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The first priority was cleaning up the broken glass and drying everything out. It didn’t take long with our team of fifteen or so people cleaning and working, and soon the glass was disposed of and the bulk of the water had been vacuumed out. We pulled up carpet wherever necessary before Casey set the industrial fans up. Once that was done, we broke off into smaller groups to get working on other tasks. The window replacement crew had arrived, along with the pair that had run to the hardware store, and it seemed things were coming along nicely.
I did my best to coordinate everything and work at the same time, but found myself being pulled in every direction and eventually gave up on doing anything other than managing each project and putting out proverbial fires as they cropped up. Once the subfloor was dry, there was a team installing new carpet. We also had a group putting in the upstairs windows and working on the apartment, and downstairs, there were a few guys repainting the bathrooms.
I ducked into one of the bathrooms to check on the painting team, which was made up of Jared, Cam, Parker, Travis, Bennett, and even Dex had come to lend a hand. They were laughing and joking while they worked, though Jared didn’t seem to find what they’d just said very funny.
“What’s going on in here?”
Travis elbowed Parker. “Park’s just giving Jared a hard time about being the last single one.”
“All I did was ask if he was going to join a monastery. I mean, it seems like a good idea. If you’re going to be celibate, you should get credit for it.”
Jared flipped him off and rolled his eyes. “Just because I’m not running off to get married like all of you did doesn’t mean I’m celibate.”
The group hooted and hollered, Parker’s eyes lighting up. “Oh yeah?”
I shook my head and clucked my tongue. “Shouldn’t have said anything, Jared. You know he’s like a dog with a bone. He’s never going to let it go now.”
Jared scowled and went back to painting, and I took it as my cue to back out of the bathroom slowly. As I did, someone called my name, and I whipped my head around to see Casey in the back of the theater, waving at me.
“Soren just pulled up.”
My stomach fluttered with nerves. I had no idea how he was going to react, whether he’d be happy we did the work or angry I didn’t include him. Happy, I hoped, but I couldn’t be sure.
A moment later, Soren stepped into the lobby, brow furrowed. “What’s all this?”
I hurried to stand next to him. “We’ve been working all morning.” I glanced at my watch. “We started around six. I think we’ll have everything done by this evening.”
He blinked at me a few times. “We?”
“My crew is here. Plus the guys from the team. Plus most of their partners. It’s a big group.”
“But… what are you doing?”
“We’re getting it ready. I scheduled the inspection for Monday. Your grand opening is next weekend, right?”
He frowned and shook his head. “Yeah, but… there’s so much to do. How…”
I waited a moment before responding. “Everyone is pitching in. It’s going to be ready.”
When he looked at me, his eyes were damp and shining. “But… why?”
A laugh bubbled up out of me. “What do you mean why?”
“Why would you do all this? I’m sure they all have better ways to spend their Saturday than working for the theater. I can’t even pay them.”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about that part. I pay my crew well, and they’re getting overtime for this. It was totally optional, but they all wanted to help. As for why… I thought that was obvious.”
He blinked at me and tilted his head slightly. “Obvious?”
I glanced around to see if anyone was watching or listening, but the lobby was empty except for us. Casey must have found something else to do, though whether it was to give us privacy or because he was actually busy, I had no idea. I took Soren’s hand and held it tight, using my free hand to stroke his cheek. “I’m in love with you,” I murmured.
His gaze softened, breath hitching, and he leaned into my touch. “You are?”
“I am. And these guys… they’d do anything for a friend. Loyalty is their specialty, even if they’re assholes to each other now and then. They know how important this place is to you—and by extension, to me. When I sent out the all-call asking for help, they all jumped at the chance. I mean, Parker may have jumped at the chance just to meet you and give me shit about you, but everyone else had the best of intentions.”
Soren laughed a little, stepping back to look around. “This is incredible. You really think it’ll be ready for an inspection in two days?”
“I really do think so. I couldn’t stand by and watch your carefully planned opening day fall apart, hurricane be damned. I knew I needed to do something. So here we are.”
