Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sheridan
I flipped REG’s business card over. Then over again.
When did I call them? When did I throw in the towel?
Jasper would cheer me on to keep going. He had more faith in me than anyone in my life.
My chest grew tight. I appreciated that more than he’d ever know.
But I had to make the best decision for everyone and not just myself.
My gaze lifted to the corner where my cot was folded and leaning against the wall, and my bedding was on a chair.
The suitcase sat next to it. I had just removed a load of my laundry from the industrial dryer in the housekeeping room.
I’d snuck in a wash during a time that’d ensure Landon didn’t remove the load and find my underwear in his hands.
Yeah, I needed to call them. The resort’s numbers were better in the last month thanks to the popularity of the house rental, but they weren’t strong enough to justify my own apartment.
The pros and cons list sat in front of me, and the cons side was longer.
Cost. Underpaid employees. No room to grow. Aging facilities. Limited rentals.
I had to finally admit that I wasn’t paying myself. Not only was I afraid the other employees weren’t getting treated as well as they deserved, but I couldn’t give myself a raise that was large enough to support a place to live.
Shit.
I grabbed my phone and paused. I could not bring myself to dial.
I’d bought and sold houses, but none of them were mine.
I’d done the research and the paperwork, but I hadn’t said, “Here’s my family’s legacy.
It’s failing; I’m failing, but I think you’re a winner.
Can you not screw over the staff for me, please? ”
The time on the screen caught my eye. I could wait to have that conversation. I had a date to get ready for. A third date.
A smile played over my lips. He wanted to take me to the brewery again. We’d have a drink, but we’d go back to his place for the meal. And maybe for more. Most likely for more, and I couldn’t wait.
Yet I couldn’t shake the sense of a countdown. He wanted to start his own business, and he’d do it right here in Coal Haven. His reputation would grow, and he’d have full-time projects immediately. He’d be close to his family and be his own boss. No more getting laid off.
What would I do? I had nowhere to go. Neither of my brothers would take me in, or they would and I would be their housekeeper, chef, and landscaper.
I took my master key to an empty room along with a change of clothes and some cleaning products to make it seem like I hadn’t even been there once I was done.
I wore the same clothes I wore at the street dance.
I had thought of buying a sundress, something that would make it look like I was ready to date, but I hadn’t gotten to town, and I couldn’t justify the expense.
Oh well, I hadn’t scared Jasper away yet.
I exited the room and ran into Maria. Her face was drawn, and she was wringing her hands.
Oh no. Is there a leak? A break? Angry customer? “Hey. You looking for me?”
She nodded, her eyes fraught. “I’m really sorry. There’s no good time to drop this on you, but I’m putting in my notice.”
A quiet bomb went off between my ears. A whooshing sound filled in. “Oh?”
“It’s been wonderful here. I mean it.” She ducked her head to look at me, like she needed me to know she wasn’t lying. I nodded so we could get this over with. “But Constance started a home cleaning service, and she needs an admin person.”
Fucking Constance. That woman got kicked down and popped right back up, but she wanted to keep trying to stomp me down. “I see.”
“I told her I wanted to give you two weeks.”
My head bobbed like it was on a spring. “Two weeks.”
“And then I’m done.”
“And then you’re done.” I was going to sprout green feathers and a beak and fly away. Life as a parrot might go better for me.
She waited, but I had no more to say. All I had was that business card on the desk, laughing at me, telling me I should’ve called already.
“Thanks.” I forced a smile. Were my eyes wide, a little panicked? “Thank you for the notice.”
She nodded, and I moved around her, going right to my office.
Once inside, I didn’t want to think about sales or two-week notices.
That headspace was full of despair and sadness.
When I thought about dating Jasper, my mood brightened and even sales and two-week notices didn’t seem so bad.
So I’d lean into the date. Hell, I’d buy a new dress on my way there.
I ignored the desk with the obnoxious business card. I would call them Monday.
How ironic. Tuesday would be the day Jasper’s aunt Linda could call them too.
When I pulled up at Jasper’s, I had to peel my hands off the steering wheel.
The new lavender sundress I just bought wasn’t cheering me up.
Maria’s news sucked, and the timing hadn’t helped.
What I had to do Monday hung over my head.
I wouldn’t let it ruin my date. Jasper would help me forget, and if this date led to a fourth date, then I’d have something to look forward to.
He strode out of the house. No cowboy hat or ball cap was on his head. With his hair combed back and his neatly trimmed scruff, he oozed ruggedness. Gone was the snug T-shirt. The black polo made him the whole tall-dark-and-handsome package.
And that grin. My whole insides lit up, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. The stress raced away from the light.
I smiled in return. “You don’t know how I’m looking forward to tonight.”
He waggled his brows. “Third date.”
“Not just that. It’s that bed of yours.”
He barked out a laugh, his long legs eating up the distance between us.
A lump formed in my throat. “And because you always make me feel better.”
He stopped on the sidewalk in front of me. “That’s a mighty compliment, Miss Bishop.” He lifted my chin and planted a lingering kiss on my lips.
“You earned it,” I said when we broke apart.
