Page 36 of On My Side (Quiblings #3)

Audrey

Playlist: Deeper Well | Kacey Musgraves

After an emotional therapy session, I try to focus on work, starting with my inbox.

“Holy shit,” I say, accidentally loud enough that both Hunter and Jo, who has begun to spend as much time loitering in my office as her girlfriend, glance at me.

“With a reaction like that, you have to tell us what garnered it,” Hunter says in a saccharine sweet voice, folding her hands under her chin and leaning on her arms.

“I got invited to a conference in the city?” I answer.

“Are you asking or telling us?” Jo asks, taking a sip from her water bottle.

“Both?

Hunter gets up and comes behind me, leaning on my desk chair as she reads the email I received.

From : Justine Frazier [email protected]

To : Audrey Hinton [email protected]

Subject: Prestige Lodging And Hospitality Conference

Dear Ms. Hinton,

We are pleased to invite you to the annual Prestige Lodging and Hospitality Conference.

Once a year, we invite innkeepers from the east coast to meet with leaders in the hospitality industry, as well as networking with vendors and other folks in the hospitality industry.

We also offer a yearly award with a monetary prize.

We send out representatives to stay at small inns on the east coast, and they nominate their favorites for the award and attendance at our event. We are pleased that the SandPiper Inn was found to be an outstanding experience.

The conference takes place January 13th-15th at the Windsor Tower Hotel in Manhattan. The price is $1,000, and includes access to events, room and board, and three meals per day. Alcohol is not included.

To RSVP, please go to the following website where we will collect your information and fees.

Sincerely,

Justine Frazier Owner of Prestige Lodging and Hospitality

Hunter squeals and slaps my shoulder with excitement! “Oh my god!”

“It’s probably a scam,” I say, trying not to let myself get excited.

“Giovanna!” Hunter yells too loudly at Jo. “Come here!”

Jo obliges and quickly reads over the email. “Hold on, let me text one of my vendors who owns an inn on the Jersey Shore. I know they’ve won a bunch of awards, so if anyone would know if it were legit, it’s them.”

We sit in silence as Jo texts her acquaintance until Hunter hands me her phone. “I googled it and it seems pretty legit. Pretty prestigious, too.”

Looking at the website she pulled up, I have to agree.

It’s professionally designed, with testimonials and pictures from past events.

As I continue to scroll, I notice a page titled, ‘This Year’s Prestige Lodging and Hospitality Award nominees,’ and click on it.

Emotion fills my chest when I see SandPiper Inn on the list. Hunter squeezes my shoulder and I will not cry again.

Deep in my chest, there’s a feeling of sadness along with everything. The first person I want to tell has asked for space away from me.

“Sage sent back a bunch of exclamation points, which is a promising response, I think,” Jo says. “Oh, yes. Apparently it’s like the award to win, and there’s a $15,000 prize. Only past and present nominees are invited so it’s super exclusive and it’s their life’s dream to go.”

“Wow,” I breathe. “That’s…”

“Incredible!” Hunter squeals, clapping, as she bounces on her toes. “Audrey, this is amazing ! We have to celebrate! Can we shout you out at the launch tonight? Can we pregame or get day-drunk?”

I laugh. Jo and Hunter are throwing the launch party for their event planning firm, Lillian Theresa, tonight at the inn. I’ve been invited as a guest, which is cool, but I know I’ll be on boss lady mode to support my staff if needed. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I don’t think I can go.”

“Why not ?” Jo asks incredulously.

“Because I don’t have the money. If I did, I’d give raises to my staff, not use it on something silly like this.”

“But this could be an incredible networking opportunity,” Hunter says. “You’ll meet so many people, and will be forever known as a nominee. Hell, I bet just being nominated will increase reservations.”

I chew on my lower lip. “It feels selfish.”

“It’s not,” Jo says. “It’s you investing in a business you revitalized and work hard to maintain and love . It’s a big chunk of change, but I’m learning you have to spend big on the important things to earn big.”

“Is that why y’all are lowkey squatting at my inn?” I tease.

