CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Garrick
“Hey, Garrick,” Lindsay says as I step inside headquarters, stomping the snow off my boots. I’m just back from a snowmobile tour with two families of four, but my brain is still fully in bed with Blue, even though it’s been four hours since I left her there. “You got a minute?”
“I’ve got a sunset snowshoe in an hour, but I’m free until then.” Given the opportunity, I’d be back in bed with Blue in a heartbeat, or anywhere with her. I’d hang out at the garbage dump just to spend more time with her.
I can acknowledge I’m a tad bit obsessed with my former enemy. And that the more time passes, the more I like the idea of a future with her. No matter what it looks like.
Since I can’t be with Blue, it’s good to be back at work. Good to be where my focus needs to be on keeping my clients safe and enjoying being outside, rather than dealing with my family drama in Sugar Valley. “Let’s talk in my office.”
Lindsay leads the way and takes a seat in front of my desk. She waits until I’m seated. “Horizon Solutions called this morning. They’ve included ten more employees on their trip.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “That’s double the group they’re supposed to have. We’re going to have to come up with ten more snowmobiles before then.”
She nods. “There’s more.”
“Hit me.”
“They want to camp overnight. Something about needing more time for their employees to really bond.”
I groan. “That’s gonna mean more tents, sleeping bags rated for temps that low, and another guide to help.”
“We could tell them they need to buy their own gear.”
“We’re going to have to. Most of them barely have experience hiking, much less camping.”
“At least they’re paying for the extra ten people.”
I could tell them we can’t do it, but these are the sorts of clients I need to put Evergreen Expeditions on the map. Especially now that I might have a kid on the way, I need to buckle down and really focus on making this business earn good money. The kind of money corporate trips make.
Problem is, I’m going to have to go into a bit of debt to get the snowmobiles and other gear we need for this corporate trip.
It’ll be worth it, though. Horizon Solutions has a long reach and they’ve promised they’re going to blast pictures and good reviews of Evergreen Expeditions on all their socials. I have to keep them happy no matter what it takes.
My phone vibrates and I glance at it to see a message from Blue with the subject line, Festival Planning Meeting. Shit, I don’t know when I’m going to fit that in.
“Boss.” Lindsay looks nervous, her cheeks pink, her eyes wide. “There’s more.”
I lean back in my chair, attempting to look nonthreatening, and put her at ease. “Shoot.”
“I’m giving you my two weeks’ notice.”
I sit bolt upright. No. This cannot be happening. “Whatever they’re offering you, I can…” Well, I can’t actually afford to pay her any more. “I can give you more shifts. We can talk about that summer program for kids you want to do.”
Her eyes go glassy and she sniffles. “It’s not you. It’s the park service. They’ve offered me a job. In Tennessee.”
Shit. She’s wanted to be a park ranger since she was like two years old, and her family is back East. I’ve got nothing to compete with that. I’m so screwed. “You know you’re the best guide on staff. We’re going to miss you.”
She sniffles again. “I’ll miss you too. You’re the best boss I’ve ever had.”
We talk about her exit strategy, and she leaves to take a group ice fishing.
I stare at my laptop screen for way too long. There’s no way I’m going to find a guide of her caliber before the corporate trip. I am so screwed.
Somehow, I get myself together enough to guide the hell out of the sunset snowshoe.
Barry goes along and has a ball, especially since everyone in the group adores her and loves all over her.
I stay way too late at my desk, sending out notices to everyone I know that I’m looking for a new guide. Then, I do the last thing I ever thought I would. I call in backup.
“Baby brother,” Mav says jovially. “Calling to apologize for storming out on Christmas?”
“Dad said you might be interested in working with me. Said you might like a job that gets you outdoors more.”
Mav is silent for several long moments. Mav is never silent.
“He was probably just fucking with me, trying to get me to move back there,” I say, giving my brother an out.
“He wasn’t fucking with you. I love my job, but if I have to spend another day under fluorescent lights, I might lose my mind.”
“I don’t know if you’ll like working for me any better, but I’ve just had a guide give me her two weeks’ notice and I’ve got an important client coming up. I need someone on staff who knows what they’re doing.”
“Holy shit, Garrick. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. What do you say? Want to come out here and give working for me a trial run? I can even make you head of marketing. Right now, it’s being run by a company out of Idaho.”
“Not sure I can handle living in the land of Christmas.”
“That’s why I’m calling it a trial run. What do you say? You know Mom and Dad will hold your job in case you hate it here.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks.” I hang up and send him information about what I can pay him and what benefits I can offer. My hopes aren’t high he’s going to accept, but I’m running out of options.
I need to grow this business no matter what it takes. For me, but also for my possible baby, and for Blue. I don’t want either of them to want for anything.
The idea of a potential baby doesn’t scare me like it used to. If it happens, I don’t think I’ll hate it. I want to settle down and start a family with the right person.
I just need to have my business and my finances in order to be the best dad and husband I can be.
And if that means doing some things Blue won’t necessarily like, I just have to hope she’ll eventually understand I’m doing what’s best for her, too.
Evergreen Expeditions can’t move forward as long as she’s mayor. She has to know that. And she can’t honestly enjoy being mayor when everyone’s against her.
She’s just too stubborn to walk away on her own. So, I’ll give her a little push.
Barry whines at my feet. She’s tired of being cooped up in my tiny office. “Yeah, it’s time to go.”
I pack everything up and we get in my truck and head for home. Except home’s not where I end up.
When I knock on Blue’s door, she doesn’t remind that the vacation is over. She doesn’t even give me crap about being addicted to her magic vagina, though I definitely am.
She just grabs me by my belt and drags me inside, opening the door wider to let Barry in, too.