The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1) (24 page)

“We got some stocking stuffers for Christmas, so I’d like them somewhere prominent,” Mr. North said. “They’re in the back.”
 

“Got it,” Kelsey said, heading to the storeroom.

“Where’s Dylan?” Mr. North said.

“Still asleep when we left,” Jessica said, looking at a bright pink fleece jacket.
 

“There’s an employee discount,” Mr. North said to her, and she giggled.
 

For the next two hours, Kelsey and Jessica helped straighten the store and put out new merchandise. Only a few customers dropped in.
 

“Why don’t you two go get some lunch and enjoy yourselves?” Mr. North said around 11:30. “It’s not going to be busy around here today.”
 

“Dad, are you sure?” Kelsey said.
 

“I wanted to put up the Christmas decorations,” Jessica pouted.
 

“I don’t want Jessica to miss Port Townsend because you’re helping out.”
 

“I’ll take her on a tour, then we’ll come back,” Kelsey said.

“Fine, come back later,” Mr. North said, waving them out. The girls left and headed down Water Street.
 

“Want to shop or get lunch first?”
 

“Lunch, I think,” Jessica said. “Do you want to call Dylan?”

“I don’t want to wake him if he’s still asleep. He can message us if he wants to come down,” Kelsey replied. They turned on Taylor Street and walked into a small cafe.
 

“Hey, Kels,” said the guy behind the counter. “Welcome home.”
 

“Hi, Ben. This is my roommate Jessica.”

“Hi,” Jessica said.
 

“Are you going to Eric’s on Friday?”
 

“Is this the party of the century?” Jessica asked.

“It’s the only game in town,” Ben said.
 

“We might,” Kelsey said. “What’s good today?”
 

“I’m partial to the quiche,” Ben replied. “I made it.”
 

“Quiche it is,” Kelsey said. “Jess?”
 

“Quiche sounds great,” Jessica said. Kelsey paid for lunch while Jessica sat at one of the tables with a paper that a customer had left behind. She was reading it as Kelsey joined her with two bottles of iced tea.
 

“This certainly isn’t the
New York Times
,” Jessica said, folding the paper. “Christmas bazaars, Rotary Club meetings. It’s certainly quiet around here.”
 

“That’s the way some of us like it,”
 
Kelsey said, taking off the top of her drink.
 

“But you’re planning on leaving,” Jessica pointed out.
 

“Good point,” Kelsey said. “So are you going to buy the pink jacket?”

“It’s cute isn’t it? What’s my employee discount?”
 

Kelsey laughed. “I’ll ask my dad.”
 

“It’s nice and toasty too. I have a feeling I’ll need it when we get back. It’s getting colder.”
 

Ben walked over with two plates of quiche and salad. “Enjoy,” he said.
 

“Thanks,” Kelsey said, picking up her fork.
 

“Yummy,” Jessica said, taking a bite.
 

“Wait until tomorrow’s dinner,” Kelsey said.
 

“What does your mom make that takes a week?”

“It’s the prep time,” Kelsey said. “Three kinds of stuffing, two kinds of potatoes, four desserts.”
 

“Just for the three of you?”

“We usually invite someone over, but yeah, sometimes it’s just the three of us.”
 

“My mother can call for take-out,” Jessica quipped, taking a bite of food.

“Mine too. Just not on Thanksgiving,” Kelsey said.
 

They ate their lunch, said goodbye to Ben and left the cafe to go window shopping. As Jessica was looking at a book at the bookstore, and Kelsey was browsing, Kelsey’s phone rang.
 

“Hi, Dylan. Did you just wake up?” Kelsey asked. Jessica looked up.
 

“No,” Dylan said. “I woke up about an hour ago.” Kelsey looked at the time. It was 1 p.m. “Do you want me to come down to the store?”
 

“There’s no point, unless you want to,” Kelsey said. “We’re pretty much customer-free today. Jess and I are shopping on Water Street.”

“Okay, I’ll stay here and help your mom then. She needs some stuff from the store,” Dylan said.
 

“All right,” Kelsey said. “We’ll see you for dinner.”
 

“Sounds good. Take care, Kels,” Dylan replied and disconnected.
 

