Chapter 19 Sloane
SLOANE
Days later, Maggie shows up at Riley’s apartment with a folder. Not just any folder. A thick, organized, color-coded folder that screams Type A lawyer who did extensive research type of folder.
“Okay,” she announces, setting it on the coffee table with the gravity of someone presenting evidence in court.
“I looked into the business.” Riley and I exchange glances.
I mentioned that Maggie wanted to investigate it.
“I called the realtor. Got the financials. Ran projections. Looked at comparable businesses in the area. Researched the town’s demographics and foot traffic.
” She opens the folder, revealing spreadsheets, printouts, and highlighted documents.
“The asking price is reasonable. The current revenue is steady. The owner is retiring but willing to stay on for a transition period. The building lease is solid with favorable terms,” she explains.
I stare at her. “You did all this in three days?”
“I’m very efficient when motivated.” She pulls out more papers.
“Look. Here are the profit and loss statements for the last three years. Revenue has been steady. Expenses are manageable. The margins aren’t huge, but they’re respectable for a small business in a small mountain town, especially outside tourist season. ”
Riley leans in. “Holy shit. You really did your homework.”
“I’m a lawyer. Research is literally my job.
” Maggie flips to another page. “The inventory is included in the sale price, which is good. The equipment is well-maintained. The location is prime, right on the town square, high foot traffic, and good visibility. And here’s the interesting part.
” She pulls out a demographic report. “The town is growing. Lots of young families are moving in. Tourism is up. There’s demand for exactly this kind of business. ”
I’m staring at all the papers, my brain trying to process. “This is ... this is incredible. But, Maggie, why did you do all this?”
She sets down the papers and looks at me. “Because I want in.”
Silence.
“What?” I breathe.
“I want to do this with you.” She says it firmly, no hesitation. “I told you I hate being a lawyer. I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with my life. And this could be it.”
“Maggie, you can’t just quit your job,” I tell her.
“Why not? You did.”
“That’s different. That’s me.”
She leans forward. “How is it different? We’re both miserable in careers we don’t want.
We’re both trying to figure out who we are outside of other people’s expectations.
We’re both looking for something that makes us happy.
” She gestures to the folder. “This could work. Really work. You have the marketing background to brand it, promote it, and build it up. I have the business sense to manage the finances, negotiate with suppliers, and handle the legal stuff. Together, we could make this amazing.”
“What about Mom and Dad? They’ll lose their minds if you quit.”
“Let them.” Her voice is hard now. “I’m done living my life for them.
I’m done being the perfect daughter who does everything right and is miserable the entire time.
” She softens. “Sloane, you walking out on Thanksgiving ... that was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.
And it made me realize I need to do the same thing. I need to choose myself.”
My eyes sting with tears. “You really want to do this?”
“I really want to do this,” she tells me.
Riley, who’s been quietly observing this entire exchange, suddenly speaks up. “Can I get in on this?”
We both turn to stare at her.
“What?” she says, seeing our shocked expressions. “I’m a graphic designer. I can work from anywhere. And you’re going to need branding, marketing materials, a website, social media presence.” She grins. “Plus, someone needs to make sure you two don’t kill each other when you’re business partners.”
“Riley, you love Denver,” I protest.
“I think talking with you about looking inside and working out what you really want out of life has made me look inward myself. And it has me reevaluating things. I’m sick of the city.
I’m sick of the noise and the traffic and the pretentious tech bros at every coffee shop.
A cute mountain town sounds perfect.” She steals a cookie from the plate Maggie brought.
“Also, Everett has been texting me. A lot. So, there’s that. ”
“Everett? Jax’s brother Everett?”
“The very same. He’s funny. And hot. Very hot. And cocky. You know that’s my kryptonite.” She waggles her eyebrows.
I look between them. My sister. My best friend. Both looking at me with excitement, hope, and determination.
“This is insane,” I say.
“Completely,” Maggie agrees.
“Absolutely bonkers,” Riley adds.
“We don’t have enough money.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Maggie says. “I have savings. As do you. Riley has her freelance income. We can get a small business loan for the rest. I already talked to a banker.”
“You talked to a banker?”
“I told you. I’m thorough.” She pulls out more papers. “Here’s what we’d need. Here’s what we have. Here’s the gap. It’s doable, Sloane. Really doable.”
“Would this not be weird for me to just show up and buy a business in his hometown?” I ask them.
“This isn’t about him,” Maggie interrupts gently. “It’s a bonus for you that he’s there. But this is about you. About me. About Riley. Building something that is ours.”
Riley nods. “She’s right. You can’t make this decision based on a guy. Make it based on the business. Because I’m all in, girl.”
I look at the folder, all the research, and at the photos of the shop still pulled up on my laptop. At the possibility of something that’s entirely mine.
