I turn around, staring in awe. The new and improved Du-Kane storefront is spectacular. The rats are gone, thank you Ben, the walls have been painted a light dove gray, and the floors have been redone with dark oak hardwood. The display case I picked up from Ashley has been sanded down and distressed with a whitewash. Behind the counter is the giant chalkboard I bought with daily specials written in script at the top. The bistro tables and chairs have been cleaned up, and my centerpiece, the adorable Bubble Gum Pink rolling cart is sitting off to the side.

It’s perfect.

“Dang, Alice, it doesn't even look like a pot store.” Zoe is in the center of the room, turning around and taking it all in just like I am.

“That’s because it isn’t a pot store, Zoe. It’s a pot cafe.” I look at my friend and we both break out in laughter. “I want this to be more than that. It feels like a cafe now. People can come in and get something to eat or drink from the menu we’ve been working on. They can relax and just enjoy the product their buying. It’s going to be amazing.”

Zoe is running her hands over the counters that we’ll be filling soon with all the homemade goodies we’ve been working on. We no longer taste test them. Well, we nibble, but only one bite each. “Have you thought of a name yet? Du-Kane just doesn't fit this.”

I hold my finger up and run behind the counter, grabbing the sign I bought for the front door. “Ta-da! Welcome to Puff N’ Stuff.” I proudly hold up the sign so Zoe can see it.

She cocks her head to the left, running her eyes over the purple and gold sign I designed. “I like it. I like it a lot. Puff N’ Stuff. Alright then, PNS it is.”

“No. No PNS.”

“Why?”

“It sounds like penis. No, just, no.”

Zoe lets out a huff. “Fine. No PNS. I swear sometimes you’re such a killjoy.”

I put the sign down and walk over to Zoe, throwing my arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be great, Zoe. All we need is someone we can trust to run it.”

“What about the guy Ridge was sending over to apply for the manager position? Isn't it someone his daddy knew?”

“Yeah, his dad and him were friends since they were kids. Ridge said he’s nice but strict.”

The bell over the door dings, and I glance over my shoulder to see Ridge and an older gentleman that looks like he walked right off of a military base.

“Hey, Hot Lips,” Ridge leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “I’d like to introduce you to John Beck. John, this is Alice and Zoe.”

I reach my hand out to shake John’s hand. He’s shorter than Ridge, but built just like him. His salt and pepper hair is shaved into a buzz cut, and his brown eyes are trustworthy. I remember the conversation Ridge and I had about him. He’s retired Navy, never married, and still lives like he’s an enlisted man, not a civilian. He’s definitely the type of person I need to keep my shop in order.

“John, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ma’am,” he turns his eyes on Zoe and offers her his hand. “Ma’am.”

Zoe lifts her eyebrow at me and mouths Ma’am?

I shrug my shoulders. “John, can I show you around the shop?”

I lead him around, showing him the backroom where we’ll keep our supplies and then behind the counter. I had thick wooden beams put on the wall to put the clear containers that will hold our display grows for the customers. I show him the display case and go over the ideas we have for it, and finish up with the coffee and tea machines that were delivered this morning.

“Well, do you have any questions for me, John?”

I watch his gaze roam over the shop once again, nodding his head in the process. “Looks like you have a tight plan in place, Alice.”

“Thank you. If you take the job, I would be trusting you to hire two part time employees to help. I have several applications to look over.”

“No, I can handle all that.” John turns and looks me in the eye. “What day will we be ready to open, Alice?”

I give him a big smile. “We’re going to open Monday.”

“I’ll be here and ready to work.”

John offers his hand again but I ignore it. Instead I through my arms around his waist and hug him. After a moment, I feel one of his hands move, and he gently taps me on the back. Eh, it's a start.

I turn to Zoe. “This calls for a celebration!”

“Yasssss. Can we finally go to Beale Street? You promised to take me.”

“Whoa, wait a second. You two girls shouldn’t go to Beale by yourselves.” We both just stare at Ridge.

“Yeah, we can. We’re big girls, Ridge.”

“You know what I mean, Alice. Let me go with you?”

Zoe elbows me in the side. “Let the big guy go. He can protect us,” she says rolling her eyes.

“Fine. Yes, Ridge, you can come. Meet us at Silky’s at seven?”

