“No, I’m just letting you know it’s not great for business.”
“You’re getting grief for doing the job?”
He shrugged. “They don’t pay my bills. I need the work.”
I nodded. “Let me know if you have any trouble.”
I got in the car and drove back to the house. The home gym was at the back of the house, tucked behind the laundry room with a view of the side yard that nobody ever looked at. Dad had put it in during one of the renovations. It wasn’t anything fancy—a rack of dumbbells, a bench, a cable machine, and a treadmill.
Cody was mid-set on the bench when I walked in. He racked the bar and sat up, chest heaving as he reached for the towel.
“Back already?” he said. “That was fast.”
“You need to hear this.”
“What happened?”
I told him what happened. He shook his head and wiped his face.
“Okay,” he said when I finished.
“That’s all you’ve got? Okay?”
“Are you really surprised?”
I opened my mouth and then closed it again.
“Because I’m not,” he said. “I’m genuinely not. You roll into a tight-knit beach town after four years, announce you’re building a cruise port and setting up a commercial headquarters on their main street, and you expected what? A fruit basket?” He tiltedhis head. “Congratulations on the port, we love what you’re doing with the place.”
“I expected the reaction to take longer than forty-eight hours. Or I don’t know, maybe a letter explaining why they don’t want it. Dog shit delivery doesn’t exactly express legit grievances.”
“Small towns rally when they feel threatened.” He picked up a water bottle and unscrewed the cap. “And these people feel threatened, Colt. You have to understand that. This isn’t just noise. We’ve been coming here long enough to know better. Nothing has changed in twenty years. Why do you think that is? They will defend their town.”
“I know it’s not just noise.” I looked out at the side yard. “I’m going for a run.”
Cody looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s after nine. It’s going to be hot.”
“The beach won’t be packed yet.”
“You’re going to look for her,” he said.
“I’m going for a run. I’m not looking for anyone. I need to get rid of the stink clinging to my nose hairs. Ocean air will help.”
“On the exact stretch of beach where Summer Banks surfs every morning.” He set the water bottle down. “That’s a coincidence, right?”
“Maybe.”
“That’s a terrible idea.”
“I’m allowed to go to the beach. I don’t need permission.”
“She’s not going to want to see you,” he said. “You go out there and find her this morning, you’re walking into a wall of anger.” He paused. “A very justified wall.”
“Too fucking bad,” I said.
He stared at me.
“I mean that respectfully,” I added.