“Is he coming down?” Jessica asked

Kelsey shook her head. “He’s going to the store for Mom.”
 

“I hope he doesn’t pick up more alcohol,” Jessica said softly.
 

“I’d like to think a case of beer is enough for five days,” Kelsey replied. Jessica shrugged.
“Let’s hope that your dad thinks of something.”
 

“I’m sure he will,” Kelsey said.

They walked back to the store, which was empty except for Mr. North. Kelsey got out the Christmas decorations, and she and Jessica spent the next few hours decorating every bit of the store.
 

“It looks like a tinsel truck exploded in here,” Mr. North said as they turned out the lights of the store at six.
 

“That’s what it’s supposed to look like, Mr. North,” Jessica reminded him.
 

“All right, girls. I’m going to get the truck. Do you want a ride to the restaurant?”

“It’s okay,” Kelsey said. “We’ll walk over.”
 

“Be safe. See you there,” Mr. North said. He turned away from the girls as they headed back down Water Street.
 

“So what should I order tonight?”
 

“Everything is good. I always get fajitas, though,” Kelsey said.

They walked down the street and ended up in a Mexican restaurant. As they were opening the door, they saw Mr. North’s truck round the corner and head for a parking space. They saw Mrs. North and Dylan sitting at a table with tortilla chips in a basket on the table. A bottle of beer was in front of Dylan. Mrs. North waved at them as they entered.
 

“Where’s your dad?” Mrs. North asked as Kelsey took a chip.
 

“Parking the truck,” Kelsey replied.

“How was it today? Any customers?” Mrs. North asked.
 

“Maybe five,” Kelsey said.
 

Mr. North walked in with a bag and sat next to his wife. Jessica was studying the menu. Dylan drank his beer.
 

“Have you ordered?” Mr North asked his wife.
 

She shook her head. “We just got here. How does the store look?”
 

“Magical,” Jessica said, dreamily.

“Like a elf threw up over it,” Mr. North said. “The girls like it though.”
 

“That’s what matters,” Mrs. North said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“Let’s order. Do you know what you want?”

Kelsey nodded.

The waiter came over and took their orders. When Dylan ordered a second beer, Mrs. North gave Mr. North a knowing look.
 

“Are you all set for tomorrow?” Mr. North asked, taking a tortilla chip.
 

“Of course,” Mrs. North replied. “I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

“I know,” Mr. North said. “Kelsey,” he said handing the bag to her. Kelsey grinned and handed it to Jessica.

“What’s this?”
 

“A thank you for your help today,” Kelsey said. “Open it.” Jessica opened the bag and pulled out the pink jacket she had been admiring in the shop.
 

“Oh, Kelsey!” she said, hugging her and smiling at Mr. North. “You didn’t have to do this! Thank you!”
 

“Our pleasure,” Mr. North said. “Dylan, if you’d like to come to the shop and pick one out, feel free to,” he added.

“I prefer my pay in Mrs. North’s cookies, but thank you,” Dylan said.
 

Jessica held the jacket up to herself.
 

“Mrs. North, you know that Dylan always tries to keep all of the cookies for himself,” Jessica teased.
 

“They’re mine,” Dylan shrugged.
 

“Technically, they’re Kelsey’s,” Jessica said.
 

“Possession is nine-tenths of the law,” Dylan replied. “If I see them, they’re mine.”

“Spoken like a real lawyer. Or a two-year-old,” Jessica retorted.
 

Mr. and Mrs. North laughed.
 

“It’s nice to have you kids home,” Mrs. North said.

The next morning, Jessica and Kelsey helped Mrs. North in the kitchen while Dylan and Mr. North watched football on television. They sat down to dinner at 2 p.m.

“Unbelievable,” Jessica said as Kelsey brought the last bowl of potatoes out. “Mrs. North, you’re amazing.”
 

“You helped, Jess.”

“I made one thing. There’s like 30 dishes on the table,” Jessica replied.
 

“Perfect as always, Kelly,” Mr. North said.
 

“Thanks, Dan,” Mrs. North replied.
 

