Page 68 of A Perfect Match
“Guys—” I try to protest.
“Now youhaveto tell us,” Jett says, elbowing his way into the table where I’m locked in alternating death stares with Asher and Griffin.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I begin, but the attention and pressure emanating from my older brothers is too intense.I already know the truth: I’m doomed.There’s no way out of this.I have no excuse at the ready, and they won’t let up until the truth pops out of me like a gross zit.
“There absolutely is,” Jett confirms with a maniacal smile, because of course he’s right.
I heave with a sigh, setting my own cards down.Bella has drifted closer, watching me with a worried look.My stomach is twisted, and my palms are sweating.This is a moment I’ve been avoiding for years.
And here we are.
“I want to expand Cloud Nine,” I finally say.
“Into what?”Asher’s brows are drawing closer together.
“Events—catering and planning.”
Bella gasps, her face lighting up.“Piper, this is a great idea—”
“Wait.”Asher lifts a hand, and Bella rolls her lips inward.“Tell us more.Because I don’t think any of us know enough to say whether it’s a good idea.”
Bella rolls her eyes, though Asher can’t see her do it.Bella’s always been on my side, but it’s never enough against my brothers.
“I’ve always wanted to get into event planning—”
“Event planning?”Dane enunciates, as if it’s a foreign language.
“Yes.I think I could really kill it with private events.Weddings, corporate parties, luncheons, all sorts of things.I’d cater all the sweet stuff and probably collaborate with a different business to supply a savory menu—”
“Not your landlord, that’s for damn sure,” Griffin mutters.
“Probablycollaborate?”Asher repeats my words back to me, his suspicion evident.
Some of my excitement dissipates in a puff of smoke.Maybe I could see Griffin writing off Kru as a potential collaborator as him accepting that my visionwillbecome a reality.My feeble grasp at optimism doesn’t last long, because Dane cuts in.
“This is like, two whole other businesses, Piper.”He looks seriously concerned, as though I just told him Lia needed medical attention or something.“On top of the one you already run.That’s new concept development, investment, staffing, business planning…”
“Not to mention renting or buying a whole new building just for the event stuff,” Jett says.
“Do you have a place in mind for this…space?”Asher asks, crossing his arms.
I can’t tell them Kru offered up his barn.I haven’t even seen it yet.So I answer, “A couple that I’m looking into.”
“Have you signed anything yet?”Dane asks, his brows raising.
“No,” I blurt.
“Thank god.We need to approve anything before you do.”Asher’s jaw is flexing, his gaze heavy on me.
I scoff, crossing my arms to match his.“You don’t trust me to make my own decisions?”
The heavy silence in the room is my answer.
“God, you guys.”I push away from the table, coming to standing.“This is exactly why I didn’t want to say anything.”
“You need to focus on what’s already working, and expandthat,” Asher says firmly.
“Yeah, you don’t need to get into a whole new industry,” Jett adds.
