Chapter 78: The New Normal
March 2010. Two months post-Penny.
The Burbank shop's register is ringing constantly. Jake's at the counter, Marcus is restocking the new releases wall. I'm in the back office reviewing numbers.
Revenue's up forty percent since December.
Wil's podcast promotion worked. Every episode he mentions the shops, we get a flood of new customers. Industry people making pilgrimages. Fans wanting to see "the place Wil recommends."
My phone buzzes. Text from Wil himself.
Wil: Have you seen the numbers? We're printing money.
Me: Your 12% is very happy.
Wil: My 12% wants to discuss expansion timeline. Coffee Thursday?
Me: Works for me.
I close the spreadsheet. Walk out to the floor.
The shop's packed. Twenty people browsing. Three at the register. The reading area's full.
This is what I built.
Not just a store. A community.
Jake catches my eye. Grins. "Good problem to have, right?"
"Best problem."
My phone again. Leonard.
Leonard: Game night. Your place. We're doing the tournament Sheldon's been demanding.
Me: Mario Kart?
Leonard: Obviously.
Me: I'll order pizza.
Leonard: Already handled. Bernadette's bringing her homemade cookies too.
Me: She bakes now?
Leonard: Howard's influence. It's terrifying and delicious.
Thursday. Coffee with Wil at the same place we first discussed partnership six months ago.
He's got spreadsheets printed out. Actual paper.
"San Diego," he announces. "That's shop three."
"I was thinking that."
"Comic-Con city. Huge geek population. Tourist traffic. Perfect location."
"I've been scouting spaces online."
"I want to add another hundred K. Bring my stake to 15%."
I do the math quickly. "That values us at a million."
"Conservative estimate. We're worth more."
"You really believe that?"
"Stuart." He leans forward. "I've been in this industry thirty years. I know a good thing. This is a good thing."
We spend an hour planning. Lease options. Buildout costs. Timeline.
"Summer opening," I decide. "July. Right before Comic-Con."
"Brilliant timing."
"You'll promote?"
"Every podcast episode until then. Plus social media. I'll make San Diego the destination shop."
We shake on it. Partners in crime.
Walking back to my car, I'm grinning.
A year ago I was alone with one failing shop.
Now I'm negotiating expansion with a celebrity investor.
The powers work.
But also—I work.
That matters.
Friday night. My penthouse.
The gang arrives at seven. Howard's carrying a box of cookies that smells incredible.
"Bernadette made snickerdoodles."
"When did she become a baker?"
"When I became her taste-tester. Best arrangement ever."
We set up Mario Kart. Sheldon's created a bracket system. Obviously.
"Sixteen races. Elimination style. Winner receives this." He produces a trophy. Actual trophy. Engraved: "APARTMENT 4A MARIO KART CHAMPION 2010."
"You made a trophy?" Leonard asks.
"I purchased a trophy. Making would require tools I don't possess."
"That's—actually awesome," Raj says.
We play for three hours. It's loud. Competitive. Sheldon's raging when Raj blue-shells him. Howard's doing victory dances. Leonard's quietly methodical.
I'm having fun.
Pure, uncomplicated fun.
No girlfriend drama. No relationship weight. Just friends being idiots together.
Sheldon wins, obviously. Holds the trophy aloft.
"My superior reflexes and strategic planning prevailed."
"You cheated," Howard protests.
"I optimized. There's a difference."
"Cheating."
"Optimizing."
After everyone leaves, I'm cleaning up pizza boxes and cookie crumbs.
My phone's got photos from the night. Sheldon with his trophy. Howard's victory dance. Leonard's concentrated face.
Normal.
This is normal now.
And it's good.
Saturday morning. The Pasadena shop.
I'm restocking the indie section when a woman walks in. Mid-twenties. Cute. Browsing the graphic novels.
She picks up Saga.
"That's incredible," I say automatically.
"You've read it?"
"Cover to cover. Twice."
"Sold." She brings it to the counter. "What else do you recommend?"
We talk for twenty minutes. She buys four books. Leaves her number.
"In case I need more recommendations," she says.
After she's gone, Jake's watching me.
"You going to call her?"
"Maybe."
"You're ready?"
"I think so."
"Good. You've been—" He searches for words. "—back to yourself. The last month or so."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Like the Penny thing happened. But it's not happening anymore. You're just—Stuart. Running shops. Helping customers. Living."
"That's the goal."
"Then you hit it."
I look at the number. Sarah. 310 area code.
Maybe I'll text her.
Or maybe I won't.
But the point is—I could.
That's progress.
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