Page 2 of The Other Room

“So, you finally found a job you want to stick with? You’re done wearing twenty hats every summer?”

Living in a summer tourist destination like Door County, that all but shuts down every winter, meant finding a year-round job I loved proved even more difficult than reeling in that Northern. Each year I tried something new. Serving, painting houses, construction, kayak guiding... just hoping that maybe my current choice would be the one that stuck. So far, doing maintenance for the town was the closest I’d come to finding something fulfilling in my life. So much for those four years I’d busted my ass in college getting an advertising degree. Turns out working in an office and on computers was my version of hell on earth, and I’d hauled ass back to Door County to find a job that let me spend my time outdoors. “The job is good. I like it, but it turns out I may not be living in Baileys Harbor next week, so I’m not really sure what I’m going to do if that happens.”

“What?” He stopped reeling and all his attention focused on me. “What the hell do you mean you’re not going to be living here? We’re Harbor boys. Always have been, always will be.”

Blowing out a puff of air, I sat down and leaned back against the post of the dock where he and I had been fishing since we were three. “Yeah. Shitty news. The house I’ve been renting for six years just sold, and instead of renting it to locals, they’re putting it up for seasonal rentals on VRBO. This guy is officially homeless this weekend.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

A heavy sigh escaped my mouth before I could shove it back inside. “You and Cassie were in your own little world after she got back from New York last week. I didn’t want to come dumping in on your happy little reunion with my crap.”

“Holy shit, man. That sucks.”

“Yeah. Seriously sucks. I love that house. If I’d have known they were selling, I probably would have tried to buy it. He sold it to his niece or something though. Never even gave me a shot.”

He lifted a dark eyebrow. “You have the money to buy a house in Door County? The prices of real estate here have skyrocketed if you haven’t noticed. Unless you have some secret stash of dough I don’t know about, there’s no way you’d have been able to buy that place.” He chuckled, knowing full well I lived my life in the moment and things like savings accounts and retirement planning were foreign concepts to me.

“True.” I grinned. “You and Cassie want to buy me a house?”

Laughing, he shook his head. “I love you, man, but hell no.”

“Come on,” I teased. “You guys are worth billions. Don’t you think you could spare a couple hundred thou for an old friend? That’s like ten dollars in your world.”

Jake had fallen in love with Cassie before he discovered the size of her bank account. Now my best friend and his heiress had figured out how to blend their vastly different lives together, and they were living the dream up here in Baileys Harbor with Cassie flying back to New York on occasion to run her empire.

“Do you really need money?” he asked, glancing down at me. “Cassie adores you, and I’m sure she’ll lend it to you if you need it.”

“Nah. I’m just kidding. It’s my own damn fault for not prioritizing buying a house when we could still afford to buy one up here. And now finding rentals is near impossible with the vacation rental boom. But I’ll figure it out.”

My friend’s eyes narrowed. “You sure? Cassie still has that little cabin next door that no one stays in. You can always crash there if you need a place for a while.”

Scoffing, I pulled a face. “Dude. I would rather sleep in my truck than spend a night in that deathtrap. How is it even still standing? One strong wind and you’d be digging my corpse out of a pile of rubble.”

Jake laughed and shrugged. “When Cassie’s grandpa kicked her out of the penthouse and shipped her up here to Door County, she survived a whole summer in it before I moved her into my place. Are you saying you’re not as tough as a city girl?”

“I am saying exactly that. She has my respect since she endured living in that dilapidated shack. Massive respect.”

“Well, it’s yours if you need a crash pad.”

“Thanks, man. But I’ll figure something out. I gave up on finding a place in Baileys Harbor, though. Being August in Door County, I’m having a hell of a time finding a place to live. I’m sure I would be having better luck if it were fall and all the summer workers were gone, but I don’t have that kind of time. My search is now extending all over Door County. Something has to pop up sooner or later. Hopefully sooner, since I only have a few days left.”

“I can’t believe you won’t be living down the road anymore.”

“Yeah, but what are you gonna do?”

“Well if you need something, just say the word. Cassie and I are happy to help.”

I tried not to let the frustration creep into my voice. “Yeah, two-week’s notice to find a new place to live isn’t exactly ideal.”

“That’s bullshit, man. Can you fight it?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We never had a lease contract and I pay cash. Didn’t really think that one through.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. But I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

“You’re like a cockroach. You survive everything. Even my wrath.” He arched a brow and lifted a balled-up fist.