Page 8 of Unsteady: How to Fail at Flirting
He holds up two hands in surrender. “It doesn’t make a lick of difference. Just some out-of-towner who changed his mind trying to set up shop here.”
Doesn’t matter. I’ll find out. I’m sure the entirety of Main Street already has the scoop, even if Pete won’t spill it.
I flip through the pages. “What’s this about my deposit being paid already? Pete, I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but this must be a typo, right?”
“Once again, I cannot tell you how or who or why, but it’s not a typo. The place is yours. You can start moving in today if you like.”
With that, Pete hands me the keys.
Tears sting my eyes.
That’s some incredible news that I desperately needed today.
I don’t know who my guardian angel is, but I’m going to find out.
Four
Three weekslater
Finn
It took some doing, but I finally got my hands on the building. It’s situated between an art gallery and a candle shop right on Main Street in Songbird Ridge.
And it’s perfect for Raven’s Books, Music, and Gifts.
I hated leaving Songbird Ridge the way I did last month, but I had an emergency on the job site back in Charlotte. A few workers had minor injuries when some floor joists gave out, and I had to leave immediately. Between emergency room visits, compensating the workers for their injuries, and getting insurance squared away, I had a lot on my plate.
I didn’t even have time to tell Oliver I was taking off. I texted him from the road and told him to let Skylar know I was serious about reviewing her plans for the bookstore. I have no idea if he told her that or not.
Now that the dust has settled and I’m fairly certain my company has handled everything so we won’t get sued by the workers, I’m waiting to hear from Skylar.
This sucks.
I’ve taken a day to breathe after all the drama. As I’m hiking through my favorite park at Lake Norman, I feel lost. Not literally, but emotionally.
Oliver has moved. There’s nobody else here for me except my company and the people I care about professionally. But personally, socially, I’m coming up really short. Maybe I just need a vacation. Maybe I’ve earned it. But who would I take it with?
I really poured myself into this business, and I have a good amount of money and a good reputation to show for it. But I’m 42 years old now, and I want more out of life. I want a wife. I want kids. Mostly, I want to be less busy. Hell, even a couple of dogs would be nice. I’ve never even given myself time for that.
A happy couple strolls past me on the trail, pushing a stroller. The woman has red hair that reminds me of Skylar. The man with her pushes a double stroller with what looks like twins in the seat. They’re sharing an inside joke about something and laughing.
I let myself feel the jealousy, and then I remember how I got here. I am here because of my own choices. And I can change that by making a choice.
I text Oliver.
Hey, have you given my number to Skylar? I’m still waiting on those plans.
A moment later, my brother texts back.
Oliver
…oops.
I scrub my face irritably before I reply
Does she even know that the building changed owners? Does she even know that she’s paying rent to me and not to that old absentee owner whose family trust had been sitting on it for decades?
OK, that was a lot for my brother to read, especially with how preoccupied he is these days.
