Page 11 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

I don’t mind the jokes.It shows me they’re starting to accept me again.But everything feels serious for me about the campground.Maybe it’s that I don’t really like being home.Or maybe it’s because I don’t want to let Dad down.

The conference room didn’t exist when I was a kid, but now it’s the hub of the business because it has wifi.It’s full of tables, chairs, and a few computers.It even has a small kitchenette along one side.I rearranged everything and brought a projector.It’s the largest room in the building, so it’s the best place for our meeting.

I spent the last couple of days in Lewisburg, getting some drawings made up.I met with Keith—our next-door neighbor, Mae’s dad, and Dad’s best friend—about using a few of the buildings on his property and also the name of the town.I also visited the Greenbrier to see how they do things.Greenbrier is famous for being a getaway for the rich and famous, very old school and luxurious.It reminded me a lot of the resort inDirty Dancing.I’m not sure it’s moved out of its 1950s ways, so we won’t be a direct competitor.However, I definitely got some ideas from them.I think we can bring our resort into this century without forcing Dad to give up his Luddite morals.

The biggest issue I had all week was Mae.I couldn’t keep my eyes or my thoughts off her.She and Abi ran around in bikinis all week.It didn’t take much for my mind to take off that bikini at night.But it was more than that.She’s got a wicked sense of humor, and she’s so smart.She helped me put together the poster boards and was even the one who suggested I use the name of her great-grandfather’s town.Every moment I spent with her has led me to wanting to spend hours more.

I stand nervously at the front of the room, hoping none of the crowd finds a wayward condom balloon that I missed.More people are here than I had planned.My parents had invited most of the owners of businesses we support and the ones who support us as well.I didn’t realize how many depended on us, from the local catering company to the flower farm next door.Mom’s events are epic, and we need more of them.

I mingle while they settle in.I’m the only one dressed in a suit, and look out of place, but with what I want to do with the property, I need to portray the image of money.

Levi and Mark come in together, whispering about something.Probably another practical joke.

“Enjoy your party this morning?”Levi asks.He acquiesced pretty quickly over the whole internet-in-his-house thing, and by day three, he begrudgingly told me that he was sorry he hadn’t put it in years ago.

“Haha.Very funny.Just you wait until I’ve got things under control.Payback is coming.”I can dish out the pranks as fast as they give them.I’ll have to go back to my college days and recreate some of my best ones.I drove my friends nuts, but life would’ve been too boring without a little fun.

Mark and Levi both sit near the back of the room with most of my other brothers.The chairs fill up, and I make my way to the front of the room where Noah is studying one of the drawings.“You’re changing our name?”

I glance around, but no one can hear us.I want to present the rest of the plan first before people get up in arms about the name.“As long as Dad is on board.”

“You know he will be.He doesn’t have a choice.You’re his Hail Mary.Why are you changing the name?”

“Because the kind of clientele that will bring money into this place won’t be impressed by Blackwood Family Farm.”

“Last I checked, we are the Blackwoods.You are one too.Or have you forgotten that since you ran away?”Noah takes a few deep breaths, closes his eyes, and then opens them.He’s not wrong, but he’s also not seeing the whole picture.“Why Whisper Springs Hideaway?”

“Because I’m looking for secrecy.Exclusivity.This will be a place that’s not on any map, and you won’t find it on Google.The only way to get here is to be brought here.I did my research.You can’t find anything about Whisper Springs anywhere even though we all know the town existed once upon a time.Keith said I could use it, and we’ll be using some of his buildings.Locals will also know, but other than that, nobody can find it, and we’ll be vigilant about keeping it off the internet.Our guests will be flown in by private helicopter.”

He gives me a look that is almost forgiving.“Giving Jacob a job, I see.You know, you haven’t even explained what you’re doing here, but I can already see the numbers.You’re not looking to attract huge amounts of people, just a few of the right people.”

“Exactly.And if we play our cards right, we’ll earn in a week what the farm currently earns in a year.”

“Levi will hate catering to the rich and famous.”

I chuckle.“He’ll deal.He’ll have a lot of work to do to get things up to par.In fact, he’ll be the first one I put on the permanent payroll.”

Noah stares at the posters for a few minutes longer and then opens his mouth.I know what he’s going to ask before he says it.“How are you paying for all of this?”he asks.

“I’m investing some of my own cash in exchange for ten percent ownership.Dad already knows about that.In two or three years, we’ll restructure the corporation so we’ll all have the same amount of ownership.”

Noah frowns but doesn’t say anything.He takes his seat, and my phone buzzes.I jump as I’m not used to getting service here.It’s amazing how quickly I got accustomed to not checking it a thousand times a day.

Mae: Don’t choke

She includes a gif of Homer Simpson with his hands around Bart’s neck.

Seth: If I do, then you have to take me out and get me drunk.

Mae: You’re not supposed to make me root for you to fail.

I smile at the phone, and someone clears their throat.The room is now full, everyone is seated, and all eyes are on me.For a second, I forgot where I was.Mae has that effect on me.I slip my phone into my pocket and try to clear my head of her smiles because if all I’m thinking about is her, I’ll intentionally fail, and I can’t do that to my family.

I begin by explaining my observations and some of the small overall things we need to change.Then I spring my idea.

“We’ll host four to six adult summer camps each year that will last a week, for twenty-something celebrities and social media stars.These kids grew up watching shows and movies about summer camp but never got to go.They spent their summers playing video games and texting their friends.There’s a romance about summer camp.The biggest draw will be the idea of no wifi for a week.That will be our selling point, but it will also be our biggest problem.These guests will struggle with the quiet and not know what to do with themselves, so we need to make sure we have activities planned for every second of the day.We will have a max of twenty guests during this time, but they will expect the ultimate luxury.We’ll need to upgrade at least ten of our twenty cabins and invest in ten glamping tents.Food that’s catered in will be the best of the best.Day guests and other campers will not be allowed in during those weeks.We will also be leasing several of the buildings on Keith’s property for a spa, a five-star restaurant, a gym, and three of the houses to accommodate more workers.”

I go on to explain more about the secrecy and other logistics.

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