Page 10 of So I'll Know
“Like your soul,” Seb snickers.
“I’m hanging up now. Let me know when you hire someone. Maybe then we can talk more about the menu down here.”
Sebastian nods. “I’d like that.”
“Cool. Later, little brother.”
I end the call, push my phone away, and look at the swatches doubtfully. Maybe Tristan’s designer will have a firm stance on shades of gray.
I’m sitting in the dining room this morning because IthoughtI’d enjoy the view of Elliott Bay, but it’s unusually sunny for this time of year, and the sky is a brilliant shade of blue that reminds me of Peter’s eyes.
I fucking hate it.
I hate that I can’t stop thinking about him. I hate that he has all this power over me.
It’s because he’s pretty, I rationalize. Because he’s the prettiest person I’ve ever seen.I’ve always thought so.
I sip my tea and try to quiet the voices in my head, but the disorder and uncertainty of the pub set my teeth on edge. I despise this part of the process because I have to rely on other people to get shit done. I want all the control. But until this location of Brothers’ Beer & Bourbon is up and running, I don’t have it. While we didn’t need any help with the Vancouver location, the start-up costs for the Seattle location were too high forme to juggle alone, so I got some investors, one of them being our father—and Skynet.
It was before I knew our dad was a piece of shit.
But didn’t you always know?
I shake my head, my jaw ticking. I’ve been dealing with the fallout of his involvement ever since, but it’s gotten worse lately because I’m realizing that I never had a true passion for this line of work in the first place. The longer I do this, the clearer it becomes that being good at something doesn’t automatically make it your life’s passion. And. . .maybe there was a little bit of wanting to make my dad proud.
Plus, business school was easy.
Making the Vancouver pub successful was easy.
I’m a businessman to my core—just like my dad.
I should have stopped there, but Sebastian really wanted to expand, and I couldn’t say no to him. At the time, my father was enthusiastic about helping, and he had the money and connections I needed, so I took him up on it.
But that was before I knew he was a piece of shit and left Charlie to starve.
And now I have to deal with him on his terms. And with his shady business partner.
And I still haven’t told Sebastian about any of this.
“You look like shit.” Tris’s voice startles me out of my brooding.
I glance over at him. “Thanks,” I reply dryly.
Tris doesn’t look like shit. He never does. He’s dressed in ripped jeans and a cropped hoodie, his curly hair falling over his eyes. He approaches my table, sets down his laptop, and takes a seat across from me.
“That Instagram post I put up last night did pretty well,” Tris says with a wide smile. “And I’m going to check on our liquor license application today.”
I nod absently, my eyes focusing on the view again.
What I wouldn’t give to find a peaceful little place outside the city—maybe on Bainbridge Island or someplace in the mountains. I just don’t want to be here anymore.
“Marcus? Did you hear me?”
“What?” I ask, glancing at Tris.
“I said, do you feel like explaining why you ghosted me on Friday night?”
“Oh, uh, I started feeling sick and just went home. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
