Chapter 9 | Jace | April 13
Despite years as an athlete, I didn’t believe in lucky or unlucky numbers. Luck was simply that. Some days life went your way, and on other days life was determined to do the fuck what it wanted. Today was one of the days. We finally had the sign delivered, and the men worked hard to attach it at the front and top of the building. Except, it was the wrong fucking sign.
The original sign had been ordered and not the revised version that included Spirit’s last name. The correct sign wouldn’t arrive in time for the grand re-opening a week from today. To make matters worse, I accidentally ordered the wrong sign. Although I’d learned to adapt to my reading disability, sometimes, especially when I’m busy or rushing, I still turn things around in my head and don’t always realize it.
I called around looking for different businesses and offered all kinds of money to get the sign done. The design and intricacy of the sign took at least two weeks if expedited. While I paced in front of my pool in the backyard, trying to figure out a solution, Remi walked through the glass doors, wearing only boxers. He’d arrived in town last night and planned to stay through the grand re-opening next week.
He stretched and rubbed his tatted stomach. “You’ve been bitching with people all morning. What’s up.”
I clicked off my cell. “Look, I know it’s just us here. Can you put some pants or shorts on?”
Remi raised his brows. “Bruh, don’t act brand new. We shared rooms until you left for college. Still trying to figure out how Langston got a room to himself. Mama and Daddy always did love him best.”
I nodded vehemently. “Exactly why I don’t want to see all of that when I don’t have to. It was bad enough that I never had my own space as the oldest until I left home.”
Remi waved his hand and plopped down on a lounger by the pool. “What’s going on?”
“I ordered the wrong sign.” I sat down next to him, feeling defeated.
“I saw the restaurant on my way here. Looks good to me. Am I missing something?”
“Snookie agreed to all the changes as long as she could retain her family name, and she came up with Embers by Kimble.”
Remi propped his arms behind his head. “And she’ll think you did it intentionally because you’re arrogant enough to go against her wishes.”
“Yeah.” Although we’d grown unbelievably close and spent countless hours together without being tired of one another, I knew she still held some doubt about me. Doubts about my intentions and love for her.
“Glad you recognize how you come across to others.” He closed his eyes.
“That’s all you have to offer? Any suggestions at all? This is your business, too.”
“I’ve been hands-off like you asked so you can get closer to Spirit.” He opened one eye. “Dead serious, if you hurt her, you’ll have to deal with me. And Langston...” Remi whistled. “He used to crush on Spirit like she crushed on you. He might just kill you if you hurt her.”
Raising both hands high in the air, I acknowledged how everyone would be Team Spirit in our relationship. I had no allies. “Between you, the parents, and Langston, I got it. I’m not going to hurt her. I wouldn’t have stepped to her if I was just going to fuck around.”
“Says the man who’d just fucked a woman the night before you saw Spirit again.”
I ducked my head. “How was I supposed to know that all those old feelings would come flooding back the moment I saw her again.”
Both of Remi’s eyes opened in surprise. “Old feelings, do tell.”
“I was just as crazy about her as she was me. I didn’t think I was good enough, so I pretended I didn’t care as much as she did. Hell, I pretended even to myself.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, you weren’t shit back then, and not now either.”
I kicked at his chair. “Rem, I’m serious. She was gifted, and Mama had to fight to keep me out of special education. I really didn’t think Snookie would like me if she knew. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved, and I worry she won’t see me the same.”
The teasing light in his hazel eyes dulled. “Jace, come on. That wasn’t Spirit when we were young. I doubt that’s her now. As far as she was concerned, your shit didn’t smell.”
“Easy for you to say. Do you know how I felt being the oldest, and both of my younger brothers could read better than me? It was fucking humiliating.”
Remi interjected, “Or how hard it was to follow the older brother who was an athletic genius and has the business acumen of a Wharton grad?”
I grinned. “I see what you did. Threw that big word in the mix to throw me off.”
He frowned. “Wait, you don’t know what acumen means?”
A thought popped into my head, and I pushed up to my feet with a smile. “It means I’m astute and shrewd in making quick judgments, especially in business.”
“Where are you going?”
“Have an idea that might pacify Spirit until I can fix the sign.”
Remi complained loudly, “I’m hungry, and you don’t have shit in your frig for guests.”
I yelled back. “You walking around like you in your home. Figure it out.”
“If I was home, I would be naked,” he shouted as the door closed.
