We’ve barely been open an hour. There are maybe five customers milling about while Hollis and Mel prep behind the bar for the crowd we’re sure to have later on.
I’m about to get up and go out there when I notice how Cash marches right up to Hollis without a hint of surprise on his face.
“You were doing so well, Mom,” I mutter under my breath, wishing this camera had audio, but California has strict laws, and I already feel like a creeper with how much I watch my employees since Jace was fired.
I sneak out of my office and walk down the hall.
Cash and Hollis are close enough to the end of the bar that I can just make out what they’re saying without actually leaving the hallway.
And yes, I know eavesdropping isn’t cool, but is it that bad if it comes from a good place? What if a fight breaks out in the middle of the bar? What if my brother is his usual jackass self and hurts Hollis’s feelings?
A lot could go wrong.
“So you’re not going to tell me?” Cash’s authoritative voice comes through loud and clear.
“Tell you what, man?” Hollis asks, sounding calm and unruffled by my brother’s grizzly demeanor.
“The real reason you and my sister got married. ’Cause I’m not falling for this insta-love bullshit my parents told me.”
I knew my mom would cave.
“And why’s that?”
“Because it’s ridiculous. Only an idiot would think they could fall in love that quickly, and although my sister can be a bit impetuous?—”
“Hey, now.” Hollis’s voice grows cold. “That’s my wife, Cash. Don’t start badmouthing her in front of me. I know we’re brothers now, but don’t think that’ll stop me from putting you in your place.”
“Unbelievable,” Cash grumbles. “So that’s the party line? That you, what? Suddenly remembered she existed after twelve years, and after a few texts and phone calls, you fell madly in love with her?”
I squeeze my eyelids shut. I hate how much his words affect me. I love all my siblings. I really do. But with Cash, it’s always been a struggle. Our personalities are completely different, and for years now, I’ve felt like all he does is judge me and everything I do. It makes me feel small.
And I hate feeling small.
“First of all,” Hollis says. “I never forgot her. Not for a second.” My breath catches as Hollis’s words affect me in a completely different way. I try to remind myself he’s just playing a part. Selling the story. “Just because I didn’t contact her—or any of you—doesn’t mean I didn’t want to. We all have our shit, Cash. I was dealing with mine. Maybe you should go deal with yours?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Last time I saw you, you weren’t such a self-righteous dick,” he says bluntly.Oh, damn.I smother a laugh. “I don’t know what happened between then and now, and it’s frankly none of my business, but maybe you should figure it out. In the meantime, try not to take it out on my wife, yeah?”
God, why is that so hot?
Friends, Pres. You are just friends.
A beat of silence follows, and then Cash says, “Yeah. Okay.”
“Cool. You want a beer?” Hollis asks, his icy demeanor changing in an instant. I can’t help but grin.
“Yeah, man. I’d love one.”
“Coming right up. You still like that bougie microbrew from Washington?” He must nod because the next thing I hear before I turn to leave is, “Hey, so tell me all about this niece of mine. Does she like movies?”
I smile the whole way back to my office.
“That was wild,” Hollis exclaims just before he stifles a yawn. We just got home. It’s around three in the morning, and we’re both dead on our feet. “I know you’ve told me about the tour bus thing before, but experiencing it was something else.”
I laugh, toeing off my shoes one at a time by the front door. “I tried to warn you.”
“Listening to people gush about your brother all night long has got to be weird.”
