Chapter 2 #2
The reason my sister left Big Catch this past summer is that I started casually sleeping with one of her friends, Margaret, who was also on staff. We’d agreed to no-strings sex—a way to scratch an itch—but after a few weeks, Margaret asked when she could move a toothbrush into my apartment.
The only toothbrush that’s ever going to be in my apartment is mine.
When I told her so, she accused me of being emotionally unavailable.
After what happened to me, yes, abso-fucking-lutely.
Next, she accused me of cheating.
An interesting accusation, given we’d never agreed to be exclusive. Even so, I wasn’t seeing anyone else. I’ve never had any interest in juggling women.
Didn’t matter. She was pissed, and she threw all of my boxing gear into one of the vats at Big Catch. Which meant all the beer had to be thrown out.
The brewery took a thousands-of-dollars hit, and Hannah had to fire her friend, which led to my sister losing most of her other friends.
They’d stupidly sided with Margaret. Hannah was pissed enough at me to temporarily quit Big Catch, even though she’d been here longer than me and actually liked her job.
Last month, she agreed to forgive me for my screwup, thank God, on one condition. I had to promise not to mess around with any of her other friends, and also to grant her two favors. Anything she wants, anytime she asks.
Quickest agreement I’ve ever made.
Hannah’s already come to me for one favor: helping Travis out of a bind involving his band. The second is yet to be determined.
But I meant what I said. I’m never going near any of her other friends. Because being at odds with my sister or our little brother is unacceptable to me.
So I just stand there, ignoring the magnet-pull of Briar as she stands in the doorway, looking lost and beautiful and cold.
Crap, she’s cold.
I’m about to stride forward so I can at least offer Briar someone’s coat—there’s a rack full of them by the door—when my sister and Sophie hurry through the crowd and flock around her.
I’m surprised by how relieved I feel, but more so by the hint of disappointment that I didn’t get to be the one to help her.
Seconds later, Rob comes over to us, and Travis wraps an arm around his shoulders. “Cormac is a bass player,” he gushes, acting like a zealot who worships at an altar with a bass guitar on top.
“No shit?” Rob says, his gaze following Sophie as she and Hannah hurry Briar away from the door. No doubt he’s interested too. Sophie is his girlfriend.
“What’s going on there?” I ask, nodding toward the front.
“Don’t know,” he says, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. “But I’ve got a feeling Hannah and Sophie are about to find out.”
This makes me laugh, though it doesn’t lift the uneasiness pressing down on my chest.
The others start talking about music again.
I leave them to it, slipping away to check in with Eugene and make sure we don’t need to tap another keg yet.
Through it all, there’s a metaphysical itch at the back of my neck—the need to find out just what the hell is going on with Briar.
It’s not my problem, though, and Hannah will surely deal with her friend.
When I come back, Rob and Travis are God knows where, and Cormac is watching a woman with a short dark bob and a no-nonsense expression.
“Creeping on someone else, Eugene Junior?” I ask.
I meant it as a joke, but he jolts as if I’d slapped him. “Oh, no. That’s Nora. I don’t like her.”
The name rings a bell, and I realize I know who this woman is. She’s the brewer at The Ginger Station, and good old Jonah’s fourth secret girlfriend.
Well, damn.
This town is big enough, but it can feel as small as the one in The Andy Griffith Show. Except with more secret dating and old grudges.
I whistle through my teeth. “Tell me how you really feel.”
Cormac adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “You know my dad’s girlfriend? That’s her daughter. She probably doesn’t even remember me, but we went to school together.”
“Small world.” My sister’s going to have a field day with this one, no doubt. “She uptight?” I ask sympathetically.
“Something like that. She ruined my science project our senior year.”
I laugh again, finding this guy plenty entertaining. “Must have been a hell of a science project if you’re still pissed about it.”
“It was. But that was twelve years ago. She probably doesn’t remember.”
“But you do.”
He shrugs. “I put a lot of work into it. It was one of my first inventions.”
“You’re an inventor?”
He looks uncomfortable, like I just gave him a wedgie. “It’s a grandiose word, but yeah, I guess. I like taking things apart and putting them back together better. And building things to solve problems. But my day job is in coding.”
“Solving problems. I like that. You might have just solved one of ours.” I cock my head to study him. “Say, why’d you take up bass guitar if you mostly play alone?”
“The bass is what holds the music together. It’s the backbone. You wouldn’t get very far without a backbone.”
I nod, liking the analogy. “Damn straight.”
“And then there’s the way it feels. You can feel the vibration inside of you.”
“You sound like Travis when he’s talking about his drums.”
I’m distracted by an officious tap on my shoulder, and I turn to see Hannah and Travis. She’s practically buzzing with energy, the way she gets when she sucks down too much sugar or is high on an idea that will either make or destroy someone.
“What’s up?” I ask, my mind flitting to Briar. “Something wrong with your friend?”
“Yes,” she says. “You and I are having a super-secret meeting in the storeroom. Right away.”
“What about Travis?”
“He’s coming as my Emotional Support Travis.”
“Are you good with that emasculating description?” I ask him, trying to break the tension. Maybe get a hint at what they’re up to.
“Yup,” he says, squeezing her close. Her curly hair must be tickling his nose, but he shows no sign of discomfort.
“Well, by all means. Let’s pack into a tiny space together, because that’s not at all suspicious.”
Travis laughs, and Hannah jabs him playfully with her elbow and says, “Just be cool, and it’ll be fine. If anyone asks, we’ll say someone puked in the bathroom and we’re getting cleaning supplies.”
I nod to Cormac. “You good?”
“Yeah,” he says, “I think I’m going to head out.” He gives Travis a hopeful look. “But I’ll be in touch about the band?”
“Yes, please,” Travis says, giving him a fist bump.
Then Hannah’s shuttling both of us toward the storeroom. She’s five foot two, and Travis and I are both over six feet, but no one can say my sister doesn’t have hustle.
A couple of minutes later, we’re all sealed into the small space together, Hannah still radiating nervous, excited energy. I feel the buzz of it in my own veins. Hannah’s like that, capable of transferring her excitement to others. It’s a gift you have to accept, like it or not.
“What is it?” I ask.
“That other favor you promised me,” she says slowly, nearly breathless. “You meant it, didn’t you?”
My heart beats harder in my chest. “You know I did.”
She looks at Travis, a silent communication passing between them.
“Hannah?” I say, never much of a patient guy. “I didn’t come in here to watch you make out with your boyfriend. Aren’t you going to tell me what this is all about?”
My sister looks me dead in the eye and says, “I’m calling in that other favor.”