“As we do every year, we go around the table and say one thing that we’re grateful for this year,” Mr. North said. “I’ll start. I’m grateful that I’m here with all of you and I’m very grateful that dinner was ready before the Seattle Seahawks game tonight.”
 

“Funny, Dad,” Kelsey said.
 

“I’m grateful that Kelsey and her friends are having a good time at Darrow, and that they were able to take time out to come visit us,” Mrs. North said. “Kels?”

“I’m grateful that I’m here with my parents and that Jessica and Dylan came to spend time with me. It’s nice to be surrounded by the people that you love.”
 

“Oh, that’s so sweet!” Jessica said, “How am I supposed to follow that? Fine. I’m grateful that Darrow paired me with Kels and that she’s shared her family and friends with me.”

“Dylan, it’s your turn,” Mr. North said.

Dylan thought for a moment. “I’m grateful to be in my home away from home with my best friend and her family.”
 

“Great,” Mr. North said. “Let’s eat!”

After polishing off about a quarter of the food that Mrs. North had prepared, Dylan and Mr. North returned to the football games, Dylan with a can of beer in hand. Jessica, Kelsey and her mom began putting food away.
 

“Kels, how is school going for you guys?” Mrs. North asked, putting foil over a bowl of sweet potatoes.
 

“Stressful,” Kelsey said. “We’re so lost in Civil Procedure.”
 

“Is that a subject?” Mrs. North asked.

“It is,” Jessica replied.
 

“Have you asked for help?”

“Like a drowning man. But no help is coming,” Jessica quipped.
 

“Oh, dear,” Mrs. North said.
 

“It’s okay. We’re all going to fail, but it’s graded on the curve,” Jessica said.
 

“Unless someone actually understands Dudley. Then we’re doomed,” Kelsey said.
 

“Exams are before Christmas?” Mrs. North asked.
 

“Yes,” Kelsey said.

“Then you can all relax when you’re at home,” Mrs. North said.
 

“Nope. Because they send failure letters during the holiday,” Jessica said.

“Failure letters?”
 

“If you failed an exam, they notify you over the holiday,”
 
Kelsey explained. “Otherwise, we get our grades when we return.”
 

“Why do they do that?” Mrs. North asked.

“So you know not to return to school. Two failing grades and you’re out,” Kelsey said.
 

Mrs. North ran her hand gently over her daughter’s blonde hair. “No wonder you’re all so stressed.”

“No pressure from Darrow, that’s for sure,” Jessica said sarcastically.
 

“Well, your first semester is almost over. I’m sure you’ll all do fine.”

“Hope so,” Jessica said.
 

Dylan walked into the kitchen and took another beer from the fridge.
 

“That was an amazing dinner, Mrs. North. Really delicious.”
 

“Thank you, Dylan,” Mrs. North said. “Did you have enough to eat?”

“I couldn’t eat another bite,” Dylan said as he left the kitchen.

“How’s Dylan?” Mrs. North asked.

“Drinking like a fish,” Jessica replied.

“I‘ve noticed,” Mrs. North said.
 

“I talked to Dad about it,” Kelsey said.
 

“It’s that stressful at Darrow? How are you girls handling it?” Mrs. North asked.

“I eat, Kelsey works out,” Jessica said. “We’ll be at opposite ends of the weight scale soon.”
 

Mrs. North laughed. “You still run every day, Kels?”

“If I didn’t, I’d be even crazier than I am now.”
 

“She gets up at 6 a.m., Mrs. North.”
 

“She did that her last year of high school too,” Mrs. North replied.
 

“I sleep in during the summer. Get up at 7,” Kelsey grinned.

“I’m not listening.”
 

“I’m kidding. You know I like to sleep in,”
 
Kelsey said. “But running has really helped. And I get to class on time.”
 

“It’s true. I should encourage you. I haven’t been late once since you started running at Darrow.”
 

“See, running helps everyone,” Kelsey said.

“Now if we could only transfer those calories burned to me.”
 

“Jess, you have not gained weight,” Kelsey said.
 

“You’re my roommate. You have to say that,” Jessica said.

“I agree with Kelsey. If anything, you’ve lost some,” Mrs. North said.

“You’re my roommate’s mother. You have to say that,” Jessica said.