Page 69 of The Seascape Between Us

What the fuck?

I looked at Brody, who was grinning like he found the whole thing hilarious.

“What thehellis going on?” I asked.

“Talk to Grey and find out.”

“You knew about this?” Whateverthiswas.

“Everyone but you, pal.” He reached up and gave my shoulder a squeeze, then lightly shoved me towards the door.

Inside, there were more people I recognized from The Square, people who had businesses or lived here or both, cleaning, building, moving or hauling furniture away. Finn had a table saw set up in the middle of the dining room, cutting strips of wood. The high-pitched zing of the saw filled my ears. Someone had tarped the broken windows to protect what was left of therestaurant from the elements. The sand had all been swept up from the floors, the tables and chairs stacked on the far side of the room. In just twenty-four hours, it looked completely different.

Alistair walked past me with a rolling case that stored canvasses.

“Hey,” he said when he saw me. “Are you feeling better?”

“Um…” I wasn’t really sure how to respond. Had someone told him I was sick? “I’m… good.”

“I’m glad.” He patted the case with the canvases. “I brought these for the rooms downstairs. Go through and decide which ones you want and what doesn’t work.”

“That’s great, Alistair. I appreciate that. Did you work out a payment with Grey?” I had no idea how much Alistair charged for his art, but I’d find the money somehow.

“I’m not going tochargeyou,” Alistair said, looking as confused as I felt. “I mean, I told Grey if your guests bought one or something, that would be cool, but you guys aren’t going to pay me.”

“Alistair,” I said. “This is how you make your living. I can’t take these for nothing.”

He chuckled. “Let’s face it. Right now I make my living working in your restaurant. One day, people will buy my art, but for now, it will hang in your hotel.”

What was happening? Was Grey getting all this work done to sell? He must want out of this as quickly as I did. The realization caught me like a hit to the stomach, stealing my breath.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Alistair asked. “You look a little pale.”

“I’m okay. Do you know where Grey is?”

“The last time I saw him, he was with June in your office.”

Grey and June together? June wasn’t his biggest fan, and Grey went out of his way to avoid her. It was like I had walked into an alternate universe.

“Thanks,” I said to Alistair before crossing the lobby. As I passed the door that led to the walkway in front of the rooms, I caught sight of Lana and Bailey with Greer and Sawyer dragging the sopping, wet mattresses from the rooms. Was the entire Square here?

I opened the door to my office to find June sitting behind my desk on the phone while Grey paced back and forth, tapping his thumbs over his phone’s screen. They both looked up at me when I walked in.

“What the hell is going on?”

“We’re not selling,” Grey said. “What happened with the storm was a setback, but we’re getting back on track. Also, I’m not going back to Portland, and tonight you’re coming back to the house with me. That’s it. No more arguments, and I don’t want to hear anymore aboutwrecking my life.”

June let out a dry chuckle and stood while she hung up the phone. “I think I’ll let you lovebirds sort this out yourselves.”

She made her way to the door but patted my cheek as she passed me.

“Don’t be stubborn,” she said. “You listen to him.”

She didn’t wait for me to respond, leaving the office and closing the door behind her, so Grey and I were alone.

“Why do people keep calling me stubborn?” I muttered.

Grey snorted. “If the shoe fits… ”

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