“This is all … can we think about it?” I ask.
“Of course,” Maggie says. “Take your time. But, Sloane? Don’t take too long. Someone else could snap this up. It’s a great investment.”
After she leaves, Riley and I look at each other and burst out laughing.
“This is crazy.” I stare at my bestie.
“It is, but it kind of feels right.” She grins. “I have a work thing tonight, otherwise I’d grab us a bottle of wine and talk about it, but we need to talk more about this. I’m excited. The three of us boss bitching our way through Silver Valley.” She grins.
I nod and wish her a good night as she disappears out the door. I sit with the folder. Going through every page. Every spreadsheet. All the projections. It’s solid. Really solid. This could work. We could really do this. I pull out my phone.
SLOANE: Random question. What’s your town like? For someone thinking about moving there?
JAX: Thinking about moving here?
SLOANE: Hypothetically.
JAX: Hypothetically, it’s great. Small but growing. Good schools if you have kids. Low crime. Everyone knows everyone, which is either charming or annoying, depending on the day. Why?
SLOANE: Just curious. Doing some research.
JAX: Research for what?
SLOANE: Nothing specific. Just exploring options.
JAX: Sloane?
I stare at my phone. I could tell him. Could explain about the business. Could ask his opinion. But something holds me back.
SLOANE: Just an idea, that’s all.
JAX: Okay. Well, if you want to know more about the town, I’m happy to give you a tour, whenever you want.
SLOANE: Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.
I set my phone down, open my laptop, and pull up the listing again. The gift shop and coffee house. My future. Our future. Maybe. I save all the photos. Bookmark the listing. And then I call Dr. Chen and schedule an emergency session.
“So, you’re thinking about buying a business with your sister and best friend?” Dr. Chen says, making notes. “In a small town. Near Jax?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s crazy, right?”
“Why is it crazy?” She smirks.
“I just got out of a nine-year relationship. Because I barely know Jax. Because I’d be making a huge life decision based on feelings instead of logic.”
“Would you?” Dr. Chen sets down her pen. “Walk me through this. If Jax didn’t exist, if you’d never met him, would you still be interested in this business?”
I think about it. Really think about it.
“Yes,” I admit. “It’s exactly what I’d want. The creativity of it. The community aspect. Building something that’s mine. Yeah. I’d still want it.”
“See, this isn’t about Jax,” Dr. Chen states.
“Guess not, but maybe partly about Jax. I can’t pretend it’s not. The fact that it’s in his town ... that matters.”
“Of course it does. But it’s not the primary reason.
The primary reason is the business itself.
Jax is a factor, but not the deciding factor.
” She leans forward. “Here’s what I’m hearing.
You found something that excites you. Something that aligns with what you want out of life.
And you’re scared to pursue it because you’re worried it looks impulsive or that you’re making decisions based on a man. ”
“Yes. Exactly that.”
“But, Sloane, you’ve spent the last month doing the work. Self-reflection. Figuring out who you are outside of Chett. You’re not the same person who left him. You’re not making decisions from a place of desperation or avoidance. You’re making them from a place of clarity.”
“It doesn’t feel clear. It feels terrifying,” I confess.
“Good things usually are.” She smiles. “I’m not going to tell you what to do. But I will say this. Don’t let fear of judgment stop you from pursuing something that could make you happy. Whether that’s this business, or Jax, or both.” Dr. Chen gives me something to think about.
That night, I’m lying in bed scrolling through the photos of the shop for the hundredth time when my phone buzzes.
JAX: The new chicken leader has been overthrown. We’re on our third regime change this week.
SLOANE: Political instability in the coop.
JAX: It’s chaos. I’m considering implementing martial law.
SLOANE: Drastic measures.
JAX: Desperate times.
I smile, then take a breath.
SLOANE: Can I ask you something?
JAX: Always.
SLOANE: If someone you barely knew wanted to move to your town ... would that be weird?
There’s a long pause. Those three dots appear and disappear several times.
JAX: Depends. Is this hypothetical person you?
SLOANE: Maybe. Hypothetically.
JAX: Then no. It wouldn’t be weird. It would be the best news I’ve heard in weeks.
My heart races.
SLOANE: Even if that person was still figuring their life out? Even if they couldn’t promise anything?
JAX: Even then. Sloane, I’m not expecting promises. I’m not expecting anything except for you to do what makes you happy. If that happens to be here, near me, then I’m going to be thrilled. If it’s somewhere else, I’ll support that too.
SLOANE: You’re too good to be real.
JAX: I’m very real. And I’m very patient. Take your time. Figure it out. I’ll be here.
I stare at that message for a long time.
Then I open the folder Maggie gave me. Look at the numbers again for the millionth time. Go through the possibilities again.