Chapter 34—Jackson

“What is all of this?” Jackson asked when he finally collected himself enough to walk into the shop. The interaction with Andi threw him off, and it made him feel terrible.

He wished, more than anything, that he’d caught up to her, grabbed her, and kissed her. He wished he’d told her not to leave and explained exactly how much she meant to him. Instead, he’d stood there and watched her walk away—not sure if he’d ever get a chance to tell her how he really felt again.

Now he was standing in his coffee shop, feeling like he’d just transported to an alternate universe. A universe where Zack was standing in the kitchen—and where the kitchen was fully stocked.

His eyes scanned the entire space, taking in even more Christmas decorations than he’d seen that morning. He couldn’t see gingerbread, but he could certainly smell it. What had Andi done? Why had she helped him after he wouldn’t even take her calls?

Eric rushed over to greet him, clearly trying to get to Jackson before Zack did.

“Guess who’s back?” Eric said, looking at Jackson with a mix of frustration and disappointment.

“I didn’t tell him to—” Jackson started.

“Yeah, I figured,” Eric said. “Also, it’s good you’re here. The emergency supplies from the basement are pretty well spent, so I need more of everything. It’s been kind of busy this morning.”

“Really?” Jackson asked. “Probably people coming to see if there was a fire,” he said.

“A few,” Eric agreed. “But mostly it was people here to check out all of that.” Eric pointed toward the bakery case that was filled to the brim with items. “And I would like to add that Zack had nothing to do with it. He literally just put that apron on. Andi did all of this. Andi, Tess, Allison, and a bunch of other people. Not him. He had nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure he had something to do with it,” Jackson said.

“What do you mean?” Eric asked.

“Nothing. Never mind.” Jackson shook his head. “Hey, do you mind getting the supplies out of my truck? It’s around back, but I couldn’t get the door to budge.” He threw Eric his keys and the kid gave him a nod before walking to the back of the shop.

“Jackson,” Zack said as he opened up his arms like he was going to hug him. “Bro, we’re back in business. Look who’s back.”

Jackson took a deep breath. He clenched his fist.

“What’s wrong?” Zack asked, lowering his arms when Jackson didn’t go in for the awaited hug.

“What do you think is wrong, Zack?” Jackson asked.

“Beats me. I’m back. I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

“I would have been happy to see you months ago. I would have maybe been happy to see you before someone broke in and set off the fire suppression system. But right now, at a moment that seems highly convenient for you, and highly suspicious to me—I am not happy to see you. In fact, I want your key. And I want you to leave.”

“What do you mean?” Zack stalled. Jackson held out a palm.

“The key,” Jackson said.

“I don’t have it,” Zack said.

“Of course, you don’t. Because you used it last night—and you left it here.”

“What are you even talking about, man? You sound crazy right now.”

Jackson reached into his pocket and handed Zack the key that Adam had found in the alley the night before. The key with a Z etched into the top of it.

“Why did you do it? You destroyed a shop full of stuff. Stuff people had been working on for days. You destroyed supplies. You ruined the night for a lot of people.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Zack said angrily. “But, even if I had, insurance is going to cut you a hefty check, I’m sure.”

And there it was. Of course, this was why Zack was back. Hawaii was expensive, after all. Without a word, and without much thought, Jackson approached his former best friend, grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and drug him toward the shop doors.

“What are you doing?” Zack yelled. “I still own half of this business. You can’t just force me out.” He was trying to cause a scene—to embarrass Jackson. Jackson just kept walking, and just kept dragging Zack along.

“Get out, Zack,” he said. “We’re done. And if you come back, I’m telling the police what you did. They’ll be pretty interested in insurance fraud, I’m sure.” His tone left no room for questions, and for the first time, he had no doubts that he was handling Zack the right way.

Jackson held the door to The Cozy Cup open and waited. Zack stared at him for a moment before finally relenting. “This is really how you want to play this?” he asked Jackson.

“You set it up this way, Zack. I’m just playing the game you started.”

Zack’s shoulders fell, and he moved to leave the shop. Jackson held out a hand to stop him. Zack looked up, hopeful.

“Leave the apron,” Jackson said, looking at the brightly colored fabric Andi had worn so many times in the last week.

Zack wrestled the apron off and over his head and threw it at Jackson. “Merry Christmas,” Jackson called after Zack as he stomped away.

***

Tess emerged from the back of the shop as Jackson walked toward the kitchen. “I think you did the right thing,” she said. “For what it’s worth.”

“It’s worth a lot,” Jackson said with a sigh. “I just wish it was worth enough to save this place.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, scanning his face with a look of concern on her own.

“I’m going to have to sell to Demetri,” Jackson said. “I can’t keep this up anymore.”

“No,” Tess said in a near-whisper. “I thought things were getting better.”

“I don’t think it’s enough,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “I’ve tried everything. I don’t know what else to do.”

“Before you decide anything for sure, can you just come with me?” Tess asked. “I have to show you something.”

He didn’t see how anything was going to change what he’d just said, but he followed her anyway.