Page 95 of Resting Beach Face
I shook my head. “I’m good. Kat’s going to hit the pool for a while. Declan is bringing Gray over for work this afternoon, so he’ll take her back to the B&B if she’s ready to go home before my shift ends.”
“All right, if you’re sure,” Skylar said.
“I am.”
Grandma Kitty wrapped an arm around Katelyn. “You can get changed in my room. Maybe I’ll even join you out by the pool, if you don’t mind an old lady cramping your style?”
Katelyn looked pleased. “I don’t mind.”
“Good.”
I smiled as Kitty led my sister down the hall. “You’re so lucky, Brooks. I wish I had a grandma like that.”
“You do,” Brooks said. “Anytime you need a grandma, she’s right here, and she loves you.”
My heart twisted in my chest. “Yeah,” I said around the lump in my throat. “That’s really… I appreciate you sharing.”
He clapped my shoulder. “Anytime. And don’t think we’re not talking about this wholesleeping with Declanbusiness. That’s a big deal.”
My instinct was to deny it. I didn’t know what Declan would want me to say to anyone about our relationship, such as it was. But these were my closest friends, and I needed someone to talk with, so I nodded agreement.
“I guess it is a big deal. I just don’t know yet how big of a deal. Not with his plans to sell the B&B.”
“Let’s grab a dinner on your break later,” Skylar suggested. “We can all talk. I know everyone’s worried. We’ll get the whole gang here.”
“So another friendervention, huh?”
“Nah, more of a friend love fest.”
“Well, I do enjoy a good love fest,” I said lightly, doing my best to ignore the burn behind my eyes.
My home life might be in the shitter right now, but I had a group of friends who rallied around me, ready to support me through any storm. They were the family I could always count on.
I got clocked in before Skylar and Brooks could make me cry—justbarely—and spent the next few hours trying not to think about anything but room bookings, guest questions, and fielding complaints about housekeeping.
“No one brought towels, and I specifically requested more. The room hasn’t even been picked up once since we arrived,” a woman in Room 203 told me over the phone.
She was understandably frustrated. I was just puzzled. Skylar subcontracted with the housekeeping company where my mom worked. There was no reason for the room to be neglected.
I assured her I’d have towels sent up, then called Skylar in his office to explain the situation.
“What on earth…” Skylar huffed. “This isn’t the first complaint I’ve gotten. I’ll put in a call to Cove Cleaners. It might be time for a change.”
“My mom works for them. I could try to ask her…”
“I don’t want to put you in that position right now,” Skylar said. “You’ve got bigger fish to fry. Besides, she’s not in charge of the company. I don’t doubt she does great work.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “She works hard.”
“I know. I’ve chatted with her a few times. She’s always friendly, but quick to get back to her work.”
“You think you’ll fire the company?”
“Maybe,” Skylar said. “Will that hurt your mother?”
I hesitated. She subcontracted through them, and it wasn’t like the resort was her only job, but she needed every job she could get. I settled on the only answer I could give. “I don’t know, but you can’t make your decision based on that.”
“No, that’s true,” Skylar said. “Well, for now, it’s just a conversation. We’ll go from there.”