He cocked his elbow out. “My chariot awaits.”
“I feel like we’re doing this backward. Going out for drinks and coming back for a meal.”
“It’s also apps night.” He led me to the passenger side of his pickup and opened the door. “I’m planning to destroy a plate of mozzarella sticks.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We chatted about the weather, and I told him about Maria. I didn’t tell him about my plans for calling REG. All of it was tabled for next week. Tonight was about fun—about escape. Each mile farther away we got, the more tension drained out of me.
We reached the brewery. As soon as we walked in, a chorus of voices greeted us.
I recognized McCoy from last time we were here.
A tall blond woman was next to him, her hands full of empty mugs.
Violet and Evander were at the table, and Evander was chatting with McCoy.
Lily and Eliot were next to them. A couple I hadn’t seen before sat on the other side.
They were all waving and shouting greetings.
I clutched Jasper’s hand. “You know people everywhere.”
“I’m related to a lot of them. If not directly, then in a roundabout way.” He kept hold of me until we reached the table. Then he put a hand on the small of my back and gestured to a tall, blond woman. “Sheridan, this is Isla.”
I knew that name. It occurred to me as I offered my hand. “The owner of the brewery?”
Isla pumped my hand. “I’m the one to blame for this rowdy place.”
Jasper gestured to the other couple. “Aggie is Eliot’s sister, and that’s her husband, Ansen. If you want to really learn who’s who, Ansen, Isla, and Evander are all cousins.”
Ansen nodded toward me.
“Nice to meet you, Sheridan,” Aggie said. “When you get all the cousins down, I’ll introduce you to more of my siblings. They’re all in town too.”
“Then we’ll quiz you,” Jasper joked.
Isla looked around. “We can pull up a table for you two and find a couple more chairs.”
“Thanks, but I get this lady to myself tonight.” He put his arm around my waist.
“Ah,” Violet said, smiling at us. “We’d love to have you, but I can’t argue with that.”
“We all showed up for date night,” Evander said, “and just kind of combined our groups.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured to Jasper. I’d never gone anywhere when I could just jump into the crowd, where I was a part of it. “We don’t have to share your apps.”
Violet chortled. “She’s got your number.”
“Only with you.” He winked.
Isla left to drop off the empties. A table was slid over and chairs planted on either side, so Jasper and I sat across from each other.
Isla switched places with McCoy to chat with us. “This is serendipity. I have a note on my desk to call you this week.” She drummed her fingers on the tabletop. “I’ve been trying to think of some collaborations we can do.”
“Oh. Of course.” Surprise welled inside me, but before it spilled over, it deflated like a disturbed soufflé.
If I sold, I couldn’t do collaborations.
I’d feel awful about wasting Isla’s time.
I could wither away on my own instead, and when she heard the news, she would be grateful she never reached out.
“How about I think of some ideas and then I’ll call?
Or stop in?” My smile was tight. Was it wavering?
“Flag me down at the grocery store—any method works.” She dug out her phone. “I have some thoughts I’d love for you to hear too, but I won’t interfere on your date night. What’s your number? I’ll call you so you don’t have to go searching for my info when you’re ready.”
I rattled it off. She rang and hung up. My heart buried itself deeper and deeper. This would’ve been amazing. Not only did I have Jasper, I had his connections. Did any of them want to work a front desk?
In another timeline, I’d have really cemented myself in the community.
If everything had worked out like I had planned when I showed up here, belongings in hand and a moving van on the way, it would’ve been different.
But it wouldn’t be fair to Reservoir Barrel to pair with a floundering business that didn’t have much more than space to offer.
When she stepped away, the heat of Jasper’s gaze rested on me. I tried to relax and give him a smile that was more natural, but the furrow in his brow stayed. He didn’t buy it.
For the next hour, we ate and had a cold drink. Jasper had a root beer named after Isla’s twin nephews, and I had a raspberry sour. Maybe it’d perk me up.
Jasper slipped off his chair. “I should get her back and feed her some real food.”
I said my goodbyes, and each one weighed more on my chest. Why did it seem like I was losing them forever?
I wouldn’t have to move if I sold. I wouldn’t have to quit seeing Jasper.
I’d have some money to get me through until I found a new job.
Yet each time I was around these amazingly kind and successful people, the failure in me would be more apparent.
I’d catch those knowing looks exchanged back and forth.
Just like when I didn’t finish college. Or when I left my boyfriend. Or when I quit my job.
On the drive home, Jasper draped his wrist over the steering wheel. “You want to talk about why you closed down when Isla brought up working together?”
“I didn’t close down.” Was I that bad at hiding it? Who was I kidding? I knew I was.
“The others might not have thought so, but I know you better.”
The countryside flashed by us. Such a beautiful, understated part of the country.
Could I stick around instead of leaving?
Could I weather passing Constance in the hardware store again while her business took off and I lost mine?
Could I resist being the anchor I accused my ex of being?
Jasper planned to start his own business, and with that giant family of his, he’d hardly have to advertise.
Maybe he and Constance could offer deals together.
On that bitter note… “I’m going to offer Bishop’s Landing to REG.”