He smacks me on the butt. “I’ll see you two sexy ladies at seven.”

Zoe and I head back home to get ready for tonight. It’s a beautiful night, so I imagine we’ll be sitting outside at the piano bar. I decide to wear my favorite pair of faded jeans, a pale pink tank, and my nude flats. I put my long hair in a french twist, add some mascara to my eyes, red lipstick, and I am ready to go. I meet Zoe at the bottom of the stairs. She’s in her usual floral, flowing skirt, a black tank, and black flats. It’s definitely a night of comfort for us girls.

The Uber drops us off near Silky’s a few minutes before seven and we grab a table outside. Zoe and I both order a frozen margarita in the ‘Yard Stick’ size. It’s literally served in a thin container that is a yard long. It’s my favorite drink on Beale.

“Cheers, Zoe!”

“Cheers, Al!”

We clink our cups together and both take a long drink. Frozen strawberry margaritas are so good.

“Ladies.”

I whip my head around, surprised to hear Cash’s voice. “Cash? What are you doing here?”

“What, are you not happy to see me, Pretty Girl?”

I pat the empty chair beside me. “Of course I am. Have a seat right here.”

“Hey, Zoe. How’s it going? How’s Ben?” He winks at the last question.

“I’m good, Ben’s good, sex is excellent.”

Cash spits out the sip of my margarita he just stole. “I didn’t ask all that now. So, have you ladies ordered something to eat yet, or is this just a drinking night?”

“We were actually waiting on your brother to get here before we ordered.”

“Wait no more, ladies. Here we are!”

I turn to see Ridge with Oren trailing behind him. “Boys, glad you could join us.”

“Ha, ha.” Ridge bends over and runs his lips over mine. “I had to wait on Oren to get ready. He takes forever to do his hair.”

“Shut up, Ridge. Hi, Zoe,” he says before he mimics his brother and bends over me, kissing me swiftly on the lips. “Hey, Alice.”

“Oren. I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

Ridge jumps in, “I hope it's okay. I told them we were meeting here and they wanted to come along.”

“Of course it’s okay. I’m happy to see you guys. I was going to call and invite all of you over for dinner later this week.”

I’m interrupted when our waitress comes by to take our orders. We settle on appetizers and order two of everything. I should say the guys ordered, she barely glanced at Zoe and me. After rubbing against Cash for the third time and bending over so far you could see down her shirt, I had enough.

“Ahem, excuse me, Candy? Do you think you could also bring us another drink? That is, if you’re done rubbing up against my date.”

I hear Zoe say “burn” under her breath. I know I should be embarrassed by my outburst, but oddly, I’m not. I glare at Candy as she huffs and walks off to put our orders in.

“You know she’s going to spit in your drink now, right?”

I turn my glare toward Cash. “Then I guess you can drink it while she crawls all over you, huh?”

Cash grabs my hand. “Hey, Pretty Girl, what’s wrong?”

I thread my fingers through his, “I’m sorry, Cash. I don’t know what came over me. I don’t usually act like that.”

He grips my hand tighter. “It’s okay, Alice. I kind of like it.”

“The claws were sexy, Alley Cat.”

I can’t help but start laughing. “Oren! Did you just call me Alley Cat?”

He winks and gives me a “Rarrrwwwww.”

I’m trying to think of something to say after that, when Candy appears again with our drinks and another waitress carrying a tray loaded with food. We thank them and after she leaves, I shove my drink at Cash. “Here, you try it first.”

He shakes his head, but takes the drink from me. “Tastes like a strawberry margarita. I can’t detect any spit.”

“You two are so gross.” Zoe sniffs her drink then shoves it at Oren. “Try my drink, Oren. See if it tastes like spit. She may have gotten our drinks mixed up.”

Oren just looks at her, but Ridge reaches over and takes it from her. He takes a big drink and swirls it in his mouth.

“I can detect no spit, Zoe.”

How did this night take such a crazy turn? I doubt anything could top this craziness.

“Mind if we join you?”

I stand corrected. I look up and my eyes meet North’s. We just stare at one another, neither of us able to stop. That is, until I notice a hand with long red nails wrapped around his arm.

“Hello everyone,” Vivian says.

“Let me go find another chair…,” Ridge says as he stands up.

