Deceived: Devon Brothers, #2, page 12
“What the hell was he doing in Belize?” Cade asked.
“DJ stuff as far as I know. It’s something he enjoys and from what he says, he gets paid rather well too so the trips don’t cost him a ton of money.”
“I’m sure he’s paying out of pocket for the 5 star hotels while he’s there if I know him at all,” Cade chuckled snidely but Sawyer shook his head.
“You’d be surprised. When I spoke to him he said his gig had given him one of those stilt huts out on the water. He sounded like he was having the time of his life.”
“Good for him,” Kit said, then smirked when Cade frowned at that. “Come on, you know he was having a rough time after your dad died. This is his way of coping. At least he’s working.”
“True, that’s something,” Cade said with a nod. “Still, some kind of rough life he has, partying and carrying on like he does. I really wish he’d settle down.”
“You know that will never happen,” Sawyer said as he cleaned off his plate. “He’s not a settle down kind of guy. He’s a gypsy, he always has been. Let him enjoy it while he can.”
“Nothing I can do but let him enjoy it. As long as he doesn’t come crawling back begging for money, I’m good.”
Sawyer grimaced and furrowed his brows at that. This day was too magical and too special to start any fights with Cade, so he turned to Avalynn and bumped his shoulder against hers.
“If you’re finished, I could take your plate so you and Kit can run off and do your girl stuff,” he said.
“What about dessert?” Cade asked with a frown.
“We can have dessert in a bit. Let me go chat with her about what I want to do, and we’ll come back down in a few,” Kit said as she stood and gave Cade a quick kiss.
“Please promise me you won’t take hours,” he smirked.
“Promise,” she said and gestured to Avalynn. “Come on, let me show you.”
Avalynn got up from the bench, and before she could rush off, Sawyer caught her hand and pulled her back for a quick kiss of his own before he tapped her on the ass and sent her on her way. Once they were heard heading upstairs, Cade glared at him from across the table.
“What the hell?” he asked.
“What?” Sawyer asked.
“Since when have you two been a thing? What happened to Micheline?”
“Micheline has done me the great courtesy of publicly humiliating me and breaking it off with me while we were at the inner city benefit,” he said with a big grin.
“And her? When did that happen?”
“Um...well, I mean, I’ve known her forever. We’ve always chatted and been friends, but this morning, she took it a step further. I had nothing to do with it. I swear I didn’t instigate it.”
“Right.”
“I didn’t. I had no intention of moving her out of the friend zone. I didn’t even think she liked me at all. Last time we spoke, we had an argument.”
“So now you’re dating?” Cade asked, incensed.
Sawyer hesitated and then shrugged.
“It all happened so fast, I was blindsided, really. I’m just going to enjoy it while it’s in play.”
Cade shook his head slowly and gave him a dubious look.
“You’re playing with her.”
“I’m not.”
“You know how special she is and how rough her past was. Why toy with her heart now? Can’t you just leave it?”
“Why?” Sawyer asked. “Like I said, she started it. I’m just going along with it.”
“You know it won’t work.”
“It’s not like I’m going to propose to her tomorrow. We’re just enjoying each other's company.”
“And you know she’s going to fall right into it with you. She’s a very loving sort of soul. You can see it in her.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Sawyer asked.
“She doesn’t belong with you. As much as I despised Micheline, at least she was on your level and knew how to navigate that circle. Ava will be eaten up by your friends. You know she will, and it will destroy her.”
“Give her some credit, why don’t you. She’s stronger than you think.”
Cade shook his head.
“I just don’t like it. I don’t want to see her hurt because you’re being selfish.”
“Me? Why do you think I’m being selfish?”
“You can sleep with anyone, I’m sure you have a list of women just frothing at the mouth to jump into your bed. Why not rebound with one of them?”
Sawyer glared at his brother. He didn’t realize Cade thought he was such a heartless dog.
