Page 124 of What About Us

“Here’s the thing,” I say slowly. “I don’t want to own a bar. I don’t love bartending. Maybe a couple nights a month at the most. I’m good at it, but that doesn’t mean that I love it. I’m a physical therapist. That’s what I enjoy the most. So, I don’t think I want to own it at all. I think I want to sell it.”

Holy shit. In one day, I’ve decided to sell my family business and my house.

“I’m ready to buy it,” Walker replies. “But I understand if you want to list it to see what kind of offers you get. The building was old to begin with, and with the fire damage, it needs to be torn down and hauled away. So, you’d basically be selling a prime lot on Main Street in town.”

I nod and look to Xander. “What do you think?”

“It might be a fresh start to cut ties with something that hurt you, thanks to Brenda.”

Brenda made me hate Lucky’s.

But then Xander surprises me when he turns to Walker and says, “Are you looking for a silent partner?”

Walker’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Are you looking to invest?”

“In a sports bar in my hometown? That sounds sick, yeah. I’d be down for it. So if you need an investor, and if Ivy doesn’t object, we should talk about it.”

I look back and forth between the two handsome men and feel the tension leave my shoulders.

I kind of love the idea of not being tied to the bar anymore, but knowing that it’s still going to be a place where our regulars can go makes me happy.

“Would you be willing to hire Ben?” I ask. “He’s an excellent bartender and a good person.”

“I’m sure we can work that out,” Walker says with a nod. “If he wants the job, that is.”

I look over there again and then turn back to them.

“Let’s look into an appraisal and get this ball rolling.”

Both sides of Walker’s mouth tip up now, and he offers me his hand to shake.

“Thank you,” he says.

“You’re the one that’ll have to tear down that place and start from scratch,” I remind him with a grin. “So thank you.”

Walker leaves soon after, and Xander and I are left at the table, finishing our drinks.

“You really want to be part owner of a new bar?” I ask Xander. He reaches over and takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze.

“I’m always interested in new investment opportunities. Walker’s a good guy, and I think this town needs something like that. So yeah, I would do it. But not if it makes you feel weird.”

“Oh, it doesn’t. Not at all, actually. I’m kind of relieved that I don’t have to make any decisions for it or deal with rebuilding. I can wash my hands of it—and my mother—once and for all. I can pay off the back taxes she owes, and give Ben and the others some pay to help ease the burden of being out of work. If there’s anything left over, I should send it to Brenda.”

Xander shakes his head. “No way, Red. She owes you a lot more than what might be left over after you pay her debts. You kept that place afloat for a long time.”

He’s not wrong. I sigh and decide to wait and see how I feel about it when the time comes.

Xander clears his throat, and I tilt my head to the side.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to come clean about something.”

He looks so guilty.

“Okay.” I squeeze his hand and lean closer. “What’s going on?”