“It’s important as business owners to know what ’s worth investing in.” Hunter sounds like a white dude with a podcast, or maybe herself if she was involved with an MLM.

“It’s too much,” I argue.

Hunter and Jo are both silent for a moment, and I can see them having a conversation with their eyes in the monitor’s reflection.

Finally, Hunter speaks. “Forward me the email, I’m paying for it.”

I whip my head around so fast my neck hurts. Being in your thirties is rough . “The hell you are!”

“Yes, the hell we are. You charge us a way discounted price for rent,” Jo says, shrugging her shoulders.

“We’d pay way more than this a month anywhere else in town, and now we’re making money, we can actually afford to.

Consider this backpay for the past few months while we got on our feet.

It’s our turn to support you. Deal with it. ”

“You can’t,” I argue.

“We will,” Hunter counters.

“No,” I say firmly. “No, I can’t take any more handouts. I’ve always done this on my own and that isn’t changing. Sometimes I have to make cuts or choices that suck because I don’t have the funds, and maybe this is one of them. It’s life. It’s…”

“How’s that hyper-independence thing working for you?” Jo asks, tilting her head to the side.

I scowl at her. “Don’t try to psychoanalyze me. I already went to therapy today.”

“Is it because of how everyone treated you when you got pregnant?” Jo continues. “It makes a lot of sense if it is. People screwed you the hell over, and trauma is a bitch.”

I inhale shakily, thinking about the fantasy Eva made me imagine for my future.

All the things I want, but have never dared to try for.

“Piper wants to go to a summer program at Juilliard, and I’m not sure of what the scholarship situation is like, but tuition is…

expensive.” My stomach turns as I remember the website Piper texted me the other day.

“You don’t have to choose between you and your daughter,” Hunter says gently.

“Hell, you shouldn’t . I remember everything my momma said about every wrinkle on her face, and I’m still unlearning what she said about herself.

Don’t you want Piper seeing her mom going to a conference that will further the career that means a lot to her? So she knows it’s okay to do the same?”

“Of course I want her to know it’s okay to put herself first,” I reply. “I’m just… still learning how to do that myself.”

“Life is nothing if not learning and growing. And if it isn’t a little uncomfy, are you growing?” Damn, Podcast Bro Hunter has a point.

“Okay.” I slowly spin my chair to face Jo and Hunter. “Okay,” I repeat.

“Okay?” Hunter prompts.

“Okay, you can pay. But I want to pay you back when…”

“If you try to do that I’m giving the money to Piper for her to use for Juilliard,” Jo says in a voice that makes it crystal clear she’s dead serious.

“No, that’s…”

“You invested in our business, Audrey,” Hunter interrupts. “Why the fuck wouldn’t we want to invest in yours? You created something beautiful with the SandPiper Inn. It’s time for you to give yourself the same TLC you’ve given your business and your daughter.”

I blink back tears. “I don’t… I don’t like owing people.”

“You don’t,” Jo says simply. “I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract if you want.”

I laugh and lift my glasses to wipe at my eyes. I did the absolute bare minimum before coming to the office this morning, and the bare minimum did not include putting in contacts. “I… thank you.”

“Can I give you a hug?” Hunter asks, spreading her arms out.

I get to my feet and embrace her. Goddamn, she’s shorter than Piper.

“This is amazing,” she says, voice muffled by my cleavage. “I’m at perfect motorboating height.”

“Oh my god,” Jo groans, rolling her eyes affectionately. I giggle. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I don’t have zero friends.

I arrive for the launch party early, going into the event space and making sure everything is being set up correctly. Hunter and Jo are providing various pride flag pins for openly queer attendees, so I pin a bi flag onto my lapel.

Slowly, guests start filling the room, and of course, Ren is one of the first to arrive.

Fuck .

This man is gorgeous in every situation I’ve ever seen him in, but him wearing a suit has me weak in the knees.

He meets my eyes, then quickly looks away and my heart sinks. I think about everything he told me, about everything I talked about with Hunter and Jo.

I have no idea what to do.