Page 12 of While the Sun Shines

Cooper raises his eyebrows. Penny has her mug halfway to her mouth, her lips pursed.

Drew looks between them. “What?”

“Battle of the Bartenders,” Cooper says, slower this time. “Don’t tell me you’re not excited.”

“I’m excited,” Drew says. “I don’t—what are you talking about? What is that?”

Penny lets out a soft laugh. “What is it?” she echoes.

“Andrew Madison!” Cooper slaps his hand to his forehead. “What the hell is wrong with you? Only the most important, most stupendous, most momentous evening of the summer!”

“I’m sorry, what’s going on?”

“What’s going on is that you’ve got the memory of a colander the moment the season gets underway.” Cooper cups his hand around what’s left of his own pile of bacon and does the same to Penny’s plate. “No more delicious treats for you. You’re in trouble, mister. C’mon, the big bartending event in Albany? The outdoor festival this Saturday? Live music? Penny showing the Upstate New York bartenders exactly what we’re made of here at Two Pines?”

Whit catches Drew’s eye. “That’s what the cheese order we’re delivering tomorrow is for.”

“Oh fuck.” Drew jumps to his feet. “That fucking order, I forgot, oh shit—”

“No, you didn’t,” Whit says. “You packed it two days ago. It’s ready to go.”

I did? he nearly asks. How fucking mortifying that Whit remembers that, and he doesn’t. “Thanks,” Drew mumbles. He clears his throat. “Thank you. That’s great.”

“Real wonderful,” Penny mutters.

“What?” Drew asks, but she’s staring down into her coffee and doesn’t look up.

Cooper leans back in his chair and shakes his head at Drew. “Good thing I’m going to be best man at your wedding, my friend,” Cooper says. “You’re a fucking mess sometimes.”

“I’m not,” Drew says quickly. “You are? Wait, what wedding?”

“You and Penny—oh my God, Drew,” Cooper says. “Twenty years from now when you two get married, remember? Have you listened to a word I’ve said all morning?”

Whit tosses Cooper’s work gloves at him and reaches for his own pair. “Coop, who says you get to be best man?”

“I’m listening,” Drew says.

“You’re not,” Penny says softly.

“Seriously, pay attention, Drew,” Cooper says, “Because as a sequel to Battle of the Bartenders, we’re going to hold Battle to Get to Be Best Man. I’m already scoring points. I made bacon.”

Whit spreads his hands wide. “And I assured Drew there’d be enough milk.”

“And I have to live with you weirdos.” Penny stands, refills her mug, and slips her feet into her sandals. “Excuse me while I go hang out with the hens. I’ll do you all a solid and collect the eggs, but please know that I’m really just trying to find some female company to get away from you boys. C’mon, Sadie. You can hang out with us.”

“Thanks for getting the eggs,” Drew says. “That’s a huge help, we’re so busy.”

But Penny doesn’t look up at him, just shrugs. She pats her legs, her eyes on Sadie, who rolls onto her back, her tongue lolling and tail wagging. “Sadie, come. I need some girl time.”

“Wait, before you go—” Drew reaches for her arm, then pulls back when he thinks better of it.

This time, she looks up at him. “Yeah?”

“Have you seen the shear bolts?”

She blows out a hard breath. “That’s really what you’re saying to me right now?”

“Yes?”