Page 183 of At First Catch

Still here.

Hadley

Everything okay?

I stare at the question too long.

No.

Nothing feels okay.

The marina is vulnerable.

The numbers are worse than I admitted.

These investors want pieces of the place I’m terrified of losing, and somewhere across town, the woman I love is probably worrying because I still haven’t figured out how to let her stand beside me without feeling like I’m handing her weight she never asked to carry.

My thumb trembles just above the keys, a cold sweat beading on my brow.

Me

Sorry.

Immediate regret.

Hadley deserves an answer.

Before I can fix it, Richard says my name.

I lock the phone and look up.

“We need to know whether you’re seriously considering partnership,” he says. “You’ve built something remarkable, Mr. Pierce. The question is whether you’re willing—or able—to finance the next phase on your own.”

Partnership. Except nothing about this feels like partnership. It feels like surrender dressed in better shoes.

My phone buzzes again. I don’t look this time. And that feels like failing her in real time.

Richard leans forward, lowering his voice.

“Nolan, passion got you this far, but it won’t stabilize infrastructure. It won’t offset insurance delays. It won’t protect you from storm exposure.”

Fear crawls cold up my spine.

Everything I rebuilt could disappear. Everything I promised this town could disappear.

I swallow against the tightness in my throat.

“I’m not agreeing to anything tonight.”

Richard leans back.

“You misunderstand me, Nolan. I’m not worried about whether you agree tonight.”

Something about his tone makes me still.

“I’m worried about what happens six months from now when another storm hits, insurance stalls, and your operating reserve perishes.”

His gaze moves briefly toward the rain-streaked windows.