Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Isn’t it great?” Erin asks, all smiles as she leans in to kiss Rem.
“I kind of like where Ryan’s going with this,” Summer says, tapping her gorgeous white-tipped nails on the table. “We could turn this into a charity situation where we donate to women’s causes. We could have online courses, memberships, and things like that so that it could generate enough money to hire a couple of people and to donate to causes that lift up women. That’s the whole point of this, after all.”
The five women look at each other and then smile.
“We’re going to discuss this further,” Polly decides. “This week. For now, let’s table it and have fun.”
“Good plan,” Erin replies with a nod.
“I do have one businessy thing to announce,” Summer says. “Bitterroot Valley Nursery has been so happy with having cut flowers available in their store while I’ve been based out of there until my shop is rebuilt that they’ve asked me to keep a small kiosk there, and Sharla has agreed to manage it. So, I’m officially a chain.”
“That’s amazing,” Polly exclaims and jumps up to run over and hug Summer. “You didn’t tell me!”
“It was just finalized today,” Summer says with a laugh.
“To badass women,” Remington says, holding up his glass of whiskey. “I’m kind of afraid of them.”
“Here, here,” I reply with a laugh. “To badass women.”
“I heard last night was fun,” Jake says the next morning as he and I have breakfast in my office. I’m sitting behind my desk, and Jake is in the chair in front of it. I want that damn table from Chase.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Russ’s mom got home while we were still playing last night, and she said it was pretty wicked. She said her husband got to meet Drew Montgomery. You know, the football coach.”
“I know Drew,” I reply with a smile. “Did her husband mention that he got to meet London Ambrose Montgomery, the owner of that team?”
Jake eyes me and takes a bite of his bagel. “Not that I know of.”
“See, that’s the problem.”
“It’s a problem that he likes the football coach?”
“No, it’s a problem that he doesn’t acknowledge that Drew’s wife, who was successful before she met him, was also there, and is an impressive woman, as well. That he wasn’t excited to meet her.”
“I think he just likes football.” Jake narrows his eyes. “Wait, is this a lesson about respecting women and stuff?”
“Yeah, kind of. Last night was awesome. I was so proud of Millie and Polly and the others because they’ve built something important. The other women who were there look up to those ladies.”
“Why does it have to be just about the girls, though?” Jake asks, nibbling his bagel. “I’m not asking that to be a prick. All I’m saying is, if a bunch of guys formed a club and said that girls aren’t allowed to come unless they’re specifically invited, women would have a cow. We’d never hear the end of it.”
I stare at him for a moment, then I set my bagel down and clear my throat.
“I don’t even want to think about what they aren’t teaching you in school. Did you know that until 1974, a woman couldn’t even open a bank account without having a husband or a father with her as a cosigner?”
Jake’s brow furrows. “Why?”
“Good question. I don’t mean to sound preachy here, but women couldn’t even vote in an election until 1920. There are many places in this country where men have clubs that women aren’t welcome in. Particularly country clubs, golf clubs, and things like that.”
“Rich people clubs,” Jake says.
“Some are, yeah. There are also other kinds of clubs that are historically only for men, or gentlemen’s clubs, as they’re called. They happen. They’ve always happened. Not to mention, let’s talk about how women are still treated in this country. The way they’re ogled, disrespected, hurt. Some men think it’s okay to lay their hands on them, to rape them, or mock them.”
Jake frowns down at his now-untouched bagel. “Yeah, I know that firsthand.”
“I know you do.” I reach out and cover Jake’s arm with my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I think it’s kind of great that Polly and her friends, one of whom is my sister, have come together to help other women with their businesses. It’s going to bleed over into their home lives, as well. It’s going to give those ladies who are in abusive situations the strength to change their lives. To stand up for themselves.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Jake says thoughtfully and then frowns over at me. “Why do some guys think it’s okay to beat on girls? To be mean to them and make them feel like shit?”
“Because they can.” I sit back and shake my head. “Because women are usually physically weaker, and that seems to make them an easy target.”