Page 44 of Searching for Sunshine

“Yeah, it’s not what we expected, but we’re still grat—” I start before Avery interrupts me with a loud scream.

“Damn it, Aves. You’ve gotta quit doing that,” I complain, looking over and waiting for her to fill us in.

“Stels,” she says, looking up at me, “we’re almost completely booked from the Fourth of July next weekend until the end ofAugust. We’ve also already got bookings for spring break and next summer. Plus, ten bachelorette requests and I’ve gotten four wedding inquiries for next summer too.”

I stare at her in shock. “No, that can’t be right.”

“Yeah, it actually is,” she argues, her smile spreading.

“Wait, how many reservations came in since last night?” I ask, trying to make sense of what she’s saying.

Avery taps at her phone for a moment before answering, “Another sixty-five and counting. And we’re up to almost twenty thousand followers on Instagram.”

With that, I can’t control the laughter that bubbles out of me. “This can’t be fucking real,” I wheeze out through the mixture of laughter and tears I feel building. “Aves, how the hell are we going to make this happen with exactly two-and-a-half staff members?”

“Wait, we’re gonna come back to how fucking incredible this is, but I’ve gotta know, who’s the half?” Chloe asks, looking between us.

“Kelly, the housekeeper has just been coming in on an as needed basis,” I explain, then add, “oh my gosh, I’m actually gonna have to call Miss Clara and ask her for help.”

“Well, that may be a possibility,” Avery mutters. “All I know is we have a few guests coming in this week, and after that, the next six weeks are nonstop. So we’d better find some staff before that.”

“What are we going to do, Aves?” I ask, trying not to panic.

“Wait, wait, wait. I know this is a little overwhelming, but do the two of you not understand how fucking incredible this is?” Chloe asks, looking between us. “Or how many other businesses this could help? Not just Wyatt’s business, but they have to eat somewhere. And Bennett’s surf shop? We could even get some new businesses if we actually have enough tourism to support them.”

Avery and I pause, neither of us realizing how far-reaching this could be for Crestbrook Cove.

“Yeah, I didn’t really think about it like that, but you’re right,” I admit.

“I know I am,” Chloe teases before opening her bag. “Listen, I stopped by The Sand Bar and had Everett make us a gallon of that yummy pineapple vodka lemonade he makes. I say we spend the next hour drinking and tanning, and then tomorrow you drop the news to Miss Agatha that you need help. Have her put it in theThe Cove Column. I guarantee you won’t have any problem finding people to help you. Personally, I know I’ll even help out where I can.”

“I’m gonna have to take your word on that one,” Avery says hesitantly.

I smile, knowing Chloe’s right. “Actually, I agree with her. With the way this town gossips, once we get the word out, I think we’ll have the help we need. Now, let’s spend a little while drinking away our problems and get ready to work our asses off.”

CHAPTER 20

WYATT

“Okay, Miss Clara, can you take these towels to Room 204? And Miss Agatha, Room 210 asked for us to deliver them some extra toiletries if you don’t mind,” Stella says from behind the front desk of the Hideaway, giving out orders.

It’s been just over a month since the video of the Hideaway went viral, and I still can’t believe how quickly everything changed around here. As soon as word got out that we needed help, Miss Clara came through with a list of ladies from her knitting club who were willing to volunteer a few days a week to make sure we could take care of all the guests. It’s not the most conventional, but the ladies seem to enjoy interacting with everyone and Stella claims it’s added an extra layer of local flair to the stay.

As I look at my wife, I try to ignore the feeling of unease I feel with how fast this year is flying by. We’ve already been married for over two months, and each day I worry a little more about how I’m going to walk away at the end of the year like I promised. We spend all our time together outside of work, eating dinner with our friends at The Sand Bar and walkingDuke at night around the hotel before we head to bed where we spend hours fucking and whispering into the night.

Neither of us has acknowledged the shift in the relationship, but I know I can’t keep pretending that there’s nothing between us anymore. There’s nothing friendly about the way I feel about Stella, and the idea of losing her next year makes me feel a lot more lost than I’d like to admit.

The older ladies smile at Stella before heading over to the elevators, and I take advantage of the lull in customers to head over to Stella and wrap her from behind with a hug. “Hey there, what are you doing here?” she asks with a laugh. “I thought you had a tour this afternoon.”

“I do. Trent had a booking earlier this afternoon and he needed me to drive the van,” I say, making a face. When all the hotel guests started booking booze cruises, we realized we needed a safe way to transport people between the docks and the Hideaway thanks to the lack of Uber in Crestbrook. Trent found an old fifteen-passenger van to run back and forth for cheap on Marketplace and it’s worked out pretty well for us. But since he knows I despise driving the damn thing, he usually takes care of it.

Stella laughs at my expression, and I take advantage of the empty lobby and pull her into the small office behind the counter to kiss her hard.

“Wyatt, I can’t leave the counter for more than a second. We have a party that should be getting here any minute,” she objects at the same time she leans against the wall and wraps her leg around my waist to pull me closer to her.

“Just for a second,” I promise, devouring her mouth and running my fingers through her hair to hold her to me.

She moans slightly as our tongues tangle in the dark office space before she finally pulls back. “Okay, we’ve gotta stop. We need to be professionals here, Wyatt.”

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