Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(84)

“I don’t have my license,” Larissa said. “I have the forms and I’m certainly qualified with the hours of education and practice, but I’ll have to take care of that before I can get any customers.”

Bailey’s green eyes brightened. “Yes, well, it turns out there are advantages to working with California’s longest serving mayor. She knows everyone. In fact, she’s already spoken to the licensing board and your paperwork will be expedited. You can be in business within a couple of weeks.”

Larissa found herself fighting more tears, but for a very different reason.

“I’ve spoken to Kenny and Sam,” Taryn said. “We had a feeling you wouldn’t stay with us after what happened.” She pulled an envelope out of her designer tote and handed it over.

“Six months’ pay as severance. We’ll keep you on the company insurance until your business is up and running.” Taryn gave her a smile. “As you know, I’ve taken on a couple of silent partnerships. I want to do the same with you. I’ll front you the money you need to get your business started and you can buy me out over time.”

Larissa hugged her. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything.” She knew that Taryn had helped Isabel buy Paper Moon and expand the business. There were probably other dealings Taryn kept to herself.

She released Taryn and smiled at her. “And while I appreciate the offer to be my silent partner, I want you as my friend. Money has a way of changing that.” She waved the envelope. “This will go a long way to getting me going. The table will be the biggest expense. If I need more than this, I’ll talk to my mom. She’ll be so happy I’m not working for Jack anymore that she’ll be thrilled to help me.”

Just saying his name was enough to make her feel broken again. She fought against the emotions and struggled to find another smile.

“It’s so annoying that she was right about my feelings for him.”

Taryn touched her hand. “I know it is.”

Bailey looked at her. “Let us know if you want to do a painting party or anything like that. I’m so there.”

“Thank you.” Larissa sipped her tea, then looked at Taryn. “Have you seen him?”

Something flashed in Taryn’s eyes. Hurt maybe. Or betrayal. “No, and right now I don’t want to.”

Larissa nodded, because it was expected. Unfortunately what she was thinking on the inside was that she would do anything to see Jack again. Would give anything to be in his arms. Which only told her how far she had to go.

* * *

AS SOON AS Taryn and Bailey left, Larissa went to work on the paperwork required for her massage therapist certification. She had most of it filled out, along with transcripts from her massage therapy school and proof of the continuing education classes she’d taken. She included a copy of her driver’s license and the required passport-size photos, then put everything into a large envelope. After calling and talking to the owner of the day spa and setting up an appointment to see the room for rent, Larissa walked over to the express mail center and sent it overnight, addressed to the name on the business card Bailey had given her. Then she walked home.

When she got there, she found Kenny and Sam waiting for her. At the sight of them, she started crying again, which was totally ridiculous. They both pulled her close, then Kenny handed her a grocery bag filled with every flavor of Ben & Jerry’s.

“Because, you know, girls eat ice cream,” he told her sheepishly.

“You’re a very nice man,” she said as she let them both into her apartment.

She put away the ice cream, got them each a beer from her Jack stash, then settled across from them. Dyna looked up from her perch in the south-facing window as if to ask why there were so many humans around today.

“Have you seen Percy?” Larissa asked.

“Today,” Kenny told her. “You know he’s working for Josh Golden.”

She nodded. “He mentioned that.”

“I tried to get him to come back to Score,” Sam said. “He wouldn’t. But he’s showing up for his tutoring sessions.”

“I’ve taken over Jack’s part of his studies,” Kenny added. “We’re not going to let him disappear on us. He’ll get his GED and then he’ll start at Fool’s Gold community college.”

“We’re all chipping in.” Sam raised his beer. “Even Taryn.”

The two men looked at each other, as if searching for something else to say. Larissa finally understood why they were so concerned about keeping the conversation going.

“I’m okay,” she told them. “Still crying, but surviving.”

Sam looked relieved. “Taryn called and said you were staying in town.”

“I’m going to open a massage practice in a day spa.”

“Count me in,” Kenny said quickly. “Three times a week.”

“Me, too,” Sam added.

“It’ll take me a couple of weeks to get my license. Until then, if you want to set up a table in one of your places, I can take care of you there.”

Kenny sighed. “You’re really not coming back to Score, are you?”

“Jack fired me.”

“So be my assistant.”

She managed a smile. “You don’t have any work for me. Besides, I don’t want to see Jack every day. It would be too hard.”