Page 30 of Summer Brew

My breath hitches and I have to look away for a moment. I have loved Keaton for a long time. I whispered the feeling across my heart when I was too young to understand that nothing is without sacrifice or pain. But I haven’t allowed myself to really think about loving him for years.

If I didn’t admit it to myself, it wasn’t real. Right?

But now I know the truth.

I love him.

Not the boy he used to be. Not the ideal of him I never truly knew.

I love him.

Before I can stop him, or even question it, he leans down and kisses me softly. The contact is brief, but I feel it to the depth of me. When he pulls back, I blink up at him in surprise.

“Did you just kiss me?” The question tumbles from my lips and is filled with a mixture of shock and outrage.

“I’m not hiding this,” his voice is firm. “You are too good to be treated like some dirty little secret. I won’t do it.”

If I weren’t already in love with this man, that would have done it.

I hear my friends make little noises of agreement and encouragement, but I don’t look at them. I can’t. Because I can’t bear to look away from his whiskey-colored eyes.

“What about Gary?” I hate how my voice wobbles as I ask the question, but it’s not like I can take it back.

“Gary will have to deal with it,” Keaton says it so easily.

Like it’s simple.

For a second I let my mind wonder with the notion that it really could be that easy. Then the thought crashes and burns.

Gary has always been easy going, but he can be a real stick in the mud and way too overprotective for my liking when it comes to me. I always accepted it before because I didn’t have a reason to fight against it, not really.

Now? The thought of me being the thing that ruins the friendship they’ve had for almost their entire lives makes my heart clench.

“Why aren’t you afraid?” I whisper the question; it’s so soft he probably has to strain to hear it.

“I am,” he admits, his words low. “I’m terrified he’ll lash out and say something to hurts you. He can hurt me if he wants, I can take it. But you? You’re off limits.”

My arms slide around his waist and I give a squeeze. Then I release him just as quickly. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Keaton looks at me for a long time, so long that I start to shift from one foot to the other. “If you would rather not take away from the tasting, I’ll try and keep myself under control.”

I open my mouth, but that’s the moment Elwood, Hollyn, and Gary walk through the door. Everything in me freezes. I’m not sure what to do or where to look.

The last thing I want to do is look at Keaton and see hurt in his eyes. When I muster up the courage, I force myself to look at him. There is only understanding in his gaze. I think I might hate that more.

I’m in a daze while my brother hugs me before immediately pulling Keaton into a conversation. I move away from them, but Keaton keeps his eyes on me almost the entire time. That’s unsettling enough, but Gary keeps looking between us like he’s a fucking detective and his gut is screaming at him about something being hinky.

It’s the last thing I need.

The butterflies are back when I clear my throat and project my voice, “Thanks for coming everyone. This is my first official tasting,” I try to keep my words steady, but I can feel the wobble in it.

I glance at Keaton and our gazes hold for a second too long. My lips part to say something else, but I get cut off.

“What the fuck is going on here?” It’s Gary’s voice and I freeze in place.

When I look at him, my eyes widen because he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at Keaton. My heart sinks.

“You’ve been looking at my little sister like you can’t wait to get her alone,” there’s a hint of judgement in his tone.