Chapter 27
“You can’t celebrate without moonshine. At least, not on Smuggler’s Hideaway.” ~ Maya
Maya
I stand in the parking lot of Five Fathoms Brewing with Nova, Paisley, Sophia, and Chloe as we watch the representatives from Gourmet Corner drive away.
When they turn the corner and are out of sight, Sophia squeals. “Thank the mermaids in the sea!”
Chloe and her join hands and bounce up and down in the parking lot while giggling.
Nova sighs. “I’d join them but I’m too exhausted for jumping.”
“Being a parent of an infant is difficult but you’ll miss these days when they’re gone,” Paisley says.
Nova’s smile is wistful. “You’re probably right.”
“We are going out to celebrate!” Sophia declares.
“There’s nothing to celebrate yet,” I caution. “We haven’t made any sales yet.”
“But we will,” Nova says. “With our beer in every single store of Gourmet Corner – not just the East Coast – we will be making tons of sales.”
“And I shall be brewing more beer,” Paisley says. “We need to discuss expanding our brewing capabilities.”
Chloe rolls her eyes. “Of course, Paisley is going to use this as an opportunity to get more brewing stuff.”
“Brewing stuff?” Paisley pushes her glasses up her nose. “You do realize this business is a brewery?”
“Let’s discuss this at Rumrunner. ” Sophia rubs her hands together. “I’m in the mood for a moonshine celebration.”
I groan. Sophia in the mood for moonshine equals a hangover each and every time.
Chloe circles her hand in the air. “Get your shit, mermaids. It’s time to par-tay!”
While they hustle upstairs to the offices, I phone Caleb.
“Hey, Caleb. Just wanted to let you know I’m going out with my girlfriends tonight.”
He chuckles. “I’ll alert the police.”
“We’re not that bad.”
“Do I need to remind you of the time you pranked the principal and ended up locked in her office in a chicken suit?”
“It wasn’t a chicken suit. I was an otter.”
“Yes, we should concentrate on the costume you were wearing when you got caught.”
“Whatever.”
“Call me when you need me to pick you up.”
“I can find a ride home. ”
He grunts. “Call me when you need me to come pick you up.”
“Fine, soldier boy. I’ll call you.”
“Have fun. Love you.” He hangs up before I have the chance to say the same. And here I was worried about love bombing him. Turns out Caleb is the expert at love bombing.
Sophia rushes out of the brewery with Chloe hot on her heels. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We walk to Rumrunner since it’s not too far. The bar is a speakeasy complete with a hidden entrance in an alley. Tourists are required to get a password from their website but locals are admitted without one.
“Hey, Trent,” Chloe greets when he opens the speakeasy window.
He opens the door and motions us in. “Try to be on your best behavior.”
I duck my chin to hide my amusement. My friends on their best behavior? Not in this lifetime.
Sophia and Chloe march straight to the bar.
Nova threads her arm through mine. “This is going to be fun. I haven’t been out since Iliana was born.”
“Harper!” Sophia shouts and slaps her palm on the bar.
The owner of Rumrunner saunters her way. “Uh oh. Trouble has arrived.”
“Five shots of moonshine, please.”
“I hope you’re celebrating today,” Harper says as she pours our shots. “You tend to cause less destruction when you’re celebrating as opposed to commiserating over someone’s broken heart.”
Sophia grins. “Don’t you worry. We’re celebrating. Because we are awesome.”
Harper rolls her eyes as she hands out the shots. Sophia holds up her glass. “Here’s to the bootleggers. Masters of the sneaky sips and secret stashes. Thanks for keeping the party alive.”
We raise our glasses. “To the bootleggers.”
I throw back the shot. The alcohol burns. Moonshine on Smuggler’s Hideaway isn’t similar to moonshine anywhere else. It’s strong as hell, doesn’t have any flavor, and is oddly addictive.
Chloe elbows Paisley and points to a man exiting the storeroom. “Isn’t that Eli?”
Paisley growls at her. “I don’t care if it is. Would you stop obsessing over him?”
She snorts. “Stop obsessing over a local boy we went to high school with who is now a billionaire? Not in this lifetime.”
“Plus, he owns Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery ,” Sophia adds. “Our biggest competitor.”
Paisley scowls. “We brew beer. A distillery is not our competition.”
“It is Eli. Eli!” Chloe waves. “Over here!”
Eli glances over at us, and Paisley drops to her knees. He starts toward us, and Paisley crawls behind the bar. Harper raises an eyebrow at her, and Paisley places a finger over her mouth .
I scoot behind Nova. I’m fine interacting with my friends, but I haven’t spoken to Eli since high school. He’s practically a stranger. Nova pats my hip. She’s got my back.
“What are you celebrating?” Eli asks in greeting.
Chloe puffs out her chest. “A deal with Gourmet Corner. ”
“Congrats.” He nods to Harper. “Next round is on me.”
Harper sighs. “They’re going to pick the most expensive drink in the bar.”
He chuckles. “I figured as much.” He nods to Chloe and Sophia. “Good to see you.”
