats my shoulder with a forced acceptance of the situation. “Let’s make this deal happen.”

Edgar escorts me and Eva into his small office. We peruse the catalog, then settle on the appliances needed. When I’m satisfied with the final costing, Eva tries her best not to appear elated by the great deal I negotiated.

As we step out into the vibrant rush of the street, Eva pats my back. “You absolutely crushed it in there. Are you really going to pass up the chance to shop with me for some chairs? I could use your hustle.” She beams with excitement.

I usher her to the coffee bar next door, in desperate need of a caffeine hit. It’s small, with no chairs or tables, just a counter to serve and a small refrigerator for cold beverages. I’ve been up since the crack of dawn, trying to get everything done so I could be here. Already, the aroma of coffee beans is fueling my addiction.

“I can’t stay. You do remember I’m back home, running your store in Cinnamon Springs?” I state with a hint of irritation creeping into my voice.

“Yes, yes, I’m ever so grateful for that. Another favor I owe you, adding to the growing list,” she drags out dramatically, but then her face lights up with a mischievous grin. “But hey, you’re my big brother. Who really needs a list anyway? It’s all part of the sibling contract. It’s what we signed up for.”

“I’d like to emphasize that I never actually signed anything. I’m quite certain you could ask Mom and Dadabout how much I begged them to pack you up in a basket and send you back where you came from,” I retort, trying to suppress a smile.

Eva snorts. “You mean Mom’s vagina?”

“Didn’t need that visual…”

“Join us for drinks tonight. I promise my fiancé will behave. Plus, you can finally meet Maddy,” she insists with a plea in her tone.

“Right. Your bestie,” I exaggerate, rolling my eyes playfully.

“Speaking of Maddy, I offered her a job at the café. She’s going through a tough time, and a little extra cash could help her out,” Eva adds, her expression shifting to one of concern.

I move toward the counter, then place our orders. Eva always orders a mocha latte with extra sweetener, but she shakes her head and orders a peppermint tea instead.

We move to the side to wait while inhaling the fresh-brewed coffee lingering in the air.