Chapter 26
Jake
I stop outside of The Blue Crab and stare at the building across the street. Kyle took down the Get the Scoop sign yesterday. His retirement marks the end of an era, but it also presents a rare opportunity. There’s real estate available on Main Street. And there’s hardly any competition for it, thanks to the water damage caused by a malfunctioning sump pump that couldn’t handle our last storm. The building will need major renovations, and so far, no one else seems up to the challenge. I’m not afraid to put in some elbow grease. But if I’m going to act on this crazy idea, I know I can’t do it alone.
I turn and enter the restaurant. I texted Alice earlier and asked her to meet me here for lunch. She thinks I want to talk about my art classes. Technically, I do, but now it’s going to involve a lot more than volunteering once a week at the library.
I find a seat and put in an order for a large plate of seasoned Old Bay fries and two sodas, and Ms. Edna brings everything out quickly. I look up when Alice plops down across from me in the booth. She picks up a handful of fries and pops them into her mouth.
“What’s up? You wanted to talk to me?” she says through a mouthful.
“I do. Remember how I talked about starting a community art studio one day?”
She nods.
I point to the window, and she turns her head to look at the old Victorian-style building across the street. “What if I said I want to do it now? Would you be in?”
“I’m not following.”
“Look, I’ll be honest. It’s going to be a ton of work to get this off the ground, and I’m not expecting to turn huge profits. But I want to make this happen, and I need help. I need someone who loves art and this town as much as I do. You’re the only person in North Bay who meets that description. I put in an offer on Kyle’s building. Are you interested in being my business partner?”
She blinks at me. “I mean, I do think it’s an amazing idea,” Alice says, cautiously. “I would love to start an indie imprint and work at a studio. Maybe host some writing groups. But your uncle is an actual real estate developer. Why aren’t you asking him? I don’t know the first thing about running a business.”
“Sure, you do. You’re already selling your books online. You’re way ahead of me. You’re an established working artist.”
“This is totally different, and you know it. Where would we get the money for an entire building, Jake? The down payment alone has to be like...” She shakes her head. “A lot.”
I force myself to hold eye contact, but I don’t want to say the words because I know she’ll freak out.
She stares back at me. “Why aren’t you worried about the money, Jake? Ugh. Do you have an actual trust fund? Like in the movies? Oh, God. You do, don’t you?”
Guilty. I don’t say anything, but she takes my silence as confirmation.
Alice whines, “I didn’t know you were that kind of rich. A trust fund? That’s like Thank you Jeeves, but we don’t need to book a ski vacation in the Alps, we’ll be summering in Nantucket sort of money. You’re sitting here acting like you need my input, but I can’t function on the same level as someone who summers as a verb, Jake.”
Called it. I knew she’d freak out.
“It’s not that serious. It’s literally just a different kind of bank account. What am I supposed to do? Ignore the inheritance my grandparents chose to leave me? Wouldn’t that be kind of rude, if you think about it? Besides, you know we do our summering in the south of France.” I wink at her, trying to lighten the tension.
She groans, but to her credit, she shakes it off. “If we’re doing this, I’m not riding your coattails. If I’m getting involved, I want to be an actual investor. I won’t be able to contribute much, but I want to buy in for at least five percent ownership.”
“Fine. That’s fair.”
She leans across the table to whisper, “Did you really summer in France?”
I laugh. “No. Do you not remember seeing me right here every summer of your life? I’ve never been to France. My parents have. I, on the other hand, am not even a hundred percent sure I know where Nantucket is, if I’m being honest.” I can’t think straight around Alice these days. I feel like there’s a fifty-fifty chance it’s a fictional place and I’m making an ass out of myself.
She sighs. “It’s an island in Massachusetts.”
“See? This is exactly why I need you. We could be a good team. Please, Alice. Say yes.” I stick out my lower lip and bat my eye lashes.
“Ugh. Don’t go all puppy dog on me. It’s actually a pretty cool idea.” I knew she’d see it. “What would you call it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really want it to be something cheesy like Brew-Ha-Ha or Get the Scoop. For me, it’s not about the marketing and branding. I get that we have to do that part. But I hate the idea of commercializing it too much. I wish the focus could just stay on the art.”
“There you go, that’s the name then.” She smiles.
“What?” I didn’t suggest anything.
“Just Art.”
I take a minute to roll it over. “I like it.”
She takes another sip of her soda, and there’s a long pause before she says, “Okay, I’m in. But I have one rule. “
“Name it.”
“We’re officially working together now, we don’t want things to get messy. We’re colleagues, and we’re friends. That’s it. It has to stay that way. No more hookups. Sex is off the table.”
I shrug. “I mean, we never did it on the table anyway, so...”
“Jake!” She blushes, and I laugh while I clink my glass to hers and tip it back, hoping she doesn’t notice I didn’t actually agree to that.