“I’m not a rebound kind of guy. Besides, Micheline and I weren’t serious anyway, so there’s really nothing to rebound from. With Avalynn, it all happened so naturally. I had nothing to do with it. Like I said, the ball was always in her court, and that’s where it will remain.”
“And if she wants you to be serious?” Cade asked. “If she falls in love with you?”
Sawyer chuckled at that, but it did trigger a tinge of trepidation at the thought.
“I guess we’ll deal with that when we get to that point. I mean, it’s been like six hours. Not like we’re going to rush headlong on day one.”
“I certainly hope not,” Cade grumbled.
Sawyer heaved his own grumble and stood, gathering up dirty plates and walking them to the sink. As he rinsed them and dropped them into the shiny new dishwasher, he couldn’t help but think... what if she did fall? Would that be so bad? He’d never been in love, not really, so it’s not like he was the best person to judge. He’d just have to see how he felt if and when it did happen. Hopefully, it won't be too soon.
“I’m stepping outside to call Parker. I’ll be back in a minute,” he shouted over his shoulder as he headed out the back door.
“Don’t take too long. We still have dessert to eat,” Cade shouted back.
Chapter Thirteen
“Oh, it’s pretty easy,” Parker offered as chewed through a mouthful of hot fries, waving his hand in front of his mouth. After he composed himself and took a sip of his soda, he gave her an apologetic smile. “All you have to do is be personable... be yourself. They’ll love you.”
Avalynn gave him and then Sawyer a dubious smirk.
“I’ve never been on camera, I don’t have a single idea how to go about being personable on a video.”
“You’re overthinking it. Just pretend you’re talking to a friend... or him,” Parker said, gesturing to his brother. “In fact, the first few times you film, have him there so you can just act like you’re talking to him directly. Followers eat that shit up.”
Avalynn gave Sawyer another smirk.
“He’s right,” Sawyer said, trying to soothe her. “Don’t think about the filming. Just act like you're showing me... or Kit how to do this stuff. Kit said you’re a natural and that your eagerness about the topic is infectious. That’s all you need to know. And don’t worry, we’ll all help.”
“Trust me, we won’t let you fail at this. You’ll do the work, but we’ll make sure it’s clean before it goes out,” Sawyer said as he held up his burger and took a huge bite.
“How? You’re not staying, are you?” Avalynn asked him, desperate for his help.
Parker grinned as he chewed, then wiped his mouth.
“Only for a few days, but you can always text me for advice,” he said, then pausing to think, pulled out his phone and held up a finger. His thumbs moved swiftly over the screen as he typed and then set his phone aside. “I have a friend in the business who would be a great mentor for you. I just texted her to see if she’s free to help out.”
Just then, there was an audible ping on his phone, and he smiled as he read her response, picked up the phone, and began typing rapidly again.
“She said she’d be happy to help out, can I give her your number, so she knows who you are when you text?” Parker asked.
Shocked, Avalynn raised her brows at that and nodded blankly.
“Who is this person?” she asked.
“Amanda Rudnick,” he said as he continued to type.
“Amanda... Rudnick?” she asked, pushing back from the table. “Seriously?”
Parker grinned and gave her a nod.
“Who’s Amanda Rudnick?” Sawyer asked.
“She’s like a mega influencer and has thousands of followers. She does mostly beauty and fashion, but she has touched on organization on occasion. Oh my God, seriously?” Avalynn choked out. How was it possible that Amanda Rudnick had agreed to help her, a little old nobody with zero vlog experience?
Parker set his phone aside and smiled broadly.
“Amanda is an old friend of mine on the circuit. We’ve done a few gigs together over the years, so we always owe each other favors when we need them, no biggie.”
“No biggie? Are you kidding? This is a huge biggie. She’s going to think I’m such a moron. I barely know how to use my phone camera, let alone the gear Sawyer lent me. Oh my God....” Avalynn moaned as she cradled her face in her palms.
