Page 13 of Fall is Brewing

“Home,” Jace finishes quietly.

Evan nods, tension easing just a fraction. “Which is why we can’t screw this up. Winning matters. Staying aligned matters more.”

I look past them, toward the road that leads straight to Hartley & Sons. “I know,” I say.

What I don’t say is that Willa Hartley already feels like a fault line—and I’m standing right on it. If we’re not careful, one wrong step could crack everything wide open.

Evan checks his watch. “So. About the pie thing.”

Jace perks up at the mention of the contest.

“I didn’t say yes, yet,” I say flatly.

“You didn’t exactly say no either,” Jace offers, his grin widening.

But the truth sits heavy between us: being chosen wasn’t an accident.

Orchard Falls doesn’t do coincidences—especially not when a committee’s involved. The town wants a show. New blood versus old roots. Calder Cider standing shoulder to shoulder with Hartley & Sons like it’s already earned the right.

“You can’t say no,” Evan scolds me. “It’s good for us, good for our relationship with the town if we volunteer more. Maybe it will tip the odds in our favor.”

Judging with Willa Hartley puts me on display. It invites scrutiny I don’t need. It drags things I’d rather keep private straight into the center of town where everyone gets a say.

And it stirs something else.

Something I don’t have a name for yet.

But I know my brother’s not wrong. We need to integrate ourselves more into town affairs.

“She’s not going to make this easy,” Jace says, almost fond.

“I wouldn’t respect her if she did,” I answer.

Evan studies me. “You’re curious.”

I don’t deny it, because I am curious. Curious about how she thinks. About how she runs her tasting room. Curious about the way she stands her ground like she’s protecting more than a business.

“Don’t worry. I’m not backing out,” I say finally.

Jace exhales. Evan nods once, sharp and relieved.

“I came back here to win,” I continue, voice steady. “For us. For what this place means. For what we almost lost.” Winning best cider overall would be a huge boon. But winning the People’s Choice? Being beloved by everyone in attendance rather than a panel of stuffy judges? That’s the real win of the whole contest.

I glance toward the road that leads to Hartley & Sons, to Willa Hartley and everything she represents. “But I’m not going to sabotage her to do it.”

Jace’s brow furrows. “No one’s asking you to do that.”

Evan clears his throat, unnervingly quiet. “Maybe not. But what will you do if she stands in your way?”

I meet his gaze, unflinching. “I beat her fair.”

I didn’t come back to Orchard Falls to lose. But I didn’t come back to ruin anyone else with my success, either.

And somehow, that feels like the most dangerous line I’ve ever drawn.

After Evan and Jace head inside, I stay where I am.

The morning has warmed just enough to take the bite out of the air. Somewhere down the road, the town is waking up—doors unlocking, lights flicking on, fall settling into place like it always does.