Page 89 of Bayside Heat
“Hey, boss.” Carey carried an electric guitar in one hand and a display stand in the other. Tall and lean with longish brown hair, an ever-present tan, and warm green eyes that made women want to know more about him, he was a good friend always willing to pitch in with the music stores. “Evan and Maddy are outside. They’re ready to go set up the road signs. Unless you need them for the exterior first?”
“I think we can handle it. We have plenty of time before people start arriving, and they usually trickle in anyway. Given the weather forecast, I’d imagine we’ll have a light turnout.”
“Copy that.” Cree looked up from the display she was putting together. Her bright eyes and sunny disposition contrasted with her head-to-toe black, from her raven hair to her clothing and heavy military-style boots. Her Bayside Music and Arts tank top showed off her colorful tattoos. “A day at the beach or a day of shopping? No matter how good the products are, sun, sand, and hot guys in trunks and girls in bikinis always win out. But that’s what evenings are for, knocking around music stores and hanging out with your buds.”
“Let’s hope so.” Drake headed outside and found Evan and Maddy loading signs into the back of Evan’s Jeep. They looked so young and ready to take on the world, leaning against each other’s sides like best friends. Their easy friendship reminded Drake of him and Serena through the years.
Evan pushed from the Jeep as Drake approached. He raked a hand through his brown hair. “Hey.”
“How’s it going?” Drake asked, though from the blush on Madison’s cheeks, he wondered if he’d actually interrupted more than a couple of friends.
Madison tucked her long, honey-colored hair behind her ear and said, “Since it’s so early, Carey thought we should put more flyers out before setting up road signs. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Sounds good.” With his first store, he and Serena had done that job themselves. With his second, they’d had volunteers. Now they had volunteers, paid staff, and caterers. More importantly, they had each other in a much bigger way. If Serena couldn’t be there, at least he could feel a little closer to her by having her traditional grand-opening breakfast. He handed Evan a twenty-dollar bill and said, “Can you grab a few snickerdoodles for me?”
“Sure.” Evan pocketed the cash. “Sudden sweet tooth?”
“Something like that.”
A few minutes after they pulled out, Drake was busy wrapping streamers around the posts out front when Desiree’s and Mira’s cars pulled into the lot. Their trunks popped open, and then Rick, Desiree, and Emery climbed out of Desiree’s car and Chloe and Mira stepped out of Mira’s. They grabbed bags from the trunks and headed for the store like the cavalry, each wearing a Bayside Music and Arts shirt.
“Where do you want us, bro?” Rick asked.
“Where’d you get those shirts?”
Rick flashed a cocky grin. “We have our ways.”
“The opening doesn’t start for another hour and a half,” Drake reminded them as they all said hello at once.
“We know,” Mira said. “Serena told us what happened. I’m sorry she couldn’t be here. She was so bummed. But don’t worry. She gave us strict instructions on what to put where, and she said you’d put the black streamers out front. Too depressing.” She bumped Drake with her hip, and he stumbled back. “Let us do this part, big brother. You’re supposed to set up the sound stage.”
The sound stage was a new addition to their grand openings, one Serena had insisted upon. She’d even spoken to the local police and arranged for a traffic cop so the event wouldn’t cause road issues. They’d argued about that. Drake didn’t think they’d have enough customers to warrant a traffic cop, but Serena had been in a stubborn mood, and she hadn’t given in.
“You’re all here to help?” Drake turned as Violet’s motorcycle roared into the lot. “Who’s watching the inn?”
“We forwarded the phones to the service and put up signs for the opening,” Desiree said. “Customers can track us down here if they need us.”