“No need,” Vivian interrupts, “North can take the chair and I’ll sit in his lap.”

I close my eyes and look away. I don’t have a claim on him, but seeing North with her, it’s all I can do to sit here and not throw my drink at her. Why does it hurt to see them together?

“It’s okay, Ridge. I’ll get another chair. Vivian, you sit here.” North pulls the chair out then walks to another table to grab an extra chair. His eyes never leave mine as he carries it over and sits down.

Vivian clears her throat. “I understand we’re celebrating something, but no one told me what exactly.”

Zoe sits up straighter. “We’re celebrating the remodel and re-opening of Puff N’ Stuff.”

“Puff N’ Stuff?” Vivian asks, her face looking like she just ate a lemon. “What is that?”

“It’s Alice’s new storefront. It was called Du-Kane’s, but we renamed it. It needed a new name to go with its new look.”

I pat my best friend on her knee, thanking her for speaking up. I haven’t told her everything, but she knows enough about my feelings for the guys, including North.

“Alice,” Vivian glances at me, “I didn’t know you had a storefront. I keep telling North that he will have to cut all ties with that nonsense once he finishes law school. Of course, he’ll be in LA with me, so really it doesn’t matter.”

No one says anything, and the atmosphere goes from silly to tense with her one statement. North already said he wasn’t going. Has he changed his mind?

After a few moments we all start digging into the appetizers. Once everything is gone, I look at Zoe and she gives me a subtle nod.

We both stand and I say, “Well, this has been fun, but I promised Zoe I’d walk with her down Beale and show her a few of the landmarks.”

Oren, Ridge, and Cash all stand up, but I wave them off. “It’s okay, guys. Stay and enjoy your night. We had an Uber bring us, so I need to call and have one pick us up in a few anyways.” I open my purse and bring out my wallet.

“We’ve got it, Alice,” Cash says. “This was our treat.”

The guys sit back down, but I can tell they want to say something about us leaving, but they won’t. Ridge lets out a loud sigh as he says, “Call or text at least one of us when you get back home.”

I grab Zoe’s arm and we make our way back out onto the street. We stop by the outside window, order two more margaritas, and walk toward the river. Once we reach the end of Beale, we turn around and I do what I said I would, I show Zoe my city. From Alfred’s, to A. Schwab, a funky little store with everything. We go inside a few bars to listen to some local bands, then stop by Dyer’s for one of their famous fried burgers. Whoever said a burger fried in a hundred year old grease isn’t good, has obviously never had a Dyer’s.

We’re sitting in one of the red vinyl booths, waiting on our burgers when she finally caves. I was wondering how long she could hold it in.

“That Vivian is a bitch. I can’t believe North lets her talk to him like that. He said he wasn’t leaving and moving to LA. What is she trying to prove?”

I rub my temple before I answer her. “I don’t know, Zoe. Honestly, I just can’t think about it right now. I need to focus on the the new store and you need to focus on the new plants. I don’t have time to worry about North or his Ice Queen booty call.”

Zoe, thankfully, lets it go, and we enjoy our greasy food in peace. I call for our Uber before we go, and by the time we pay for our check, we see him waiting for us at the end of the street. Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking through the front door.

Dobey meets me, doing his pee-pee dance. After letting him out, I go upstairs, kick off my shoes, throw my jeans in a pile of dirty clothes and fall into bed. Dobey and I get comfy and I remember that Ridge had asked me to call or text when we got home. I fire up my phone and send a message to him, Oren, and Cash.

Me: We are home and in bed

Ridge: Pic please

Oren: Really bro

Cash: I second that pic

Me: Y'all are too much. I’m going to bed. Nite

Oren: Night Alley Cat

Ridge: Night Hot Lips

Cash: Don’t let her get to U, Laters Pretty Girl

I smile to myself and lay my phone down. I snuggle into my comforter, but before I can close my eyes, my phone goes off again. I grab it, thinking that one of the guys forgot to tell me something, but it’s not them. It’s North.

North: Can I see you tomorrow

Me: Why

North: Please Alice

North: Give me 10 mins

Me: Fine

North: I’ll be at your place around 2

I place my phone down and roll over facing Dobey. I wrap my arms around my dog, the only man I need in my life, and fall into a fitful sleep.