“I know you’re making good money right now.” He glanced across the room to where Kai was still engrossed in his laptop. There was so much affection held in the gaze, and the fist around Sammie’s heart squeezed tighter. Her brother had something good, something beautiful. Sammie wanted the same. Atticus was still watching Kai as he continued. “But don’t hurt yourself for the sake of that house. I never wanted you to shoulder it all alone.”
Sammie frowned. Her nose was tingling something fierce, and it was getting harder to ignore. “You wanted to sell the place from day one. I’m not putting it on you when you didn’t want it to begin with.”
It was her brother’s turn to frown. “How did you turn out more stubborn than me?” Sammie only shrugged, earning a deep sigh from Atticus. “Look, I’m not going to tell you what to do. If you can let me make my own dumb decisions in peace then it’s only right I do the same for you. I just want you to know you have options. Kai and I have talked about it. Wewantto help you cover the repairs. It’s one of the perks of having a semi-rich boyfriend.”
Sammie fought the urge to pinch him. “It’s not just about the money. I’m having fun. Ienjoywhat Keir... whatI’vebeen doing. I don’t think I want to stop.”
“But?” Atticus stared, his bright eyes patient as ever, a soft tilt to his lips that always set her at ease.
“But…” Sammie swallowed thickly. She didn’t want to say it out loud. Then the words would be free, and she would never be able to pull them back into hiding. “But I don’t know if I can keep working with him.” There. That was enough. Still an admission, but one that only hurt to say aloud. It wasn’t the admission that would break her.
“You can stop at any time. He won’t hold it against you.”
Sammie knew her brother was going for encouraging, but his words stung with exacting precision. Of course Kieran wouldn’t mind if they stopped working together. Because that’s all it was to him. Work. Business. A transaction that was starting to bleed her dry.
“I know.” But would she stop?Couldshe? Was Sammie willing to give up the only piece of Kieran she had ever been able to have?
“You’re not going to solve it tonight.” Atticus tugged a handful of her hair, so Sammiedidpinch him. He squirmed out of reach, wincing as his injured leg shifted.
“No,” Sammie finally answered as he picked his controller back up. “But I’m going to watch you and your weird hoardinghabits in this game as a means of distraction.” She snaked a hand out from under the cover, waving it at the television. “Distract me.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Atticus huffed as he unpaused the game. “And don’t make fun of my stash.”
“You never use any of it!”
“Of course not.” Kai’s quiet voice sounded out from across the room. “If he uses his stash, then he won’thavehis stash.”
Atticus turned a smug smile on Sammie, holding his hands out as if what Kai had said made any sort of sense. Then he reached up and patted the top of her head, earning a scowl. “Just let your brain be empty tonight, sleep on it, and maybe tomorrow it’ll all look a little brighter.”
Sammie knew he was right. So she burrowed back down into the blankets, snuggling up against the only person who had always,alwaysmade her feel safe and seen.
Maybe he was right. Maybe tomorrow it would all look a little bit brighter.
~
Ivy: hey, i’m free tomorrow after 8pm if you wanna do something!
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“DID YOU HEAR about the layoffs last night?”
Sammie glanced over her shoulder, hovering over the keg she’d been scrubbing clean. Eli was leaning against a support column, one brow raised, his expression guarded as he waited for her answer. Sammie shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
Eli let out a sigh that puffed out his cheeks, relief etched across his features. “The rest of us were a little worried that you knew cuts were coming and didn’t warn us, what with you being management.”
“Yeah, sure.” Sammie scoffed. “You know Robert doesn’t tell me shit.”
“Iknow.” Eli pressed a hand to his chest, grinning. “But the rest of the front end staff are all a bit scared of you.” Sammie frowned, and Eli pointed at her face. “It’s that. The scowl. Terrifying.”
Said scowl transformed into a smirk, but Sammie was still confused. “What layoffs are you talking about?”
“Two of the bartenders were let go last night. We had no idea it was coming.” The lighthearted air that always surrounded Eli melted away, tension creasing the corners of his eyes.
“I didn’t know.” Not that Sammie had ever been told much about what went on behind the scenes at Everly. Sure,she managed the brewhouse, but decisions regarding anything beyond making the beers? Not a chance.
“Well,” Eli rubbed at his chin. His nails were purple, a bright contrast to his anxious expression. “Now you know.” A pause as he seemed to weigh his next words. “I’m applying for other jobs.”
Sammie went rigid. “You’re leaving?” She couldn’t imagine Everly without his cheery presence behind the bar. Eli nodded.