I laughed as I hurried to the restaurant, hoping to get there before she stopped by after getting her hair braided.
AS I PULLED UP TO THErestaurant, my stomach dropped when I saw her Tesla. She must have finished early. I jumped out of my car and rushed inside as she asked for me. “Ha any of you seen Jace?”
One of the workers replied, “He called the company and asked about the sign. They said they only followed orders. He seemed upset, then he left.”
I made my presence known. “I’m back. Let me explain about the sign. We can have an artist paint Embers by Kimble over the backsplash of the bar in time for the grand re-opening.
The scowl on her face already told the tale. She thought I did it purposefully. I led her to the small office in the back of the kitchen. She slammed the door behind us.
“Baby, wait.” I faced her. “We can get a new sign in a couple of weeks.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I asked you for one thing, and you still did what you wanted.”
“Not true. I made a mistake.”
“What? Is it a mistake because we’re a couple now, and you don’t want to hear my mouth? Don’t want me angry and pissed because we share a bed now? You knew exactly what you were doing. You were hoping you could convince me of what you wanted. I keep telling you, I’m not that girl anymore. Why do you think you can shit on me and what I want? This isn’t just about me. It’s my grandmother’s legacy. This restaurant was her idea, and she passed it on to me. My family is coming next week. It’s bad enough they don’t know it’s a cannabis-infused restaurant. Now I have to tell them our family name isn’t even included.”
I stepped closer to her. “Wait. Why haven’t you told them the truth about the restaurant? I thought you got over that hang-up.”
“It’s not a hang-up for people who don’t believe in mind-altering substances. It’s a choice. Just as you accused me of judging people who use, you judge people who don’t use or are against using marijuana. You remember calling me a prude?”
I brushed my hand over my hair badly in need of a cut. “The bottom line is you’re a grown woman with the right to open any restaurant you choose, and you shouldn’t have kept it from your parents.”
Spirit raised her voice. “None of this was even my idea, and that fucking sign that’s up damn sure isn’t my idea.”
Incredulously I asked, “You’re still ashamed of what we’re building here? Are you ashamed of me because I do smoke weed, and that’s never gonna change. I can’t go back to the excruciating pain or the meds that made me feel less than myself.”
She shook her head and turned away from me. “This is why I didn’t want to fall in love with you because I’m so fucking weak when it comes to you. So eager to please you, I’ll do whatever you ask, even if it’s against what I want or believe.”
I moved close to her again, forcing her head back to see my face. “Why do you keep saying shit like that as if I’m manipulating you in some way? I haven’t done anything but been here with you since January in the trenches. Handling shit, you couldn’t handle with the contractors. Helping you buy furniture and supplies. Trying new recipes because you’ve asked me to. We’re on time because of me. You love your new restaurant because of me. Your staff had three months off with pay because of me. You agreed to this restaurant because it was the best proposal and not because I manipulated you.”
“Admit that once you saw me again and were attracted, you knew you would get your way with me?” She jabbed my chest.
“Stop twisting everything around to fit the narrative in your head. I’m an arrogant motherfucker and believe I can get any woman to do what I want. But this restaurant and this idea is not about that. I love you and have loved you since I was that ten-year-old boy, and my idea is to keep this restaurant in business for however long you want it to.”
“While getting my hair braided, I found this article about this area.” She picked up her phone and read, “In 2025, there will be a new luxury apartment and condo complex, and property value is expected to soar for those in the nearby community.” She slammed her phone on her desk. “You stand to triple your investment. You knew this already. That’s why you became interested in my property in the first place and not because you gave a fuck about me.”
“So, what if I knew? We both benefit. You’ll benefit more than me because you still own seventy percent and can buy me out at any time.” I grabbed her forearms. “I get you’re angry. Please stop before you say something you can’t take back.”
She glared at me, her eyes unfeeling. “Like what? That you’re a fucking liar. When I called Waterson about the sign, they sent me the order with your signature. You checked the box that noted that the sign says, ‘Embers’ instead of ‘Embers by Kimble’.”
“I didn’t mean to do that... I...” I stumbled over my words, trying to explain myself.
“What? What Jace? What? Either Waterson can’t read, or you can’t because it’s clear here what was ordered.” She scoffed with such disdain I couldn’t stomach the courage to admit that I fucked up and read the form wrong. I couldn’t handle it if she looked at me like that once I told her about my dyslexia.
“Let me leave before I say something I can’t take back.” This time, I slammed the door on my way out.