“That’s the whole point. She knows you need help, and you’re a family friend. That’s all she needed to hear. Why would she need to help you if you knew what you were doing?” Parker asked.
“Ava, relax,” Sawyer assured her as he threw an arm over her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “You’re going to be awesome. And like Sawyer said, we’re not going to let you fail, we’ll all be around to help where we can.”
Convincing as he was, she wasn’t really convinced. Anxious dread was making her chest tight, especially now that Amanda Rudnick was in the mix. That’s all she needed was to look like a fool in front of one of the biggest influencers on the internet. One bad comment from one of her followers and she was screwed.
“Just trust the process. You’ll get through it,” Parker added with a genuine smile.
“I hope you’re right,” she said, letting out a breath. “From where I’m sitting, I don’t feel too sure of myself.”
“That’s because this is all new. Soon enough, it’ll be old news, and you’ll be a pro,” Sawyer said, kissing the top of her head.
“Yeah, don’t sweat it. Even I sucked when I first started. You’ll get the hang of it in no time,” Parker offered.
Avalynn gave him a nod of thanks, but she couldn’t help but notice how tired he seemed behind the sparkle of his hazel eyes. Was this what she was up against? Sawyer had told her how Parker was constantly traveling, meeting new people, and starting new ventures. Was that what this would turn into? Not in a million years did she think she’d become a celebrity or some kind of revered influencer to be hounded by fans and be inundated with interview requests. She just wanted to make some extra money and do something fun. Hopefully, that’s all this was. In the pit of her stomach, she felt like she was biting off more than she could ever chew.
“Hey Isaac,” Sawyer said, and Avalynn turned to see her boss and the chef of the establishment heading toward their table.
“I’m sorry, I should be working,” she offered and jumped from the booth, but Isaac halted her with a hand to her arm.
“It’s OK, sit. We’ve been busy all day, and we’re about to close,” he said then his gaze went to his feet.
Furrowing her brows, she looked to Sawyer, who looked equally as confused.
“Everything ok there, chief?” Parker asked, and Isaac looked at him and then at Avalynn.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he started, then licked his dry lips before he sighed heavily. “I have to close the restaurant.”
“What?” Avalynn asked reflexively, as did the brothers.
Isaac nodded, then pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat.
“The bank has called the loan, and my investor has pulled out. He doesn’t feel it’s worth it anymore, and I can’t say I blame him. Business never truly recovered after the pandemic.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Avalynn said. “Surely they can give you more time?”
Isaac shook his head.
“No, they can’t. I’m so far behind on the mortgage there’s no way for me to get out of it without that investor.”
“How much do you need?” Sawyer asked, and Avalynn knew exactly where his thought was headed. It was just like him to step in where money was involved. But Isaac held up a hand and shook his head again.
“It’s too much, and as much as I hate to say it, we need to let the place go. There’s too much upkeep, too much that needs to be updated, and the business just isn’t what it was. It’s not feasible in the long run. Trust me, I’ve gone over the numbers a hundred times. The place is hemorrhaging money, and there’s no way to stop it. The demographics of this area have changed far too much. People want fast food and delivery now, not a sit-down family dinner.”
Avalynn inhaled at all that and sat back, stunned, feeling tears surging in her eyes. She felt Sawyer’s fingers lace with hers and squeeze. He was quick to show his support, but there was really nothing for it now. As much as she hated to admit it, she’d felt this coming for months.
“What will you do now?” Avalynn asked Isaac, and he smirked and gave her a shrug.
“I don’t know. I have a ton of experience but no training. A fancy restaurant, at least in these parts, expects a well-rounded resume and a culinary education. I don’t have any of that.”
“Surely your years of managing this place are enough,” she offered, but she knew this area well enough to know he spoke the truth. “Maybe you can find a job closer to home at an Amish establishment?”
“Nah,” he said with a sigh. “Most of those places are family-run, and they wouldn’t want a shunned member under their roof no matter how good I can cook.”
