Jordan was the first to leap off the couch with Tommy stalking behind her.
“I think we handled that well.” I stood as Joe shook his head with a chuckle.
“I think those two need to get on top of each other before they kill each other.”
“Ah, and therein lies the problem.” I raised a finger. “They were getting close when Jordan broke up with her boyfriend. But now that she’s back with that tool, Tommy’s pissed off, and she’s confused. I feel for the poor bastard.”
“Yeah, that’s tough. I don’t remember a girl twisting me up like that back then.” I followed Joe back into the dining area.
“Because Caterina was the first. You were the cool, unattainable cucumber until she walked in here.”
“Very true,” Joe agreed with that same goofy grin playing on his lips whenever he talked about his wife. “Now, you’re the cool cucumber.” Joe smirked as he made his way behind the bar, where he usually stayed.
“Nah, I just don’t have time for that.”
“Right.” Joe snickered as he wiped down the bar. “That’s why you’ve been in a mood since February.”
“What do you want me to say?” I sighed and let my head fall back. “Thea deserves to be happy, and I’m happy for her.”
“Youseemhappy,” Joe raised a brow at me.
“I’m the one who fucked up and pushed her away. However miserable I am right now is on me.”
When I found out, a few months ago, that she was engaged, it dug into my gut like a constant thorn—but why? Did I expect Thea to be alone and pine for me for the rest of her life? I always hoped she’d find someone to make her happy, but I’d underestimated howunhappy that would make me when it happened.
“When I meet someone I want to make time for, I’ll figure it out. All right?” Since I’d heard about Thea, I couldn’t focus on dating anyone—not that I’d ever really been able to. Lately, she was all I saw, and it was driving me up the wall. I claimed not to have time, but I yearned for some kind of distraction to keep me from obsessing about my colossal mistake.
“All right.” Joe raised his arms in defeat. “I wanted to talk to you about something else, anyway. Business-related, not the early twenties angst of the wait staff.”
I coughed out a laugh. “I’d welcome a change in subject. Shoot.”
“What do you think about expanding?”
My brows pinched. “Expanding? What like buying the lot across the street? I thought the town wasn’t selling it.”
“They aren’t. Let me rephrase that.” He splayed his hands on the bar. “What about a second location?”
“In Ocean Cove? I don’t know about that, Joe. Wouldn’t we be just competing against ourselves?”
He cocked his head from side to side. “We would, but not if the location was in a different town. Like Pentier Beach.”
“Hmm. That could work. Close enough to go back and forth when we needed to, but far enough away to not eat into the profits here. Aren’t they building a new hotel there?” Pentier Beach was a smaller, more residential town than Ocean Cove. In fact, I couldn’t remember seeing any hotels at all whenever I drove through it.
“Yes. That’s exactly why I’m asking. They’re looking to lease out the restaurant space and Bella dropped our name. Her company is investing in the hotel.”
“Your sister’s company wants to invest in a hotel at the shore? I always thought they were more upscale.” Joe’s sister, Bella, was a financial whiz, and had been my crush for a short time when I was a teenager, but I’d never tell Joe that. I remembered Joe’s sister as beautiful and brilliant. And that brought my mind back to Thea, again.
“They see an opportunity, I suppose. And that town is prime real estate, but isn’t a tourist attraction. Not yet anyway. We can maybe grow a consistent customer base without standing on our heads in the off-season.”
We both chuckled. Caterina was our marketing guru, and through her efforts on social media, and getting us involved in local promotions, we stayed profitable during the year. But our bread and butter was still the summer crowd.
“Let’s do it!” I slapped the counter. “What do we have to do?”
“The reps they have on site are supposed to come here to meet with us tomorrow morning. Caterina and I were talking about it earlier, and she already has a ton of ideas. This week’s marketing meeting is going to be full of more data and stats I can’t understand.”
“So this week’s meeting isn’t going to be the two of you stumbling out of your office all disheveled and pretending no one notices, which, we always do.” I lifted a brow and cracked up when he scowled at me.
“We have a six-month-old baby who still hates to sleep at night. Don’t judge.”
