Chapter 12

Wash972:

Morning, sunshine! Maybe I’ll see you at the grand opening today?

ShopGuy24:

Don’t count on it.

Wash972:

You break my heart.

ShopGuy24:

Oh, is there a heart in there?

It wasthe third time I’d messaged Austin since our hookup, and the third time he’d brushed me off. I guess I was a glutton for punishment, because even his rejections made me smile. Austin tried to be tough, but it was all a defensive shell I’d nearly cracked.

Eventually, I’d get through to him. Maybe.

Today, I had other things to worry about, so I pocketed my phone and swung by Muddy Waters for a morning caffeine hit before a big Grand Opening day at Fox Entertainment Zone.

I arrived early to find my grandmother on the premises, directing the two men hanging the Grand Opening banner over our four-door entrance.

“A little higher. No, not that high! A little—ah, yes. That’s it. Right there exactly.”

I came up beside her. “I thought this was my store.”

“Oh, it is.” Her eyes brightened. “I’m proud of you, Chase. And not just about all this.” She waved a hand toward the entrance. “I saw the interview you did about the Fox brand, our desire to be a good neighbor, and the plans you have in the works for the Union Heights neighborhood. You spun that story like a gem, and you gave our grand opening some fabulous PR.”

“I wasn’t spinning…”

“Take the compliment, dear.” She patted my face then turned. “No, no. Move those balloons!”

Gigi charged across the front lawn, clearly in her element, while my stomach churned. She saw that article as damage control, just as Austin had suggested. But I hadn’t made the rounds to every little business in a four-block radius just to spin public opinion before our grand opening.

I intended to follow through.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Cars began to clog the street, arriving early thanks to our plans to hand out gift bags to the first fifty customers. They parked in every available spot, including those in front of Black Hole Records and probably many other stores. I winced, thinking of what Austin’s sharp tongue would say about that. Thankfully, we had extra parking behind the building.

I hurried inside and took up my station on one side of the entrance to greet customers and hand out gift bags. My grandmother took the other side, something she hadn’t done for a Fox store opening in at least ten years.

When the first customer stepped through, I hitched on a smile. “Welcome to Fox Entertainment Zone,” I said, extending a gift bag with a few small tokens of merchandise. “In addition to books, you’ll find gaming, music, and collectibles in this Fox store.”

“Welcome!” Gigi said, addressing a mother with three kids. “You’re going to find all kinds of goodies here. We’re a one-stop shop for entertainment.”

“Hear that, kids? Everything we need in one place.”

I thought of Austin and all the other small business owners.

“This is actually a great little shopping area,” I said as our first customers moved on and the next stepped forward. “I encourage you to explore the neighborhood if you haven’t been down this way before.”

“Oh?” A middle-aged guy paused. “Any recommendations?”

“Black Hole Records,” I said without missing a beat. “They’ve got a great selection of used vinyl. We carry new albums here, but if you don’t find what you’re looking for, they’ve got quite the collection.”

“What about breakfast? We got up early to be here.”

I chuckled. “Muddy Waters is a great little coffeehouse with baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. You can’t go wrong.”

We exhausted our gift bags in the first hour, and my grandmother pulled me aside. “What was all that nonsense about talking up other stores in the neighborhood?”

“Just being true to my word. I said Fox would be a good neighbor, and that wasn’t just PR. I meant it.”

She pursed her lips. “You should be selling people on Fox today, not some silly little record store.”

My gut clenched. “That silly little record store has survived decades. Maybe they don’t have a chain of stores like Fox, but they add a special touch to neighborhoods like this one. I don’t want to squash them.”

“No one is saying you should squash them,” she said, irritated. “You know how important this store opening is. You’re the one who sold me on doing it. Don’t go sabotaging it now.”

“Look around? This is the best grand opening we’ve had in years,” I said. “We’ll bring in more sales in one day than the downtown location has brought in all month.”

“Very likely, but this is a long game, Chase. You have to get these customers to come back.”

“And encouraging them to explore the neighborhood might bring them back. It’s a win-win.”

“Well, I hope so. You know our deal. This store performs at least thirty percent better than our bookstores, or we close up shop for good.”

My chest tightened. “I remember.”

“Gigi! Uncle Chase!”

My niece, Lacy, came barreling toward us, ending the conversation. I bent over and scooped her up, spinning in a circle as she clung to me with a giggle. “What are you doing here, squirt?”

“I came with Mommy.”

My grandmother smoothed Lacy’s hair. “Look at this rat’s nest. Have you been wallowing in the dirt?”

“I was fighting demons!”

“Demons?” My grandmother laughed. “What on earth…”

My sister, Camille, came strolling into view, an exasperated smile on her face. “Lacy was excited to see you. Both of you. It’s been a while since we all got together.”

