Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller (hot novels to read .txt) 📕

Anger flared inside Hayden, but he tamped it down, reminding himself that his parents didn’t know the whole story. Maybe itwas time they did. “Two years before I signed with Detroit, I started seeing a counselor.”

Mom drew in a breath. “You did? Why?”

“I was having trouble keeping my emotions in check.” It wasn’t easy to admit this, and he hadn’t said anything because hedidn’t want his parents to worry. But he could see the alarm on their faces. “I’m in a good place now, ironically. Betterthan I have been in a long time. But I was frustrated back then. I couldn’t seem to break through into the majors—my gamewas suffering. I wasn’t myself, and my temper was flaring. So I went to counseling. I lucked out and got a good counselor.He even came and saw me in the hospital, and then we did sessions over the phone and online.

“I’m telling you all this because while it might seem like my decision to buy the store is a last-minute one, it isn’t.” Forsome reason, discussing his struggle to keep his emotions under control was making him emotional. Add another checkmark in the irony column. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

“We had no idea,” Mom said, tears in her eyes. “If you were struggling so much, why didn’t you tell us?”

“You did a good job of hiding it,” Dad added.

“Because I didn’t want to have this conversation. I didn’t want to worry you. And I’m a grown-up. I take care of my own problems.I learned that from you.” He smiled, relieved that his secret was out in the open now. But that didn’t mean he wanted to derailthe topic at hand. “Enough of all this emotional talk.”

“Now you sound like your father,” Mom mumbled. Then she touched Hayden’s arm. “I’m so proud of you, Hayden. I didn’t thinkwe could be any prouder than we were when you realized your dream of making it to the majors.” A tear slipped down her cheek.“But we are. Right, Harrison?”

Dad sniffed. “Yes,” he said, turning to Hayden. “Very proud.”

Hayden appreciated the support they had always given him without hesitation. Yet as much as that meant to him, there was somethingelse he needed even more.

“Mom, Dad, are you willing to sell Price’s Hardware to me?”

Chapter 12

“And here’s where you and the Bosom Buddies will have your knit and crochet nights.” Riley gestured to the middle of the store.Bins and small shelving units stuffed with yarn crowded the area.

Her grandmother rested her forearms on the wheelchair’s armrests. This morning the doctor said Mimi needed to use the chairfor one more week because he was concerned that moving her to crutches too soon might cause more problems. Her grandmotherwasn’t happy with the decision, but she didn’t give the doctor too much trouble about it.

“Do you think there will be enough room here?” she asked. “At least this week, since I’m still stuck in this chair.”

“Once we clear out everything there will be plenty of room.” Riley pulled over the Man Chair and sat in front of Mimi. “Rightnow all the inventory is out on display. It’s overwhelming.” She flipped open her sketchbook, making sure she moved quicklypast Hayden’s portrait. She should have torn it out, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In fact, she had done more workon it this week. “I’ve also designed some storage ideas for the back room. Instead of putting everything on the floor, welimit the merchandise to a few skeins, and when customers want more of a particular yarn, we can go in the back and fetchit for them.”

Mimi nodded. “I’ve just always done what my mother and grandmother did. They had fewer yarn options and more customers, sothe inventory turned over quickly.” She surveyed the shop. “You’re right. All my friends are right. I let the shop get outof control.”

“Don’t worry, Mimi. It won’t take too much work to rein it back in.” Riley smiled.

“There it is again.” Mimi beamed. “That beautiful smile. If redoing this shop will keep that smile on your face, let’s doit!”

“Don’t forget about your house,” Riley said. “I have plans for that too.”

“I’m sure you do.” Mimi tilted her head. “I’m worried you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. It’s going to take time todo all that work, even with Hayden’s help.”

“I know.”

“What about your job in New York? I’m sure Melody is ready for her roommate to return.”

Riley explained about Charlie, and how the rent was covered at least for the next month. “As for my job . . .” She touchedthe sketch in her lap. “Let’s just say the New York art world won’t miss me for a little while longer.”

Mimi shook her head. “I’m sure that’s not true. I thought you told me you had several shows recently, although I’ll admitmy memory ain’t what it used to be.”

Inhaling a deep breath, Riley admitted, “They weren’t exactly shows. More like sales.” Her cheeks heated and she knew shefinally had to be honest. “As in flea market sales.”

“Oh.” Surprise flashed across Mimi’s face, then she nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Were your customers satisfiedwith their purchases?”

“I think so.” Riley remembered one young woman who had moved to the city from South Carolina and was picking up furnitureand décor from the flea market to furnish her new apartment. “It’s tiny,” she’d said in a sweet, Carolinian accent. “But it’s all mine, and this picture will be perfect for the wall above my sleeper sofa.”

Riley had remembered being just like her when she first arrived in New York—full of excitement and anticipation, ready totake on the city and make her mark. Fortunately this woman had a business degree and wouldn’t end up another failed artistlike Riley. For some reason, the thought didn’t carry the sting it had in the past. She also didn’t want to think about NewYork. She wanted to focus on her work here.

“I have an idea,” Mimi said. “Once everything is finished, how about