“The other half always rocks it.”
“More like the five kids who actually do it. What were you when you dressed up? Grumpy teen country kid?”
“Nailed it. My brothers wore the same costume.” He stops at a picture of me with a teacher. “Jenni Lynn? Was she a teacher?”
“She still is. But then she was a student teacher.” I groan and set my plate on the nightstand by the pile of tissues I really should’ve thrown on the way to the bathroom. “Don’t tell me—you two were a thing?”
“First girlfriend. Yes.”
“At least you had good taste. She’s nice. Married with three kids now.” Is he thinking that could’ve been him?
He chugs his juice and sets the empty bottle on his nightstand. There’s no wistfulness in his eyes. “We broke up by junior year. Did she marry a Carter, by any chance?”
That’s right. Jenni Lynn and her husband were college sweethearts. “Yes. So? Any regrets?” Yup, I’m nosy.
His brows shoot up. “With Jenni Lynn?” He chuckles. “No.” He eyes me. “Do you have regrets about anyone?”
“Not with anyone specific. Guess I thought I’d be more of a Jenni Lynn by now.” I turn the page. There’s a photo of me with Holly and Sawyer on our graduation day after that fateful speech. Ransom’s not in the photo, but he took the picture, and it’s one of my favorites. Sawyer and I flank Holly, and she looks happy and proud. My whole life was ahead of me. “I thought maybe I’d start my own brewery one day. I even played with names.”
“Yeah?”
I nod, nostalgia adding to my sadness. “I had mock recipes and ideas for additives, and your dad—rightfully so—wanted to preserve Julia’s work. When I returned home after the Tanner debacle, he was more willing to add stuff like the mango to the raspberry sour. I guess a part of me wants to put my stamp on the brewing world. My own flavor profiles and techniques.”
“Dad wouldn’t have helped you start your own place?”
I laugh, and the bitterness is unintended. “I didn’t ask, but after I tried to do a home brew and he got all grumpy, I gave up the effort, and I didn’t talk to him about it since I had nothing to kick in, thanks to my ex.” And I still don’t have anything. Just a deep affection for the place, the land, and…probably the eldest brother. I smother a yawn.
“You need to rest.”
I want to, especially when he tells me to, but I can’t. “No. I need to get to work.”
“And I told you you’re staying in bed all weekend.”
A stair creaks, and a muttered curse filters in. I frown at Calder, but he’s flicking his phone screen off from yet another notification. He doesn’t seem surprised Sawyer’s here.
She stops in the doorway, wearing a reddish-brown Scandalous Vet T-shirt and regular blue jeans. She’s still clean,so she must be on call, and it’s been a quiet morning. Her gaze lands on Calder. “Oh. You’re still here.”
“I was waiting for you,” he says, “otherwise she might try to get out of bed and go to work.”
Sawyer was called in for me? “I can’t stay in bed all weekend. The truck comes on Monday, and I didn’t get the hot washes done in the tanks.” It’s almost noon, and it’ll push the malt preparation too late. Plus, it’s Saturday, and tonight will be busy.
“Packaging is done,” he says. “Washes are done. Brew logs are filled in. Bowen’s probably on the first brew by now.”
Shock cools the heat created by Calder’s proximity. When it’s just me—and it usually is—I have to prep a brew day. But the guys have already done the prep and moved on to the brew? Sawyer’s mouth falls open. She doesn’t know what’s going on either. Something’s had to fall through the cracks.
“Bowen finished the packaging?” I ask.
Calder lifts a shoulder. “He’s done it before.”
“A long time ago! The equipment is all different.” The packaging line isn’t quite fully automated, but logins, programs, and data need to be entered before each batch.
“He figured it out in five minutes.” Calder narrows his gaze on me. “Don’t go berating yourself. Technology is his thing. He’d have taken it personally if he couldn’t master it in under ten. Landry did the hot wash last night, and they’re both working on the cleaning and brew today. Tomorrow, they’ll get in another brew.”
“We have the keg order going out Monday too.” I was going to do that today, along with everything the guys are doing. Did they really jump in after all this time with no issues? How redundant does that make me?
“Send me the details, and I’ll pass them on, but you’re staying in bed today. And tomorrow.” He catches Sawyer’s eye. “Let me know if she doesn’t listen?”
Sawyer’s brows tick up, and she looks at him like she’s never seen him before, but she nods. “Only because I agree. Not because you told me to.”
