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“I know it is. I wonder if I screwed up by handing things off to you. I feel like I’m the reason you don’t love it.”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not it—”

“Then what is it?”

He swallowed. Was he really about to do this? He knew he should tell his father that managing Wild Pines hadn’t ever been his dream. Astor wasn’t wrong; he did love this place. He loved water skiing and sailing on the water, cold drinks at sunset and late nights around the bonfire. He missed the way everyone walked in and out of each other’s cabins, like it was one giant party, a never-ending summer camp. He also loved having his favorite person back home, making him laugh while also making him think deeply. Even if that person was a major source of his stress.

Yet his father was also right. Managing this place was taking the joy out of it. He knew that would be his fate though. Austin was adamant about not wanting to take it, and when Astor announced he was ready to retire, Archer didn’t want to hold his father back from finally getting his well-earned rest. So he said yes, packed his things, and left Minneapolis. Besides, he had nothing else holding him back at the time.

He cracked his knuckles, resigning to it. He could talk to his father. Thanks to his fuckhead of a brother, it was already out in the open anyway. “This job is exhausting and hard to manage.”

“Oh I know, I did it for years.”

Archer scratched his neck. “Some days I feel like I’m not good enough for it and wonder if Austin would have been the better choice.”

“No he wouldn’t have.”

He eyed Astor. “Dad, we both know Austin was made for the job. He’s equally good at physical labor and all of the administrative shit. It’s why he does so well at John Deere.”

Austin landed his job as an engineer at John Deere before he even graduated college, which moved him and Riley to Fargo shortly after. Archer acted like he didn’t care, but his brother had always been naturally smart. He would plop down with Tea and her textbooks and solve equations with her, while Archer bent over their books and couldn’t read the language of numbers and lines that came so easily to them.

“I don’t agree,” Astor commented. “I actually think Austin would have been terrible at it.”

Archer coughed out a laugh. Never once had he heard his father make a negative comment about his brother. “Funny, good joke. Stop lying to me.”

“I’m not.” Astor took a sip from his mug. “Sure, your brother has the technical skills and is good with numbers, but he isn’t the best with people.”

“That’s not true. Did you see him yesterday? He practically had Joel eating out the palm of his hand. He would have never been mad at him for not catching the damn fishing cabin culprit.”

“A charmer, sure. But what about empathy?”

His shoulders slumped. “Empathy?”

“Do you really think Austin would have fixed Jorge’s boat for free? Or set up payment plans so people didn’t have to stress about paying association fees outright this summer?”

“The second one was Tea’s idea—”

“Sure, but the only reason you were delayed is because you didn’t want people worrying about it quite yet. You care for everyone here.”

He worked his jaw, not able to meet his father’s eye.

“Son.”

Archer blinked up at his father.

“If you really hate it, I don’t mind hopping back in—”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

Of course he was sure. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint his father completely and give up. He’d seen what his father was like without the stress of constantly having to work while he’s here. He’d laughed and enjoyed himself yesterday, even kissed his mother square on the mouth in front of everyone, her playful slap in response slightly sickening to watch—but also delightful.

He couldn’t take that away from them. Plus, what else did he have right now? It wasn’t like Hermes Lounge was open. He wasn’t even sure if they would take him back. Not after…

He shook his head, ran his hands down his legs. “Yes, I’m very sure.”

“We could also look for new management, if you’re not.”