I watch the door close behind him. Once the coast is clear, I kneel down in front of Paisley. “He’s gone.”
She frowns as she stands. “I don’t know who you mean. I was searching for my phone.”
“Behind my bar?” Harper asks.
Chloe points to Paisley’s hand. “You’re holding your phone.”
Paisley’s cheeks darken but she doesn’t give up. “Yes. After I found it on the floor.”
I open my mouth to comfort her – being teased about the man you can’t have is no fun – but the door to the bar slams open and my parents saunter inside.
“Shit,” Chloe mutters.
Nova tries to shove me behind her. “I’ve got this.”
I shackle her wrist to stop her. “No. This is my problem. My responsibility.”
She studies my face. “Are you sure? ”
“I already messaged Caleb and I’m messaging Weston now,” Sophia says.
I smile at her in thanks before inhaling a deep breath and making my way to my parents.
Mom sneers at me. “I heard you were making a fool of yourself.”
Making a fool of myself? I’m having a drink to celebrate our business. How is—
Holy smugglers on the run! Everything suddenly makes sense. She’s jealous. My mom is jealous of my success.
It’s all becoming clear to me now. She’s lashing out at me because I have the life she wishes she could have. She’s my mother. She should be happy for me. But she never will be.
The truth of the statement hits me in my chest and I nearly stumble. Nova presses a hand on my lower back to keep me steady. I glance behind me. All of my girlfriends followed me and are now standing behind me. Surrounding me with their support.
Their support gives me the courage to speak my mind. “I’m not the one making a fool of herself.”
“How dare you?” she screeches and I wince at the high tone.
“Maya,” Dad grumbles. “Treat your mother with respect.”
Respect? He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Where is his respect for Mom? Or me?
And just like that I’m done. I’m done trying to win their love. I’m done kowtowing to them. I’m just plain done.
I snort. “The way you treat her with respect? ”
His eyes narrow and his nostrils flare. “Do not question me, Maya. I am your father.”
“No, you’re not. You were never a father to me. You never encouraged me, supported me, nurtured me. You never loved me.”
Mom leans close to sneer at me. “Maybe because you’re unlovable.” This time I do stumble. The venom in her voice feels like acid in my stomach.
“I love Maya,” Nova says.
“I do as well,” Paisley adds.
“Me too,” Sophia and Chloe say in unison.
Their love washes away the acid working its way through my stomach. I should have let my friends in more growing up. I should have leaned on them more. I can’t fix the past but I can work to create a better present and future.
I shoo my parents toward the door. “You should go before Caleb shows up.”
“Poor little Maya. She needs a man to save her,” Mom taunts.
I chuckle. “Are you serious? I don’t need a man to save me. I’m not the one who’s clinging to a husband who abuses her. I have a man who loves me. Who cherishes me. Who would never in a million years hit me in anger.”
Mom shakes her fist at me. “How dare you? How dare you tell lies to the town?”
Weston saunters our way. I didn’t realize he’d arrived at the bar already. He hitches his thumbs in his duty belt and stares down my mom. “If anyone is lying, it’s you. Not Maya.”
Dad frowns. “Maybe we should go. ”
“Good idea.” Weston nods. “Run away before Caleb arrives.”
“This is ridiculous!” Mom stomps her foot. “I’m allowed to have a conversation with my own daughter.”
My anger ignites. It’s like a fire in my belly. The door flies open as Caleb arrives but I ignore him. I lean close to hiss at my mom.
“I am not your daughter. You were never a mother to me. Sophia’s mom was my mother. She’s the one who explained things when I got my period. She’s the one I went to when the bullies started attacking me. She’s the one who fought for me when I was wrongfully accused of cheating. She’s the one I love.”
“Lily always did think she was better than the rest of us on the island.”
Caleb sidles up to me. “You’re done. Leave now or I’ll have Weston remove you.”
“You can’t have us removed,” Dad sputters.
“I can,” Harper pipes in. “The management reserves the right to refuse service to jackasses.”
Weston removes his handcuffs from his belt and twirls them in the air. “What’ll it be? Walk out of here on your own or I remove you? I know which option I prefer.”
Dad grabs Mom’s upper arm and steers her toward the door. “I’ll be speaking to the mayor about this.”
“I’ll phone Lana and let her know to expect your call,” Weston hollers after them.
The door shuts behind them and I collapse into Caleb’s arms .
“You okay?”
I start to say I’m fine but stop to consider his question. To my surprise, I am okay. I’m not devastated my parents don’t love me. Because I have the love of a whole bunch of people who deserve my loyalty. My parents do not.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ll probably have moments when I yearn for my parents’ love all over again but I will work my ass off to ensure those moments remain moments. I’m done with the all-encompassing yearning I’ve been feeling for years.
“Yes.” I smile up at him. “I’m okay.”
“Proud of you, Bunny.”
Tingles spread through my body until I’m vibrating with happiness. Having the man I love be proud of me is the best feeling ever.
A champagne cork pops behind me.
“We definitely have something to celebrate now!” Sophia shouts.
I giggle. My friends are the best.