Page 26 of Hammer and Hops

“You’re kidding me.” We double-checked the bar's name, address, and phone number, which were correct, but the name of the person placing the order was bogus.

“You should take deposits before driving out. That’s a long way for nothing.” He seemed genuinely sympathetic, and he wasn’t wrong, but that wasn’t easy to require when you were trying to get people to take a chance on something new.

“I get that, but we haven’t been open long enough. I’m sorry to take up your time on this.”

“No problem for me, but it sounds like you’re being pranked.”

I thought about those tires again and came to the easy conclusion that someone was messing with me. I left him a business card and a sample case of our bottled beer. “Our taps are better, though.”

“If we get good feedback on these, I’ll call you for sure.” We shook hands, and I left with at least the potential of a new client, and at a minimum, no hard feelings. At least on his part, but someone had still fucked with me. And was it the same person who slashed my tires? And why? Unfortunately, I didn’t have any answers, only the questions.

When I got back to the brewery, I had a message from the client who received their beer late, due to those same fucking tires. They canceled their account. Fuck. Sure hoped I would get the new one from today to make up for it.

I sat there at my desk, thinking hard. My mind logically searched for one common denominator, and found one, but I didn’t want to believe it.

Maybe I needed to vet this out with someone else.

Chapter eighteen

Who Me? Cameron

“G’morning, Ever. Let me get you a coffee. How do you like it?” I asked when he walked in the door at Books Beans and Buns, where I was leaning on the front counter.

“Coffee? That’s what you’re worried about?” He flicked his fingers at me.

“Wait. What’s wrong?”

His scowl would have stopped a rampaging elephant. “You know what’s wrong.”

“Let me get you a coffee and we can talk about it, because I do not, in fact, know what’s wrong.”

“You’d just love that, wouldn’t you? Always have to be the hero? Well, no. I don’t need you, Cameron. Just leave me alone.” He turned to Jackie, who was standing there, wide-eyed, behind the counter. “I’m looking for Moron’s Guide to Marketing Strategy. Do you have it?”

“Uh, good question. Let me look.” Jackie searched on the business laptop, but I didn’t like where this was going. Where was his antagonism coming from?

“Ever? Please talk to me and tell me what’s wrong.”

“You,” he poked his finger into my chest, “are sabotaging my business. So that I will think I need you. Like I need your help when I do not. That. Is. Gaslighting. I’m not falling for it.”

Jackie coughed and his face turned red hearing that.

“I’m not. I want you to be successful, Ever.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Why would I sabotage you? That’s not in my makeup.”

“He’s right, you know.” Jackie leaned over the counter, the search for Everett’s book forgotten. “He helps everyone around here. If you need something fixed, freaking call Cam.”

“That’s just it. You need people to need you. Well, I don’t. So, leave me alone. The book?”

His voice got louder, and taking a glance around the store, I could tell people were tuning in. “Can we go outside and talk about this?”

“Go.” Jackie gestured to the door. “I’ll have the book delivered.”

“You don’t know where I live.”

I’d had enough of his attitude, and that was saying a lot for me. Hell, I never got mad about anything. I was the most patient guy in the world. “You live at the brewery, Everett. He’ll send it there.” Everyone knew where he lived by now, even if he didn’t realize it, but I couldn’t help being a tad snarky after all of the vitriol he was throwing my way. “Please, come with me. Now.” I grabbed his elbow and steered him out the front door.