Chapter 8
Jason
‘Hey!’ Sawyer yells from the bar, smiling at me.
‘That’s Sawyer, my brother,’ I say to Mia. ‘We can sit over here.’ I lead her to a high-top table by the bar. It’s the only open table. The placed is packed, like it always is on Friday night, so I texted Sawyer on our way here, asking him to save us a table if one opened up.
‘You must be Mia,’ Sawyer says, coming up to her.
‘Yes. It’s nice to meet you.’
‘Welcome to Haydon Falls.’
‘Thanks. I like what I’ve seen of it so far.’
‘She’s sticking around tomorrow,’ I say. ‘I’m going to take her to the orchard and the falls.’
‘What about your game?’ Sawyer asks me.
‘She wants to go.’ I smile at her. ‘I don’t know why. I already know we’re going to lose.’
‘I think it’ll be fun!’ Mia says, smiling back at me.
God, I love her smile. I love her eyes, her voice, her laugh.
Seeing her again, I realize why I couldn’t get her out of my head.
There’s something about her, something that makes me feel like we’re meant for each other.
I don’t usually believe in stuff like that, and I still wouldn’t if I hadn’t met Mia.
‘What are you drinking?’ Sawyer asks Mia.
‘Oh, I’m not having anything.’
‘You sure? It’s on me.’
‘She’s taking a break from drinking,’ I tell Sawyer. ‘We just came so she could check the place out.’
‘I hear you’re getting engaged soon,’ Mia says to Sawyer.
‘I am?’ He looks at me. ‘Since when am I getting engaged?’
‘You know you will. You and Gina are already looking at rings.’
‘Doesn’t mean we’re getting engaged next week.’
‘I didn’t say next week. I’m guessing you’ll wait until after Nick’s wedding and then pop the question in June or July.’
‘Maybe Brody will go first. He and Kate already have a house. They’re the ones who should get married.’
‘You guys have a lot of weddings coming up,’ Mia says.
‘You should come to Nick’s.’ Sawyer looks at me. ‘You don’t have a date yet, do you?’
Why can’t my idiot brother keep his mouth shut? I can’t take Mia to the wedding. We’re not dating. We weren’t even planning to see each other again after tomorrow.
‘Mia can’t make it,’ I say to Sawyer. ‘She’s got graduation coming up.’
‘That’s actually the weekend after the wedding,’ she says. ‘My parents are flying in early to check out the area. They’re actually coming here for a few days.’
‘To Haydon Falls?’ I ask.
‘Yeah. One of their friends told them about it. They’re planning to spend some days here before going to Madison.’
‘You should come back for the wedding,’ Sawyer says, ‘then stay and hang out with your parents.’
‘Sawyer, I think they need you at the bar,’ I say, trying to get rid of him.
He looks back at it, then back at me. ‘What are you drinking?’
‘Surprise me.’
He finally leaves.
‘Ignore him,’ I say to Mia. ‘He’s always saying shit he shouldn’t.’
‘Sounds like he really wants you to have a date for the wedding.’
‘He needs to stay out of it. I don’t need a date. I went to Noah’s wedding without a date.’
‘And ended up meeting someone. Maybe you’ll meet someone at your brother’s wedding.’
‘I already know everyone who will be there and none of them are single women my age.’
Sawyer returns with my beer. ‘Try it. It’s new.’
I take a sip of the light amber-colored beer. ‘It’s good. What is it?’
‘A sour ale. They’re getting really popular so Gina and I are each making one.’ He looks at Mia. ‘You sure you don’t want to try it?’
‘Here, have a taste,’ I say, offering Mia the glass.
‘I’d rather not.’ She smiles at Sawyer. ‘I’m sure it’s good. I just don’t like to drink during the school year. My brain works better without alcohol.’
‘When are you done with school?’ he asks.
‘My classes are already done, but I have to turn in assignments next week. Then I have a week off before graduation.’
‘Another reason for you to come to the wedding,’ Sawyer says. ‘You’ll be done with school and can drink all the free beer you want.’ He smiles. ‘I’m supplying the beer. Nick’s getting wine and my girlfriend Gina’s bringing her hard cider.’
‘It won the hard cider competition last fall,’ I tell Mia. ‘Sawyer entered too, but he didn’t win.’
‘You just love bringing that up, don’t you?’ Sawyer says to me.
I laugh. ‘Just trying to keep your ego in check.’
‘Gina does plenty of that. I don’t need you doing it too.’ He glances back at the bar. ‘I need to go help out. We’re getting slammed.’ He looks back at Mia. ‘Good meeting you. Hope to see you at the wedding.’ He takes off.
‘He doesn’t give up, does he?’ Mia says with a laugh.
‘My whole family’s that way. Always trying to set me up.’ I take a drink of my beer. As I’m setting it down, I see my parents coming into the brewery, with Nick right behind them. ‘Great,’ I mutter.
‘What’s wrong?’ Mia asks, following my gaze to the door. My mom sees me and waves. ‘Do you know her?’
‘Yeah,’ I say with a sigh. ‘That’s my mom, with my dad and my brother Nick.’
