Lizzie laughs and shakes her head. “Pot? Kettle?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “She has your number, little brother.”
Cade narrows his eyes. “Five minutes. You’re five minutes older than me.”
“Older is older,” I state with a shrug and toss the cloth into the bucket.
“I’m gonna head over and make sure the kids behave,” Cade says, but turns his attention to the woman standing close enough I can smell her. “But just to add on to what my sister said, you’re definitely welcome to come. We get completely filthy and then sit around the fire, eat tons of food, and drink a few beers. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to unwind.”
With that, he heads to where the rest of the group is teasing Cam and Quinn for losing the first game, jumping right in to harass the youngest Miller as if he had been a part of it the whole time. We never neglect an opportunity to dive headfirst into some sibling razzing, no matter who the recipient is.
“Your family’s pretty great,” Lizzie says softly beside me, her gaze locked on the antics on the opposite side of the room.
“They are,” I confirm. “They can be a lot, but it comes from a place of love.”
She snorts and shakes her head. “Oh, you don’t have to explain the fine line between obnoxious and love to me. My family straddles said line daily.”
I offer her a smile before noticing it’s time to refill some drinks down at the end of the bar. Before I walk away, I say, “Charli can be kinda blunt and opinionated, but it all comes from a good heart. She’s also a good judge of character, and if she’s inviting you into her inner circle, it’s because she truly likes you and wants to get to know you. She wouldn’t be wanting to hang out otherwise.”
Lizzie regards me closely, considering my words and the meaning behind them. My sister has a handful of very close friends, but she’s not afraid to invite outsiders in if she feels like it. And for some reason, she seems to really like the woman in front of me. I get it. They’re actually quite similar in many ways, including coming from a large, loud family who doesn’t know the definition of personal space.
I start to make my way to the other end, grabbing a couple of bottles of beer as I go. Just before I reach my destination, I hear, “Thanks, Collin.”
I nod, opening the bottles and setting them on the bar, tossing the empties in the recycle can.
Just as I return to wash the few dirty glasses gathered beneath the bar, I hear, “So, tell me about thispussy catstuck in the tree.”
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Lizzie
I look around and smile.
This place looks amazing!
It’s been incredibly hard over the last three weeks, since I took over Chuck’s Place and turned it into The Tipsy Lizard. I’ve poured myself—and every penny I had saved—into this building. I’ve spent countless hours updating what I could and prioritizing what I couldn’t yet. My lists are long, but what I’ve been able to check off them is fulfilling in itself.
Guy opened the bar for me today so I could get everything set up for paint night. I had planned to rent banquet tables and chairs, but when the Miller clan heard, they insisted I borrow their tables and chairs. Apparently, Collin’s parents host enough gatherings that they have enough eight-foot tables and chairs to seat thirty-two people. I don’t need that many chairs, but the table space will come in very handy for holding easels and painting supplies.
“This place looks great, Lizzie.”
I spin and offer Guy a big smile. “Thanks.”
“And I’m not just talking about the decorations you added for the paint night. This place looks…” He glances around at the space, where walls have been cleaned and painted, the stools have been repaired and all sit level until new ones can be purchased, and the floors have been sanded and refinished.
My dad and Uncle Jameson might have helped, but I was right there, doing a lot of heavy lifting.
“Thanks, Guy,” I reply, unable to hide my excitement.
“And you kept the same vibe. That comfortable, laid-back feel that’s always been present at Chuck’s. It’s like Cheers. Everyone’s welcome and everyone knows your name.”
That’s what I wanted.
“I told you all,” I tease the man I’ve come to get to know and respect.
“Yeah, I know you did. It was nothing personal, Lizzie. We’re small-town, sometimes small-minded people. We don’t like change.”
