Average spend around thirty dollars per person.
That was just over two grand in revenue minus cost of goods and payroll and utilities and rent—
We were hemorrhaging. Dear God, those were angry, pointy rocks ahead, and there was no way to turn the ship around. We were going down.
Mark appeared at my shoulder. “Stop spiraling.”
“I’m not spiraling. I’m calculating the cost of life rafts.”
“Finn.” Mark turned me to face him. “Listen to me. We’ve been open for two days.Twodays. You can’t judge success in two days.”
“I can judge cash flow in two days.”
“Cash flow will improve. Word of mouth takes time. We just need to keep working hard and be patient.”
“I’m not good at patient.”
“I hadn’t noticed.” He smiled. “You’re good at problem-solving and planning. You’re also good at making things work when they shouldn’t. We’re building something good here, but building takes time. Okay?”
I wanted to believe him.
I really, really wanted to believe him.
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay?” He raised one brow.
“Okay, fine.” I took a breath. “We do the watch party tomorrow. We give it everything we’ve got. Ifit works, great. If it doesn’t, we’ll figure something else out.”
“That’s the spirit.” Mark pulled me into a hug, which was very Mark. “Now go home and get some sleep. I’ll close up here. Tomorrow we’re going to pack this place.”
Chapter 13
Finn
Iblinked at the ceiling fan. It was seven o’clock on a Sunday morning. I should’ve been sound asleep, enjoying a lazy moment’s peace. Instead, all I could do was stare with the unfortunate knowledge that I wasn’t going back to sleep.
Possibly ever.
My brain was spinning faster than the big wheel onThe Price is Right, running through lists, thinking through things to check or prep, fussing over every minute detail that could go wrong.
By the time I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen, Priya was already dressed in her scrubs with her white lab coat draped over the back of a chair. She stood at the counter, coffee mug in one hand, phone in the other, sipping as though the burned bean water was the only thing keeping her upright.
“You look how I feel,” she said without looking upfrom her phone.
“Thanks.”
“That was not a compliment.” She glanced at me over the rim of her mug. “Big day?”
“Maybe. Probably. I don’t know.” I grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured myself coffee. “What if no one shows up?”
“Then you will have a quiet Sunday and try again next week.”
“What if everyone shows up and we can’t handle it?”
She set down her mug and gave me a look. “Dear one, you are spiraling.”
“I’m not spiraling. I’m preparing for multiple scenarios.”
