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“Thank you,” I say, humbled by the baby succulent. “I just love it.”
Enzo is first to speak. “Livvy. We’ve got some cool ideas to run past you.”
I look from one of the guys to the next. “You haven’t let me down yet. Let’s hear it.”
Enzo is practically vibrating. “I’m going to create a pet menu. Food for dogs whose owners are dining with us.”
Damn him. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Okay, that rocks but you can’t have animals in the restaurant.”
Owen taps the side of his head like he’s some sort of genius. “You are correct, pretty girl. However, given the disgrace of our council member Bartlett, he’s looking for a way to redeem himself. He can help us get a special variance.”
“Are you kidding?” I ask, blown away.
“And that’s not all,” he adds. “Imagine this… ‘Pawtio dining,’ an EastSide exclusive. Sunday doggy brunch. Pet adoption weekends. The dog food branding will be a collaboration between the restaurant and Pawsh. We’ll each provide the other credibility and goodwill. You can carry the dog food here in Pawsh too. It’s almost a merging of our businesses. We’ll provide a one-of-a-kind, pet friendly dining experience.”
For a moment, I see what my life with these guys could be like—and endless parade of fun and collaboration, trying new ideas, and never letting things get stale.
As Enzo continues, with Weston adding the financial angle, and Owen offering his PR thoughts, I’m stuck by a lightning bolt of exhilaration. Enzo’s crazy quilt of a business proposition makes perfect sense, hitting me like a dream that promises to take both our businesses to the next level.
I shake my head. “I love it. When do we start?”
The guys laugh. “I need some time to develop dog food. That is not something they teach at the culinary academy.”
Oh. Right. Hadn’t thought of that. “I’m sure I can put you in touch with some of my distributors. They’ll probably be very interested in what you’re doing.”
“Holy shit,” Enzo says, high-fiving his friends.
“But you know, we do have some details to iron out,” I say.
The guys nod like it’s a foregone conclusion, and that they’ll worry about it another day.
Not so fast.
“I want to lay down my terms. They’re important to me.”
They straighten up when they realize how serious I am.
“Of course, baby. Tell us what you’re thinking,” Owen says, grabbing me and planting a juicy kiss on my cheek.
“Okay. First, my brand needs to be as visible as yours. I want a say in what goes into the dog food. And any employees I have will be part of this too.”
The guys nod and I realize they are not just agreeing with me but they also respect me. They’re not just paying me lip service, telling me what I want to hear so they can get back to work, but they really want my input. They plan to incorporate my interests, and that makes me feel validated.
“There’s one other thing, Livvy,” Weston says.
“What’s that?”
“I want you to let me help with your debt. I have the money and I can’t think of a better place to invest it,” he says.
A lump starts to build in my throat but this is not the time to cry, so I run to the back of the shop and retrieve the cheap bottle of champagne Jewel left behind. We each take a paper cup of it. It’s so nasty we can’t tolerate more than a ceremonial sip.
“To new beginnings,” I say, looking at each of their faces.
There’s Enzo, wearing his emotions on his sleeve, Owen with his irresistible charm, and Weston with his uncanny ability to make sense out of chaos. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited about what comes next. And I’m not just talking about my business but my relationship with these three beautiful men. There’s so much that’s yet to be determined, but the one thing I’m sure of is how much I care for these guys. More than I ever thought possible.
I’m on the cusp of something big. I know it. Where it will lead, well, that remains to be seen. But what is certain is that I’m no longer a bystander in life. I’m an active participant who can make shit happen.