“See?” I turned to my grandmother. “We need our stores. How else will we have a Fox family reunion?”

Her lips twitched. “Hush, you.”

Lacy squirmed to be put down. “I want to go look at stuff. Can I buy something?”

“I’ll take you,” Gigi said. “You can pick out one thing, but just one.”

Camille sighed and leaned her head on my shoulder as they strolled out of sight. “How’s it going?”

“As good as it can be when Granny is hovering.”

She snickered at the term that I’d never ever use in my grandmother’s earshot. “Well, I’d take Granny over Lacy. She’s been running me ragged.”

“Sorry. I’ve been so preoccupied with the opening.” Not to mention Austin. “I could take her off your hands on Saturday.”

“You’d do that? I know you’ve been crazy busy. I saw that news report about Fox preying on little stores.” She huffed. “See if I shop at any of those places now!”

Her loyalty was sweet but unnecessary. “You were planning a shopping spree in this neighborhood before that article?”

She chuckled. “Well, no.”

“Seriously, they’re all good people. I’ve gotten to know most of them. They’re just intimidated. Fox is a threat to them.”

She frowned. “Fox is less of a threat than it used to be. Think Granny will really let any of us succeed?”

“What do you mean? It’s not her fault the stores are struggling. Today’s readers can click a button and get an ebook in seconds. Anyone would struggle to compete with that.”

“We’ve proposed scaling back to fewer stores, but she won’t have it. She’d rather end the family legacy completely than admit it can’t be what it once was.”

Camille wasn’t wrong. I’d sold my grandmother on this store because it was an opportunity to expand our brand and our revenues, rather than cut it back.

She was a savvy businesswoman who successfully led the Fox brand for decades, but she was blinded by pride. She’d built Fox from a single location to what it was now, and she’d sacrificed her marriage and family to succeed.

My father had wanted nothing to do with Fox, going into teaching instead. My aunt had moved to the Midwest a few years ago with her husband. It was up to the grandchildren—me and Camille and our cousin, Reggie—to carry Fox forward.

If Gigi let us.

I hadn’t seen her so excited about a store opening since I was a young child. But one wrong step and she’d take it all away.

Not just this store, but all of them.

That night, when I got home, I reached for my phone, wanting the comfort of a text exchange with ShopGuy24. He’d understand the importance of family legacy.

But he was also Austin and wanted nothing to do with me…

I dithered for a moment but couldn’t handle being alone with my thoughts.

Can we pretend for a minute that we’re just Wash972 and ShopGuy24?

I held my breath, eyes locked to the screen as three dots appeared, indicating he was typing.

ShopGuy24:

I don’t think that’s possible. Now that we know each other, it changes things.

Damn. I exhaled hard, disappointment settling heavy in my gut. My night with Austin had been incredible, but I missed his friendship.

I started to lower my phone when another message popped in.

Is everything okay? Your grand opening looked like a success.

I dropped onto my bed, legs weak with relief. It was a small olive branch. He might not want to resume daily chats, but right now, I’d cling to anything I could get.

It did go well, but it was exhausting. My grandmother hovered all day, and the pressure is starting to get to me.

ShopGuy24:

You don’t need to worry. You’re the big fish in this pond.

Wash972:

Everything is riding on this store. If I fail, she’s going to sell the whole chain.

ShopGuy24:

Whoa, seriously? It’s all on your shoulders?

Wash972:

Pretty much. I can’t complain though. I pitched the idea for Fox Entertainment. I wanted to prove we had a viable path forward.

ShopGuy24:

It’s still a lot to carry. I have just one small store, but my great-uncle’s legacy means everything to me. That’s why I freaked out when you showed up.

Wash972:

I don’t want to hurt your business, Austin. I never wanted that.

ShopGuy24:

I guess we’re all fighting to survive in our own ways. I imagine the Fox legacy is quite a bit heavier than the Black Hole Records one.

Wash972:

But no less important.

ShopGuy24:

Now you’re just trying to get back in my pants.

Wash972:

Is it working?

ShopGuy24:

Nope. Get some rest, Chase. You can’t squash us little guys if you’re too exhausted to work.

Wash972:

The next time I squash you, it’ll be under my hot body.

ShopGuy24:

Signing off now. Goodnight, perv.

Wash972:

Eh, I had to try. Night, Austin. I’ll be dreaming of you ;)

I set aside my phone with a smile. Austin had rebuffed my attempt to flirt, but he’d talked to me again. Not only that, he’d comforted me, the guy he’d called his enemy not so long ago.

If our friendship could survive the truth of our identities, then maybe there was still hope for us.