Page 18 of More Than My Hometown

“Like I said, she does want to marry you.” Milo parks himself beside me, patting my knee. “No woman is showing back up after you said that unless she wants you. Condiment packet or not.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Second chances aren’t real. They are things that happen in Jace’s books.”

Jace perks up, for half a second pretending like he’s offended. His guilty pleasure for romance novels is a well-known fact, although Jace will flat out tell you he finds zero guilt in the pleasure he takes in reading them.

“Ummm, what do you call Dustin and Kenzie?” Jace asks.

I scoff. Using the town’s most famous couple—country mega star Dustin Wild and his hometown sweetheart turned wife Kenzie Noble—as an example isn’t fair. Because their story is something that inspires not only romance novels, but country songs.

“Rock stars get second chances, not real people.”

“Beg to differ, sir,” Gus chimes in.

Fuck, fate gave him and Margeaux a second chance too. Well, kind of. They were more missed connection. But still, it took a second go for them as well. Shit.

“Ewan,” Anton says, standing up and leaning over the table. “Answer me this. Do you love her?”

Seriously? Is he seriously fucking asking me that? I’m sitting on the damn floor of our conference room halfway to a breakdown and he’s asking me that?

“Yes.”

“And you want a future with her? You want to cash in on this agreement?”

“I don’t want to be her backup⁠—”

“Forget about that part,” he stops me. “Do you want a future with her?”

His eyes hold mine, and I can tell he’s serious. Something that Anton often isn’t. But I also know that when it comes to almost losing the life you want with the person you want it with, he learned a hard lesson last summer. So if there is someone I should be listening to, it might be him.

“Yes.”

“Then you need to tell her. You need to be honest with her. About all of it. Hold nothing back.”

“He’s right,” Milo says. “Fess up about why you chose to stay after graduation, and how you’ve felt ever since. About what you want now.”

“And be ready to listen to whatever she has to say in return,” Gus adds.

I nod, taking in their advice. I trust these three with my life, and I know how solid their relationships are. The only person better to give advice would be our father.

“And then kiss the fuck out of her,” Jace tosses out. “Actually, lead with that. A hot, wet, sloppy kiss.”

“Well now,” Auggie drawls, walking into the room. He pauses a couple of steps in, eyes dancing around the room, taking in the scene. “That’s some advice. I was about to apologize for being late, but should I be worried about what I missed? Ewan?”

He looks directly at me, concern taking over his features. I can only imagine what this looks like to walk in on—me scrunched up against the wall on the floor, Milo down here with me, Gus leaning on the table directly across from us, with Anton and Jace on the other side, everyone’s attention on me. Looking to each one of my older brothers, I take in their silent answers, clearing my throat to respond.

“Just some brother shit.” There, that covers it.

Our father nods, his version of the Hayes smirk appearing. “I do like it when y’all can handle it amongst yourselves. So, shall we?”

Turning to the catering table, he fixes himself a plate as the rest of us correct ourselves. Milo and I help each other off the floor, exchanging one last hug before we sit.

“Pour Decisions confessional is always open,” he jokes, referring to his brewery’s taproom. “Party Mode, or Sob Story, is always cold. Depending on the occasion.”

“Depending on how all this goes down, I might just have to take you up on that.”

“You got this.”

I’m glad someone thinks so.