Page 93 of Good Vibes Only
“Thanks, Rust.”
The bus began to roll, taking us back to the hotel.
I pulled out my phone. “I’m really sorry about the noise,” I texted McKayla. “I just took care of it. For real this time.”
22
McKayla
Power saws shrieked through the wall, and electric guitars wailed asHotel Californiablared on the radio next door. Raising my voice to be heard, I read Brett’s text aloud to Raven.
“‘Forrealthis time?’” she asked as she popped an ibuprofen. “What’s that supposed to mean? Sounds kinda ominous.”
“I’m not sure. I asked, but he hasn’t texted back yet.”
“Mm. I’ll believe it when I see it.” Her lips pursed in doubt. “No offense to your boy, but every time he’s tried to take care of the problem so far, nothing’s come of it—”
She ate her words when she was interrupted by the most glorious sound of all.
Silence.
It was like someone had pulled the plug next door—the power tools stopped and the hammering stopped and the radio stopped and all that was left wasnothingbut sweet, unadulterated silence. Silence so pure ithurt,our traumatized ears still ringing and throbbing temples thumping.
“Are they on lunch already? No, it can’t be lunch yet; it’s way too early …” Raven wondered aloud.
She couldn’t believe it was over. Poor girl. Who could blame her after what we’d endured? ButIknew Brett had found a way.
“It’s Brett. It’s gotta be,” I said.
I hastily tapped out an update to Brett. “PEACE AND QUIET. Whatever you did, it WORKED! No more noise. Raven and I both thank you so much!!”
My phone chimed when he got back to me a few minutes later.
“Good, I’m glad. All I had to do to get through to those jokers was to fire everybody,”he wrote with a laughing emoji.
My jaw dropped. “Everybody?! What happened?”
“I called Mike after I saw your text. He was still being a dick about the panels. So I fired him on the spot and told him to get his crew out of there. Because I’m beyond sick of this shit. Can only imagine how sick of it you are. It’s not fair to you.”
“But what’s going to happen with the brewery?”
“I’m going to ask Eric if he’ll keep brewing for me. Hopefully he says yes. The rest, I guess I’ll just have to figure out as I go. Probably going to lose a ton of money but oh well.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Might be cheaper doing everything on your own,” I wrote. “If you ever want my help just ask. I’ll do whatever I can!”
“Thanks babe. That means a lot,”he wrote.“Honestly, you’re smart AF with this kind of stuff, so I’m probably going to take you up on that offer right away, haha.”
“Please do! It’s totally fine. Just let me know what you need,” I replied. “Thanks again for watching out for me. It means more than you know.”
In reply, he sent me a wink.“You mean a lot to me.”
* * *
The noise may have stopped, but business, of course, was still slow half an hour later. Raven and I took advantage of the lull and stood in the bay windows in front of the store, watching the work crew load up all their tools into their work vans.
Were we gleefully smiling as we watched them load up, their tails between their legs? Probably, sure!We felt like we’d finally slayed the dragon.
But the guy who seemed to be in charge—the one with the big nasty beard—took exception to us watching them pack up. Before Beard-o climbed into the last van, he turned around, made eye contact with us in the window, andloudlysaid, “Kick a man when he’s down, why don’t you? Classy broads.”
