The Buy-In (Graham Brothers #1)(35)

Collin has his hands on his hips. “You think people will drive all the way out here from Austin for this? There are literally dozens of places in town they could go instead.”

“Maybe if there were some other draw,” Chase says hesitantly. “If there were something else here in town. Anything at all.”

We all stare off past James’s truck to the still deserted downtown. A stray cat slinking across the street is the only movement. Make that half a dozen stray cats. A few more, and I’ll have to wonder if they’re planning a coup.

I snap my fingers, because that’s what you do when you have a sudden bolt of genius. “The Sheet Cake Festival!” I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. “It’s a huge event. Even the foodie magazines and blogs cover it. We have until then to get this place—this town—in a position to be a destination town.”

“You really think this could be that?”

It’s the first time James has spoken in minutes. His voice isn’t what I’d call warm by any stretch. But there’s no hostility. A small win. Hope rises like an air bubble in my chest, pressing against my sternum.

“The Sheet Cake Festival is massive. Thousands of people descend on this place. They’ll come for the festival and see what the town has changed into. Shops, restaurants, Dark Horse Brewery. They stay for the town, or they make plans to come back. Above the stores downtown we’ll build lofts. See the balconies? Historic, but with a modern aesthetic inside. Walking distance to the brewery.”

“You’re thinking we’d all move here to run things?” James asks. “We’d all leave Austin?”

“It’s just a hop and a skip up the road,” I say.

“I’m out,” Collin says. “I’ve got the gym to run, and I need to be there. But you know I’ll support Dark Horse, even if that’s only financially. Here, there, wherever you think is best.”

Chase doesn’t say anything. He and Harper haven’t even been married a year and just finished the renovation on their house. I don’t see them moving anytime soon.

“And you’re really all-in on this?” James asks, a tone of challenge in his voice.

I slide my hands into my pockets, rocking back on my heels. “Tank and I started demo on two lofts already.”

This statement is followed by a stark silence. I don’t mention I’m also paying the crew to expedite.

James gapes. “Even without all of us on board, you’re moving forward with this? Like it’s a done deal?”

“Tank already bought the town, remember? Dark Horse would be an anchor, but we can’t make that choice for you,” I say. “Might as well start work on what we have. I’m giving it a chance.”

“What happens when you change your mind about this, like you do everything else?” James demands.

Before, this might have hurt. But now, I just add this as fuel for my determination. Everyone loves a good underdog story, right? This will be the one about the guy who jumps from thing to thing finally settling down and committing to something—to someone—in his life.

“I won’t. Not this time.”

“I’ve heard that before,” James says.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Chase says lightly.

“I think you’re being a little harsh,” Collin says, giving James a look. “It took us both some time to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives.”

“I know what I want,” I insist, meeting and holding James’s gaze. “This is it. She is it.”

Making a sound of disgust, James walks away, a shadowy figure in the dim light from the moon. I tell myself he can still change his mind. Tank and I could work on revitalizing the town with or without Dark Horse. But being here with Collin and James makes me long for all of it—the whole big plan. I want Tank’s vision and also the woman and the happily ever after.

“When’s the big festival?” Collin asks. “How long would we have to pull this off? Assuming we get Mr. Broody on board.”

The we in his question has me internally cheering. “It’s in January.”

“Okay.” He nods, then follows behind James, heading back to the truck without saying anything more. My stomach drops, and the cheering turns to booing.

Chase claps a hand over my shoulder. “Hey, man. I can see it. I really can. But the timeline is really tight. Even the renovations might take longer than that. And you’d need a bunch of businesses willing to start here. To take the risk to move all the way out here on what’s essentially a hope and a prayer.”

Chase was supposed to be my easy sell. And if he’s not on board …

I hear the truck door slam, and the engine rumbles to life. Without speaking, Chase and I head over. The air inside the cab is tense, and no one speaks as James starts back toward town.

As we’re about to turn, three muddy pickups tear through the center of town almost t-boning us. James slams on the brakes and curses under his breath. My heart is thudding out an unsteady rhythm as I grip Collin’s seat in front of me.

A few shouts ring out and the last truck honks its horn. Someone tosses a beer can out the window.

“Good reflexes, man,” Chase says, and his voice is strained.

James shakes his head, and I don’t like the glint in his eyes when they meet mine in the rearview mirror.