Page 36 of Fresh Tracks
He sighs and his eyes drift up, like he’s lost in a memory. “I bought my first investment property in Seattle when I was twenty-three, not too long after our first record deal. I didn’t see it as a business though. A friend I met in foster care called me because his landlord was a shitbag. He was just venting, but I went over to try and help him out. I fell in love with that old, Art Deco building the second I walked in. I ended up getting ahold of his landlord and that night I made an offer on the building. All because it felt right.”
Add another reason to the list of why he’s possibly the perfect boss, or maybe even the perfect man. The combination of spontaneity and helping others is something that strikes a chord down to my core.
“Alright,” I say, still thinking that wasn’t the answer I was expecting, but again, a sentiment that I can appreciate so much. “I’ll make it happen, Boss.”
He rolls his eyes. “Good.” Those beautiful blue eyes linger on me just long enough to make my lips part before he winks at meagain with a smug grin. “Now finish your lunch so we can get back to my place. Seems like you’re about to be very busy with work.”
CHAPTER 15
TJ
MAKE ME FEEL OLD
My phone buzzesin my pocket and I want to ignore it. The only reason I’m even up this late is because I’m too restless to sleep and came to my studio to just clear my head. When I pull my phone out and see my brother’s name, a smile crosses my face. We might give each other shit all the time, but we’re still always there for each other.
“Hey, what’s up?” I answer.
“Well, nothing’s really changed since the last time we talked. So same old shit I guess.”
I huff a laugh. “Fair enough, so why are you calling?”
“You’re still coming up in a couple weeks for the closing, right?” he asks.
OK. I guess it is business.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I say, grabbing a chair and spinning it around toward the window of my studio.
“Good, because Slade won’t shut up about this place. He wants to have a party to celebrate closing on the building and starting construction. He keeps saying you have to be there.” Jake drags out the wordhaveas if there will be dire consequence if I don’t show my face. Judging by his mildly irritated tone, I can justpicture how Slade has been hounding him in his typical persistent, methodical way. Better him than me. I guess that’s what I pay my little brother for though.
“You said before construction? He knows it’s just going to be a vacant shell of a building, right?”
He snorts a laugh. “Yeah. Apparently, he’s got a whole plan for that. Something about an industrial warehouse vibe before the renovations. I think his exact words were ‘Seattle Grunge meets New American Cuisine’. So you’re good if I invite the typical crowd?”
Thetypical crowdis his code for the marketing and PR team that will be there, along with my old bandmates and crew. I don’t mind seeing the ones I’m on good terms with like Vince, but the others I prefer to avoid unless there’s a compelling reason to see them. I guess this is one of those times. Jake has known them almost as long as I have, but he wasn’t around them every day like I was, especially while he was in college and I was touring. That’s probably why he’s on better terms with most of them than me. Still, I appreciate that he asks, given how much I’ve removed myself from those circles. But those guys are good for business if we’re trying to build hype around a new restaurant I’m investing in.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I reply.
“Cool. Well, that’s all I needed.” He pauses for a second. “So how’s it going with Grace?”
I hear the teasing tone of his voice, but I’m not going to give in.
“Oh,” I reply with mock surprise, dragging out the word. “So, that wasn’t the real reason you called? Let me guess. You wanted to check and make sure I haven’t scared her off yet?”
“I mean it’s been almost two weeks since you hired her. So…” His voice trials off in question.
I groan. “To answer your question, she’s great. She’ll probably be reaching out to you tomorrow actually. She finished the list for this year.”
I think about the list that Grace showed me at lunch today. I liked her plan. She’s thorough and does good work and I’m not surprised the least bit. It was clear she did her homework on me based on the organizations she picked. But I can also tell she puts her heart into it. I wasn’t lying when I said I liked her plan and I wanted to make it happen. But something is still nagging at me in the back of my mind.
“Hey, on that note, can you send me the list of charities we gave to for the last few years?”
“I already sent them to Grace. Wait, are you actually going to read something I send you for a change?” he says with mock incredulity.
I deserved that one. He knows I never read anything, but that’s only because I trust him with all of this. “Very funny. Just send them.”
“Alright. Anything else?” he says.
I’m about to hang up, already somewhat dreading the upcoming party for the restaurant when an idea crosses my mind.
