Page 5 of Coyote

“You do. Trust me on this.” Something about the inflection of her voice and way she was looking at me intently like this was the most critical decision I would ever make about my new business, put me on high alert.

“There’s a company nearby that specializes in grand openings. They’re called Effortless Events and they’re based in Patterdale.”

I opened my mouth to object, but she cut me off. “I came across this flyer and looked them up. They’ve successfully helped to launch several local businesses. They even do weddings.”

I was bewildered as to why she was trying to micromanage every detail of my business. “Look, are you trying to turn my new business into some kind of partnership? If so, I’d be up for something like that.”

Her mouth dropped open and she was shaking her head before I even finished the sentence. “Oh no, I don’t want to actually work in your business. I want to develop a portfolio of my design work to drum up commercial interior design work.”

“What about trying to get me to launch a grand opening?” I asked suspiciously.

“Oh, about that,” she said lightly. “I did a little research and discovered that companies that do a hard launch earn about twenty-five percent more during their first year of operation. You’re going into business to make money, right?”

I nodded, warming up to her idea.

“You can save fifty percent off your first order of five hundred dollars or more if you sign up for a business account. It’s a good idea and it might earn you thousands off for each dollar you spend.”

Rubbing my chin, I somehow doubted that, but a grand opening was sounding better and better. While I was thinking it over, Callie opened her book back up, and started flipping through it. “I found the perfect chairs on sale at one of the discount warehouse clubs.”

She held up the open notebook, displaying some dark blue chairs. They look like normal chairs to me, nothing special about them at all. When I didn’t respond, she made a disgruntled sound in the back of her throat.

“They’re dark blue with black legs.” Slamming the book down on her lap, she grumbled, “You’re absolutely clueless.”

I scrambled to make this right because she’s my sister and I care about her. “Look, sis. I can be a clueless dumbass when it comes to grand openings and office furniture, but I never intended to hurt your feelings. I love that you’re smarter about these things than me. I’ll help you build the perfect project portfolio, and you can help me make a nice office. How about that?”

Her expression slowly went from frustrated to relaxed. Then there was just a hint of cunning. “I’ll take it, as long as you promise to use the fifty percent off flyer for a grand opening.” As if adding an afterthought, she said, “Remember, it’s only good for Monday through Friday during regular business hours.”

“Alright, I promise.”

I didn’t know if I’d actually go there but I probably would, just because it seemed important to her and was a good deal for me.

I glanced over to find her staring at me. Before I could ask what was swirling around in that brain of hers, she asked, “Have you been seeing anyone serious lately?”

My hand gripped the steering wheel. “What the hell, Callie. Why are you suddenly crawling around in my personal life?”

“Stop avoiding the question and answer it,” she shot back firmly.

“It’s none of your fucking business. Don’t bring it up again.”

“You’re still hung up on Bethany Marks, aren’t you?”

I cursed under my breath. “Leave it alone, for God’s sake.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Callie. You know all about what happened. You were there. She fucking walked out on me and ghosted me. I never found out what I did to piss her off. There’s no closure, just a big fucking gaping wound where my heart used to be.”

“What if you had a do over?”

I pulled into the parking lot of the building supply store and turned off the ignition. “What’s this about, sis?”

“It’s about you going for years with no woman at your side because you can’t get over the one who broke you.”

I rested both my wrists on the steering wheel. I could see the keys in my right hand trembling because I was so angry.

“Look, bro. You refuse to talk to a therapist, refuse to start dating again and you refuse to talk about it. Keeping all that hurt and anger trapped inside isn’t healthy.”

“I’m not going to jump into relationships with women I don’t even like, just to set your mind at ease.”