Better If He Goes (Always You #1) - Allie Everhart Page 0,1

you again."

I smile back. "I'm happy too."

"Let's go do something. Have you had lunch?"

"I can't leave. I have to work. I don't get off until three."

"You get off early today." He nods to the door behind me that leads to the salon. "I talked to Renee."

Renee owns the salon. She inherited it from her mom, who retired a few years ago. Since taking it over, Renee's been totally stressed. She likes being a stylist, not running a salon, having to do all the business stuff.

"Renee said I could leave early?" I ask, surprised because we're super busy and she was just in here telling me she needs me to sweep floors.

"I kinda made her a deal," Nate says.

"What kind of deal?"

"I told her I'd design her new brochure. She wants one that'll attract younger people to the salon. I said I'd do it for free if she gave you the rest of the day off."

"Nate, that's really sweet, but I can't afford to lose the hours. I need the money."

"Which is why I made her agree to still pay you."

"Are you serious? She's letting me leave early AND paying me?"

"She should be giving you the whole week off. She's getting a brochure designed for free. A design firm would charge thousands for that."

Nate majored in graphic design and wants to work at an ad agency. I've seen his work. He's really talented.

"I'll need some new photos for the brochure," he says. "What do you think of being a model?"

I shake my head. "No way. I'm not a model. Not even close. I look horrible in pictures."

"What are you talking about?" He wraps his hands around my face and looks in my eyes. "You're gorgeous. If anyone should be a model, it's you."

He's looking at me almost like he sees me as more than a friend. I'm obviously misinterpreting it. There aren't any romantic feelings between us. We're Nate and Riley. Friends since eighth grade, when Nate moved to town after his parents' divorce. As much as I love him, I'd never date him. I don't see him that way. He's like a brother to me. A sweet, loving, protective brother.

He checks his watch. "Let's get out of here."

"Just let me get the washer going." I race over to it, add the soap, and push the button to start it. When I turn around, I see Nate smiling at me. "What? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. In fact, it couldn't be more right." He walks up to me and takes both my hands in his. "I really missed you, Riley."

He's looking at me that way again, like he sees me as more than a friend. Why does he keep doing that? He knows I don't think of him that way. And he feels the same way about me. Unless that's changed.

Pulling my hands from his, I turn and grab my purse from the hook on the wall. "Lunch first?"

"Yeah. Where do you want to go?"

"You should pick. You're the one who's been gone for months."

"Let's go to Pete's. I've been craving pizza and I could use a beer."

"A beer? At lunch?" I ask, sounding surprised.

I'm just kidding him, although it is surprising he'd have a drink, especially at lunch. He's not much of a drinker. At parties, he was always the designated driver.

"I kinda need a drink," he says, walking to the door that goes to the salon.

"Why do you need a drink?"

"Go ahead." He ignores my question and motions me to go past him through the door.

I'm still curious why he needs a drink, but I let it go and continue into the salon. My eyes go to all the hair on the floor and I get the urge to grab a broom and sweep it up. I feel guilty leaving when we're this busy. I've always been like that. When I see something that needs to be done, I do it, even if it's not my job.

"Aren't they darling together?" Doris says as she takes the perm rods from Mrs. Clauson's hair. Doris is a stylist who's worked here forever, and Mrs. Clauson is one of our regulars. She was also my ninth grade Spanish teacher, and Nate's. We were in the same class.

Mrs. Clauson smiles as Nate and I walk by. "I always knew they'd end up together. They were inseparable in high school."

I glance at Nate, who's smiling, almost like he agrees with Mrs. Clauson that he and I are a couple. What is going on with him?

"Have