Chapter 20 #2
‘No one’s lived here for years, I reckon,’ Ed said as he emerged from the bathroom. ‘But Liam’s right. Rip up these carpets, a lick of paint and some new fixtures and fittings and you’ve got a lovely little place here.’
‘You’d rent it in a flash,’ Liam agreed. ‘A space like this would be a premium so close to the sea; you could Airbnb it.’
Harry shook his head. ‘No, I don’t fancy the hassle of running a holiday let.’
Liam nodded. ‘You’re probably right. You’d be faffing around with cleaners, people complaining about the Wi-Fi not working and all that.’
Ed stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. ‘If I wasn’t already sorted at Matt’s, I’d bite your hand off.’
‘It’d be an extra revenue stream,’ Liam added. ‘Get Trevor to price it up for you as a self-contained rental, and you can include it in your business plan.’
Business plan. That was the same term Russ had used when they’d talked last week. Harry scratched his head. ‘Yeah, about that…’
Liam clapped him on the shoulder. ‘No need to look so panicked, mate. I’ll make you a template based on the one I put together for the hotel. You’ll just need to punch in a few numbers, write an intro and a vision statement.’
‘Vision statement?’ What the hell was that when it was at home?
Liam grinned. ‘It’ll be fine, I promise.’ He glanced between Harry and Ed, and Harry didn’t miss the slight twitch in his brow. ‘I’m going to see how they’re getting on downstairs.’
It was only when he left that Harry realised Liam hadn’t acknowledged Ed directly since his arrival. He hadn’t ignored him, but he’d kept his responses aimed at Harry at all times. From the expression on his twin’s face as he watched Liam leave, he hadn’t missed it either.
‘I’m still on his shit list, I see,’ Ed said. His tone was light, but Harry knew he was putting a brave face on it.
‘What about me? Am I still on yours?’
Ed stared at him for a long moment. ‘I’m here, aren’t I?’
It was going to be up to Harry to extend the olive branch further it seemed. ‘I’m glad you came.’
Ed shrugged one shoulder. ‘I said I would, though I’m not sure there’s much I can add.’
Harry took a deep breath. ‘Did you know what Liam was on about when he talked about a vision statement?’
Ed nodded. ‘Yeah, we covered it in business studies years ago, and part of my course has dealt with how to put together grant applications for research projects. It’s not quite the same thing, but near enough.’
The fact he knew that much was more than enough as far as Harry was concerned.
‘Look, I was thinking about how I’m going to run the business and I’m going to need someone to help with the day-to-day admin.
I could also really do with some help putting the business plan together.
I know Liam said it’s pretty straightforward but I’m useless at that kind of thing.
Once the school’s up and running, I’m going to need a partner, someone to handle the accounts, manage the bookings and what-have-you.
I don’t think I’d need someone full time, but it would be a regular, paid position. ’
‘That sounds like a good idea. Have you got anyone in mind?’
Harry smiled. ‘I was hoping you might be up for it. Think about it,’ he added, warming to his subject.
‘Okay, it’d still be shitty admin work, but you’d be doing it for me – for us – not some random boss who’ll give you a hard time.
We’d be a partnership, back together like the old days.
You’d still have time to study, I’d let you set your own hours – and I’d pay you the going rate, of course…
’ Harry’s words died off along with his enthusiasm as Ed continued to stare at him, his face a blank mask.
‘I’m sorry, bro, I can’t.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’ Harry snapped, his temper flaring.
‘I just don’t think it’s a very good idea.’
‘But I thought you wanted us to spend more time together?’
Ed shook his head. ‘Not this, I’m sorry, it’s too big an ask.’
Too big an ask? ‘You know I’d do anything for you, right?’ Harry couldn’t help an edge of hurt creeping into his voice.
Ed’s smile of acknowledgement was sweet and sad.
‘And I’d do the same for you, under most circumstances, but not this.
This is your dream, Harry, and I’m too much of a liability!
You and Liam were right about what you said the other day.
I’ll find a way to mess things up for you – I won’t mean to, but it’ll happen anyway and I couldn’t live with myself if I did that to you. ’
Harry’s heart ached deep in his chest. ‘I don’t think you’d screw this up, Ed. I trust you more than anyone else on this earth. I trust you with my life and I’d trust you with this too.’
Ed took a step back. ‘You might trust me, but I don’t think I can trust myself. I’m sorry, bro, I really am.’
Disappointment was a bitter acid burn in Harry’s throat, but he swallowed it down. ‘Okay.’ He closed the distance between them. ‘Hey, it was just an idea, right? And I appreciate you being honest with me. No harm, no foul, yeah?’
‘Yeah.’ Ed swallowed. ‘I really am—’
Harry clapped a hand over his mouth. ‘If you apologise to me again we’re going to have a problem.
’ Ed’s lips stretched into a smile behind his palm and Harry removed his hand and slung an arm around Ed and pulled him in for a hug.
Though he was pleased the two of them were on speaking terms again, he was left with one really big problem.
If Ed wouldn’t help him get his business plan together, who would?