Page 20 of Cheap Shot

“How’s your search for some more employees going?”

Sebastian cut the stem of another rose. “I mean, Raul’s been great since he started.”

He was an older gay gentleman who worked in the afternoons. At the moment, he was in the front of the store with Morgan, probably tending to the potted plants. He was kind of a whiz with them.

“Yeah, but that’s only four of you,” she said. “That’s less than half the staff of your SoHo and Brooklyn locations.”

“Well, we’re not quite as busy here as we are there,” he pointed out.

“Yet,” she countered.

“Yet,” he agreed. For now, the four of them were managing the current volume of business but once they got closer to spring, Sebastian was going to need at least a couple more people, even if they only worked part-time.

Four people for a shop that was open six days a week wasn’t anywherenearenough, especially when he had to work his own schedule around Harper’s doctors’ appointments.

What he’d told Crawford last night was true. He was doing well financially. Staffing was an issue and he’d even considered poaching a couple of the people in his shops back in New York, but the trouble was, he needed themthere.

Ahh well, such was the life of an entrepreneur, right? Success brought growing pains.

“But,” he added. “This is my thing to worry about. Not yours. I told you I was looking forward to the challenge of launching a new location. It’s always gonna come with some ups and downs.”

As if on cue, Joe came skidding through the front door. “Hey, boss, there are three deliveries left and I am really sorry but there was a traffic backup that slowed me down and I’ve got that recital to get to and …”

“Go,” Sebastian said with a sigh. “I’ll deliver the last three.”

“Thank you!” Joe called out, already stripping off his apron. “Keys are on the hook!”

When Sebastian turned back to Brie, she gave him a pointed look.

“I know, I know,” he muttered.

CHAPTER FIVE

Following the Portland game, the Harriers had practice, then left on a short two-game road trip to St. Louis and Columbus.

With no one waiting at home for him and no trouble sleeping on planes, Luke didn’t mind the travel. One bed—or airplane seat—was as good as the next.

He vaguely thought about trying to hook up with someone on the road, but he had a buddy in St. Louis, so he met up with him for dinner.

The Harriers went to a really fucking weird place in Columbus. Jesse had picked it out of course—as the team’s “fun committee” he was always planning random fucking shit—and called it an ‘immersive, interactive art exhibit’.

Crawford couldn’t say he knew much about art other than what he hung on his own walls. And that was less about knowing anything about it than knowing what he liked and what he thought would look good with the rest of the shit he owned.

But the place they’d gone kinda reminded Luke of a cross between an escape room and a drug-fueled haunted house, minus the horror. There were multiple rooms in a huge industrial building filled with trippy art, a story to follow, and puzzles to solve.

It was filled with loud music and glowing neon lights and by the time they left, Luke had a pounding headache. Most of the guys had loved it but Luke privately told Connor that he was too old for that shit and Connor grinned and agreed.

But he was so stupid in love with Jesse he would do anything for him.

Luke didn’t have that problem.

So, while the rest of the team split off into smaller groups that night to go to dinner, Luke went back to his hotel. He ordered room service, ate, then stripped down to his boxers and sprawled out on the bed. He hurteverywherefrom the game in St. Louis, and his head was still pounding despite the pills he’d taken.

He hadn’t been on his phone much that day, so he skimmed through notifications, deleting most of them and replying to a few.

He hesitated on one he had from his agent, Mac Sanders. All it said was,Call me when you get a chance.

That didn’t exactly give him a lot of info, but it was still early enough that he might as well give him a ring.