‘Is that a problem?’
‘Kind of. I just wanted to come here and have a beer, not hang out with my family. How did they know I’d be here? Did Sawyer tell them?’
‘Do you want to leave?’
‘No. I mean, we can if this is going to make you uncomfortable.’
‘Not at all. I’d love to meet them!’
‘Can we join you?’ Mom asks, stopping at our table. She’s smiling as her eyes bounce between Mia and me.
‘Go ahead,’ I tell her.
Nick and my parents remain standing at the end of the table, all three of them looking at Mia.
‘And who do we have here?’ Dad says, smiling at her.
‘I’m Mia,’ she says, smiling back. ‘I’m a friend of Jason’s.’
‘We met at Noah’s wedding,’ I say.
Nick extends his hand to her. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Nick, Jason’s brother.’
‘The one getting married.’
‘Yeah, it’s coming up fast. Lyndsay, my fiancé, is having her bachelorette party tonight so I tagged along with the parents and ruined their date night.’
Mom shakes her head. ‘You didn’t ruin anything. We love having you join us. And now we get to see Jason too.’
‘Did you already have your bachelor party?’ Mia asks Nick.
‘Yeah, a few weeks ago. We went down to Chicago where our cousins live. We all went out. Had a great time.’
‘Hopefully not too great,’ Dad says, looking at Nick.
Nick glances at me. ‘We were all on our best behavior, weren’t we, Jason?’
‘Of course. You know how we are, Dad. We never get into trouble.’
He shakes his head. ‘I don’t even want to know.’
Mia quietly laughs.
‘You guys going to sit down?’ I say, thinking Mia probably feels awkward having them all stand there, staring at her.
Mom takes the seat beside me. Dad sits across from her, next to Mia.
‘Sawyer looks swamped,’ Nick says, watching Sawyer race around behind the bar. ‘I’ll go grab our drinks. Mom, Dad, the usual?’
‘That’ll do,’ Dad says, glancing at Mom who gives Nick a nod.
‘What about you, Mia?’ Nick asks.
‘I’m not having anything, but thank you for asking.’
Nick leaves and I take a swig of my beer, preparing myself for whatever my parents are going to say. They knew Mia was coming to town and I made it clear she’s just a friend. But that won’t stop them from trying to set us up.
‘So Jason said you’re in graduate school?’ Mom says to Mia.
‘Yes.’ She smiles at me. ‘What else did you tell them about me?’
‘I mentioned you were a teacher,’ I say, ‘and that you’re going into school counseling.’
‘Actually I haven’t decided that yet.’
‘I thought that’s why you were getting the degree. To counsel teens.’
‘I can do that without working at a school. I’m considering working at a community center for teens.’
‘Are you already applying for jobs?’ Dad asks.
She nods. ‘I’m starting to, but I have all summer to look so I’m not in a rush.’
‘She’s staying in Madison this summer,’ I tell my parents. ‘Helping a professor with some research.’
‘Madison isn’t that far from here,’ Mom says, giving me a smile.
She’s so obvious. I’m sure Mia has already picked up on my mom’s attempt at matchmaking. I hope it’s not making her uncomfortable. I don’t think it is. As my parents continue to fire questions at her, Mia’s smiling and answering in a calm and relaxed manner.
I’m watching her, completely fascinated by her.
She goes from being studious and sophisticated as she talks about her classes, to laughing and making jokes.
I love that about her. I love that just when I think I’ve figured her out, she surprises me.
Like that night of the wedding. I thought she was all prim and proper, then we got to my room and I saw a whole different side of her. A wild, sexy, seductive side.
Shit, now I’m thinking about that, about what we did, which is the absolute last thing I should be thinking about when we’re sitting here with my parents.
Nick returns with the beers and takes a seat at the end of the table. ‘So where are you staying tonight?’ he asks Mia.
‘With me,’ I blurt out, saving Mia from having to explain. ‘I offered her my room to save her some money.’
‘She could’ve stayed in the Carson house,’ Dad says before taking a drink of his beer.
‘What’s the Carson house?’ Mia asks.
‘Last year Mom and Dad bought the land next to theirs to expand the orchard,’ Nick says. ‘It came with an old farmhouse.’
‘Oh, yes, Jason told me about that.’
‘Our cousin Nash works construction and renovated the place,’ Nick says. ‘Dad’s thinking of renting it out.’
‘I’d rather have one of you boys take it,’ Dad says. ‘But if you don’t want it, we’ll figure something out.’
‘I’d love to see it tomorrow if we have time,’ Mia says to me.
‘You’re coming over?’ Mom asks, sounding hopeful, like taking Mia there means we’re dating.
‘She wants to see the orchard,’ I say. ‘I was going to text you to let you know.’
‘What time will you be over?’ Mom asks.
‘Jason’s taking me there after the game,’ Mia answers.
‘Or we could go before,’ I say, knowing the game will give us an excuse to get out of there.
‘Yes, come over in the morning,’ Mom says. ‘I’ll make breakfast! Nick and Lyndsay can join us. And maybe Brody and Kate could be there too.’