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“Better. And stop fidgeting.”
He pulled his hands apart, laid them on his legs, and looked me in the eye.
“Perfect,” I said. “What’s up?”
“It’s about that Kitchi Falls Pride Week we talked about.”
“What about it?”
I’d tasked Zach to work with local community members to come up with an event that could pull in our resort, the closest of all the Lakeside Properties to downtown Kitchi Falls, and the business owners on Main Street. He’d pointed out that the town had no Pride Day activities or anything similar and asked if that could be the focus. I thought it was a great idea and had given him the green light last week.
“I’m meeting a bit of. . . resistance.”
“From?”
“Some of the business owners.”
Since “fuck them” wasn’t a very professional response, I went with, “Then focus on the ones that will work with you.” Proudly, I did not add that the others could get their heads out of their asses or be left behind. It was my most difficult job as a manager. Not leading, per se. But doing so and keeping it professional at all times.
Or most times.
“I honestly didn’t think it would be such an issue.”
“Zach?”
“Yes, Zoe?”
At least he’d finally stopped calling me Miss Harrison.
“You’re from Kitchi Falls, correct?”
“I am.”
“And you had no idea some people would prove. . . difficult on this?” I’d only lived here a year and knew the small-mindedness that sometimes went hand in hand with these kinds of towns was alive and well in Kitchi Falls. Hell, even Lucas had tangled with the locals when he opened his tattoo parlor, as if tattoos were the devil’s work.
“I mean, I personally had some trouble growing up. But it was different in college. And. . .”
“And you thought Kitchi Falls had caught up with the times.”
“Yeah.”
“Not everyone understands the power of living in a state of wonder at the diversity of humanity. But that’s part of the beauty of an event like the one you proposed, right? We want to be a part of that, and I’m sure a lot of other businesses do too. Focus on them and. . .” Ahh, screw it. “Fuck the rest of them.”
His eyes widened. Poor thing. He was only a few years younger than me but still so wet behind the ears. “You’re right.”
I resisted the urge to say I know. “Why don’t you ask someone on Main to co-chair the event?”
“Like Mazzie from Boots and Brews, maybe? She’s been a huge help.”
“Great choice. Tell her it won’t be a lot of extra work, but you just need a name that can represent the interests of our business-owner partners.”
He beamed. “I’ll set up a meeting with her now.”
“Great.”
Zach stood. “Thanks so much.”
“Anytime,” I said sincerely.