The group of them were silent for a long moment, too shocked to know what to say.
“What will you do?” Isaac asked Avalynn. “This place has been your home for so long, I feel like I’m abandoning you.”
Avalynn gave him a soft smile and set a hand on his knee.
“I’ll be fine. Waitresses are a dime a dozen.”
“She’s about to become a famous influencer. She’ll be fine,” Parker said, lifting his milkshake in a toast before he sipped.
“What’s this?” Isaac asked.
“They’re crazy,” Avalynn said with a nervous laugh. “It’s just something I’m trying out. We don’t even know if I’m any good yet.”
“You’ll be wonderful!” Isaac praised her. “You are so quick and eager with everything you do. I know you will be great no matter what you try.”
“Thanks. They seem to think so as well, but time will tell, I suppose,” she said then her smile faded. “So when’s the last day?”
Isaac held out his hands.
“This is it. The bank wants me out by the end of the weekend, so I only have a couple of days to sell off what I can of the equipment before I have to hand in my keys.”
“Seriously? No farewell dinners?” Sawyer asked.
“I’m afraid not. I’ll post a notice on the door when I leave tonight, and that’s it. Out with a fizzle,” he said with a grimace. “I’ll get your check to you in a few days if that’s ok.”
“No, no, that’s fine. Do what you need to do. Do you need any help here... closing up or cleaning?”
Isaac shook his head as he stood.
“What’s the point of cleaning? After I take what I can and leave, I guarantee they’ll tear the place down.”
That thought finally forced the tears from her eyes, and she fumbled to wipe them with her sleeve.
“Why would they tear it down?” Parker asked. “Isn’t this a landmark?”
“A landmark, yes, but they don’t consider it to be historically important. Even as a vintage meeting house. It has no significance to the Quakers any longer, and let’s face it, there are hundreds of meeting houses in the area. Losing one is hardly a crime.”
“Well, I think it is. This place has its own history. The locals love it and depend on it,” Avalynn said with a sniff as she grabbed a napkin to blot her face.
“Well, really, only like six locals depend on it. And those numbers are aging and dwindling. It's not enough to sustain this place. I know that, and I think you do too. I’ve known it for years. As soon as the bypass went in and diverted all the traffic to the areas with the malls and fast food places, our business began to suffer. It’s only gotten worse over time.”
“Yeah, this area has definitely changed a ton since I was a kid,” Parker said with a frown.
“And that wasn’t too long ago,” Isaac added. “And now that we have all these delivery services and the threat of viruses and violence everywhere. It’s no wonder people don’t want to leave their homes. The era of family meals is just a thing of the past. It’s sad but very true.”
Sawyer nodded.
“It is a shame. This place is so deeply ingrained in me, in my past. I will definitely long for it once it's gone.”
“I think we all will,” Parker said. “It’s going to suck to not get one of your burgers anymore.”
Isaac chuckled at that.
“Well, I’ll eventually cook somewhere, who knows where, but I’ll let you know.”
“Wait...” Sawyer said. “Hold on a minute.”
“What?” Avalynn asked. Again she knew Sawyer’s wheels were turning. Did he have a place in mind for Isaac after all? She watched as he typed away at his phone, and then he asked to be excused from the table, and she watched as he took a seat across the room as he chatted on the phone.
“He’s got connections everywhere,” Parker said, amused. “I guarantee you’ll have a new job by the time we leave.”
“That would be wonderful. Maybe he could help you find one as well,” Isaac said to Avalynn.
“He’s already helping me with the online stuff. No, I’ll find a job on my own. At one of those fast food places, I guess.”
“I hope not. Those places are awful. You should find a nice restaurant that will appreciate your experience.”
The thought of going to a new place filled her with dread. She’d worked at the Meeting House for nearly twelve years. It was all she knew. She was a fixture there, but like the rest of it, she was about to be tossed out to the curb. It was a horrible feeling.
