“Absolutely,” Drew said. “Also figured I could check out my investment. How’s canning going?”
Drew had come on as an investor a few months back. Sully and I had planned on taking out a loan, but with his bun in Maggie’s oven, so to speak, he was leery of taking on more debt and had bailed on our earlier loan opportunity. Fortunately, Drew had been looking for something to invest in, so we pulled him in as a partner for our canning operation. It had only been a few months but was already a great additional stream of revenue for us.
I grinned, pulling a four-pack from under the bar to sit on the counter. “Going great. We’re canning our top sellers. Of course we still have growlers people can fill at the brewery, but the cans are available here and in a lot of stores in the area.”
Drew nodded. “Plan on trying several when I’m here.”
I put the four-pack away. “Sounds good. What do you want to start with tonight?”
Drew scanned the taps. “Barn Owl is your stout, right?”
I nodded, grabbing a glass and heading to the taps. “Yep. Notes of chocolate and coffee.” I filled his glass while thinking of dancing in my kitchen with Ivy only two nights ago. Damn, it had only been a little over twenty-four hours, and I missed the woman.
“Shit!” I looked down to see the stout overflowing the cup and running down my hand. I quickly mopped it up while Drew, Max, and Sully laughed their asses off. I turned to set Drew’s stout down as I saw him quickly put his phone away.
“Were you taking my picture?”
Drew shrugged, taking a sip of his stout to hid his smirk while my own phone vibrated.
Yanking it out, I saw a text in our sibling group chat. Pushing down my annoyance, I opened the app to see his message. There was a photo of me with beer spilling over the cup and a text from Drew.
Drew:Bro is in serious crushing territory here. Spilling beer while he is apparently thinking about his girl. Sacrilege.
Drew:PS Steph—apparently Bookstore Ivy is also a green witch.
Good Lord.
“Fuck off,” I growled at him, moving to put my phone down. Before I could, it vibrated again.
Steph:You do good work, little bro. And a green witch? Is she also into acupressure? Because my stress headaches could certainly use some help. Or does she do oils? Maybe you should just share her cell, Jake. I’ll talk to her.
Like hell I would. Good Lord.
Me:Fuck, no. And I’m working. You two blue-hairs can continue your gossip session without me.
Steph:Ah, look, Drew. Jake’s taking his ball and going home.
Drew:Nothing new here. Can’t take the heat. That’s why I’m the firefighter.
Steph:Nothing new with you either, baby bro. Your ego is as healthy as ever.
Drew:Not ego, I speak the truth.
Me:Jesus H. Christ, both of you, shut it.
Steph:Waiting for that number, Jake. Or Drew can stop by the bookstore and get it for me when he goes in this week. Ivy and I are going to be the best of friends, I just know it.
Laughter pulled me away from my phone. I looked up to see Max and Sully both reading the conversation on Drew’s phone while they all grinned at me.
“I really like your sister,” Sully said. “She’s no bullshit.”
I shook my head. Steph was at that.
“Yeah, she’s easy to like when she’s not busting your balls,” I shared.
“Amen,” Drew concurred.
Lauren, our hostess, came over with plates and silverware in her hands. “Food’s up in a minute, gentlemen. Where do you want it?”
