Page 40 of Singled Out

“Harper, why don’t you do this? Your creations are incredible. People would pay good money for these pieces.”

“I’ve sold a few to friends.”

“That’s a start.” I picked up an earring with a trio of dark-violet and smoke-gray stones. “You have a gift. You should do more with it.”

“Maybe.” She was back to being noncommittal.

“Wouldn’t you rather spend your time doing this than waiting tables?”

“There’s nothing wrong with waiting tables.”

“No, there’s not. It’s one way to pay the bills. But this… A lot of people can wait tables at the Dragonfly Diner. Not very many people can create unique pieces like these.”

“They’re not really that unique. Lots of people make jewelry like this.”

“This is a business in the making.”

“And that’s the catch,” she said. “That B-word is a scary one.”

“Business?”

“I know nothing about running a business. Just thinking about it gives me an anxiety attack.”

“You could learn about it though. Take a class or hire a consultant.”

“With what money?” she said, laughing. “I don’t even know what a jewelry business would look like.”

“Online would be a great way to start because there’s no overhead. Fewer expenses.”

“Right,” she said. One by one, she put the pieces back into the trays. She held her hand out for the earring I’d picked up.

“You’re just going to pack them back up? Put the box away?” I handed her the earring.

She put it with its mate, closed the box, then slid it into the locker.

“What would you suggest? Take them down to the square, put out a table, and get myself into business?” she asked lightly as she walked back around the table to my side.

“Well, no. But you should really think about the possibilities.”

“I have a lot going on right now. I have to move?—”

“Right. You’re not staying here, right? With that psychopath?”

“He’s not a psychopath. Ian and I talked. He apologized. I think last night we walked in on him when he was going through something similar to your bike destruction night, except the only thing he destroyed was his liver. He said walking into Naomi’s house hit him hard.”

If that was the truth, I could sympathize. I wasn’t ready to trust the guy though. “And you believe him?”

“I do. He seems contrite. Embarrassed. We struck a deal that I could stay here until I’m able to find a place and move out.”

“He’ll be here too?”

“For a while.”

I didn’t like it. Not at all.

“It’s fine, Max. There’s a lock on my door, but I’m not going to need it.”

“You don’t know that.”