Page 25 of Searching for Sunshine

“Yeah, I’m sure. Am I super excited about the idea of driving some drunk girls around all summer? Absofuckinglutely not. But we all need the money and the business so I do think this could be a decent solution,” he says, still not sounding overly happy about the idea. “But I do have a condition.”

“Oh, okay, sure. Of course. Whatever it is, we’ll make it happen.” I rush to explain. I have no idea what he’s going to ask for, but I’m sure it’ll be a small price to pay to make this work.

“You and Avery have to agree to come on any of these trips that we do. Let’s be honest, they’re going to want to take thirty-seven thousand group pictures, and I’ll be so done by the end of it that I’ll probably throw their phones in the water. So, if you promise to come help entertain them, we’re all in.”

I try not to burst out laughing when I hear Trent in the background cheering at the answer Wyatt just gave me, but finally, I can’t help it and start giggling.

“All right, that’s fine. I can live with that,” I say as Avery dances a little in her seat beside me. “Okay, well, we’re gonna get back to work over here, but thanks for saying yes. Are y’all in between charters right now?”

Wyatt sighs in frustration. “Actually no, we’re done for today. All the rides we had booked canceled on us, so Trent and I are at my apartment trying to get all of my shit packed. I should be back to the Hideaway in a few hours.”

“That sounds good. No rush,” I tell him. “I guess Duke and I will see you then.”

“Sounds good,” Wyatt says. “Good luck with all the planning.”

“Thanks, we’ll probably need it,” I murmur before hanging up the phone and meeting Avery’s gaze. “Uh, he said yes.”

“I heard. And I saw the way your smile got about ten times bigger when he did. You still want to pretend like nothing’s going to happen between the two of you over the next year?”

“Yep, because it’s not,” I promise her. “Now, let’s plan some dream vacations, huh?”

CHAPTER 13

WYATT

“How’s married life treating you?” Bennett asks as I slide into a booth at The Sand Bar.

Stella and I have been married a few weeks now, and we’ve settled into a pretty great routine. Basically, it feels like I have my old best friend back. We work our respective jobs during the day, and then usually spend the afternoon working on the hotel. We’ve managed to repaint most of the rooms in our free time. We also brought in a company to refresh the pink exterior paint, and we’ve done a decent amount of work to upkeep the flowers and trees around the pool. But despite launching the website and social media campaign almost two weeks ago, they’ve yet to get any bookings through the new system.

I shrug and murmur, “Fine. She and Avery are meeting us here in a little bit. They were waiting for their one guest to check out so they could close everything down.”

“Shit, man, that’s rough. I sure would love for business to pick up around here. The shop has been completely dead for weeks. If we can’t drum up some business, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Bennett tells me.

“Yeah. Same here. Shit absolutely sucks. But hopefully, we’ll get some momentum heading into the Fourth of July. That’s always our busiest week of the year.”

“I thought so too, but you saw how slim the crowds were for Memorial Day.”

“I guess you’re right,” I mumble.

Bennett looks over the glass of his beer and eyes me suspiciously. “Man, what’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I insist. “Just stressed about work.”

“Are you sure that’s it? Because I’ve said at least ten things that would normally have you completely pissed since we met up earlier this afternoon, and you haven’t responded to any of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of this more mellow Wyatt, but I’ve never seen you act like this. So what is it? Are you and Stella fighting or something?”

“No, we’re not fucking fighting. Can we just fucking drop it please?” I growl and he holds his hands up in surrender.

“Okay, I'll take it back. I knew that same old grumpy asshole was in there somewhere,” Bennett says with a laugh just as Avery and Stella appear behind the booth we’re sitting in.

“Hey, Stels.” I reach out to pull her into the booth next to me and kiss her forehead. I tell myself I do it because half the town is currently in here for dinner, but there’s a small part of me that wonders if that’s really all there is to it. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m definitely more than a little attracted to Stella, but I’ve promised myself I would never try anything, at least until after the year's deadline has passed. I would never forgive myself if she ever felt forced into anything with me, and with the current setup of our relationship, I don’t want her to feel like she has to do anything with me as a thank you for helping her out. I know she thinks that spending this year married to her was a huge inconvenience, but really, it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long time.

“Hey, y’all. Sorry to keep you all waiting. We had a late checkout, and it took a little bit longer than usual,” Stella apologizes.

“Don’t worry about it,” Bennett tells her, and Avery slides into the booth next to him.

“Oh my god, I’m starving,” Avery groans. “And I’ve been dreaming about that pineapple vodka lemonade since lunchtime.

“Ugh, same,” Stella groans. “I don’t know what the hell your brother puts in those things, but they’re so damn good. Have y’all ordered? I don’t mind going to the bar and putting our drink orders in if that’s easier.”

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