Page 10 of Capitally Unexpected

I groan quietly as I lift my head from where it rested on the side of the boat and blink behind my sunglasses. Nothing like a boat ride with your two workaholic brothers to ground you in reality. Not an open ocean, but the brown and muddy Potomac. The sunshine and cool breeze of the unofficial start to summer persists and I tip my head again, enjoying the rays on my face. I’ve been picking up whatever shifts I can in local restaurant kitchens around Holly Ridge at all hours of the day and nightwhile I wait for something permanent to open up. It’s nice to sit and relax.

“Fucking interns,” Duncan and Preston say in unison, lowering their phones at the same time. We all laugh. People can usually pinpoint us as brothers when we’re all together, but sometimes things happen that leave no doubt.

“You know, Duncan, if you’re not careful, people will get confused,” I say, arranging my face in what I hope portrays a picture of innocence. “Are you saying fucking interns, like a descriptive? Or do you mean it more as an action?—”

“Fuck off,” he replies, flipping me the bird as Preston chuckles. “I have never slept with an intern, and you know it.”

“I know, I know. Sorry, big bro. The opportunity lay before me.” We all lapse into a comfortable silence, sipping from our beers as the guy Duncan hired to drive the boat turns us around at the northern end of the city, and we head back south.

“So, what did Hayden give you to get him out of this little joy ride?” I ask. It’s time to get to the bottom of why Duncan insisted we take this boat out in the first place.

“Since he and Charlotte are hosting on their rooftop, he promised he’d do an extra three months of philanthropy committee if he could stay behind. Plus, Spencer ordered something from Wegmans to contribute since he can’t be here. It’s delayed, so they need to go pick it up, too.”

“You know,” Preston says, running his hand through his brown hair, the strands lighter than Duncan’s, but darker than my dirty blond. “I’m starting to think Hayden actually enjoys philanthropy duty, and he’s not actually bothered by you assigning it to him.”

Preston, as usual, figured out the truth. Duncan’s face goes pensive. To distract him before he gives it too much thought, I blurt out what I’ve been thinking. “So, this thing you wanted to talk to me about. You know, the big secret I had to travel to DC for and all.”

“Yes, right.” Duncan sets down his beer and straightens up. Ifhe were wearing a suit instead of a polo and board shorts, I think he’d straighten the tie and button the jacket. “I wanted to talk to you about your meal planning business.”

I shoot a look at Preston, who has the decency to look a little guilty.

“It’s a good idea, Hunt. Listen to him.”

“Okay, Judas,” I say. My eyes focus on Duncan, but my ears are full of white noise and my stomach is twisting. Coming to Duncan for funding for my business idea has always been something I’ve known is an option. But I hoped to find another way. I intentionally didn’t mention to Duncan how much it’s grown for this very reason.

“Hunter, are you listening to me?”

I shake my head and my ears clear. “Sorry. Having a slight existential crisis. Can you repeat yourself?”

He smiles the smile he’s worn since our mom died and he took it upon himself to become another parent, whether we wanted him to be or not. I can hear what he’s not saying out loud: At least it’s an internal crisis Hunter’s having this time. Hindsight being what it is. I know I didn’t make things easy on him, or my dad, or anyone really, while growing up, but I’m really trying now.

“I’d love to give you a graduation gift. Some start-up money to allow you some time and space to see how this thing can grow. I know you’re killing yourself with all those shifts wherever you can find them. This will allow you to find the right job in the right kitchen and still make a living.”

I set my beer down and lean forward, my forearms on my knees and level him with a look of my own. “Would you make this offer to anyone else?”

Duncan looks surprised. “What do you mean? Of course I would. Hayden has a start-up housed under my company.”

“Sure,” I nod. “But he came to you with a business plan, right? Plus, he has real-world business experience. And you’re getting a portion of his profits when he starts to make them.”

“Well, sure, but?—”

I hold up my hand. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Dunc, I really do. I know you have my back. And I know you’re framing it as a gift, but if”—I raise my voice to stop him from interrupting—“I do ever decide to broaden this idea into something bigger, I’ll come to you with a business plan, a proposal for returns for you, benchmarks, targets, the whole nine yards.”

Duncan reclines with a gleam in his eye looking a lot like respect. “All right then. I appreciate that.”

“So instead”—I take a sip of beer to up the tension—“you can gift me something normal. You know, like a car.” I wink to let him know I’m joking, or else he probably would have one delivered before I get home.

He lifts his beer. “Am I allowed to propose a toast?”

“Has anyone ever successfully stopped you when you tried?” I volley back.

“Nope,” he says, a smug tilt to his mouth. “To new beginnings and great achievements. I’m proud of you, Hunt.” Preston clinks his beer with ours, mouthing, “sorry,” to me before we all tip the bottles to drain them.

“Now then,” Duncan says, looking at his watch. “Right on schedule to be getting back to the wharf and up to the rooftop. Try to be a bit more gracious when Hayden and Charlotte surprise you with the cake Spencer ordered than you were with as my gesture, okay? They don’t have my thick skin.”

My cheeks warm from more than the sun. I’m so used to being the problem, somewhere along the way I got really bad at taking recognition for what I’ve accomplished. It may be time to work on that.

Preston and Duncan complain about the humidity in DC, but tonight, there’s none of that pesky stuff to be found. This part of the rooftop of Charlotte and Hayden’s buildinglooks out over a stretch of highway I can’t remember the number for. It’s different than I’m used to after small-town New England life. But we’re facing west, and the sun sets here like it does everywhere else, inching toward the horizon.

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