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“Right around the corner?” I gasped. We’d danced around this rivalry of ours, but coming to the store only a few doors away? That felt like he was crossing a line. They knew damn well what they were doing and it was getting old.
“Wasn’t it last month right after we had that masquerade party, they threw a huge event? And after we had that big Valentine’s party, he did a super-cringy bachelor auction,” Laura added in. “You sure you didn’t piss him off?”
“Maybe in a past life,” I shrugged. “But no, we’ve never even met. I don’t even know what the owner looks like.” I could feel my horse’s annoyance as I mulled over everything the two of us had done over the past year.
The Tap House opened just a month after mine and it was like we were siblings in a feud. We’d do something, then they would try to show us up. It went on like that ever since and I had half a mind to stalk over there and demand to know why they couldn’t just find their own fucking ideas.
But I knew it was ridiculous. As obnoxious as it was, we didn’t own themed nights and events. Every business did them to bring in revenue. It just felt pointed after it happened time and time again.
It was even harder to ignore when my bar was empty. I hoped he was losing money tonight, giving away more wings than he had to offer and cutting it even.
“Maybe we should go in under cover?” Zath said. I thought he was joking but from the glint in his eye, I knew he was already making the plans in his mind. Raven’s were known to be cunning and my friend here was almost scary when he had a plan.
“We’re above that,” I told him firmly. “We don’t need to stoop to his level. But with that said, the citywide parade is in three weeks, what should we do for it?”
“And you say you’re not just as petty as me.” Zath rolled his eyes but Laura was excitedly clapping her hands.
“We should find a new drink special. I love when we do the fun shots, we can make it Willow Grove themed or something,” she started. “Maybe have a photo booth?! Those will bring in the younger crowd faster than anything.”
My notebook was already out and I was jotting down ideas. Now I felt like it was personal and I had to put everything I had into bringing down Bandit’s Tap House. We’d continuously held the title of favorite local bar for a few months and they were desperately trying to take it from us. But I couldn’t let that happen. If they wanted to turn this into a war, then I’d gladly face it head on.
Challenge accepted.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING
“Hello? Nyla Stone?” a voice drifted in the open back door where I’d been lugging in another wave of deliveries. At least this one came when they were scheduled so I could meet them here.
“Yes, can I help you?” I called back as I made my way to the door. The man standing there had a grin on his face and a gaudy red suit. Everything from his twisted mustache to his knockoff wristwatch was over the top.
“I’m Stanley Evers, from the National Bar and Brewers Board. Our annual bartending competition is next month and we wanted to extend a personal invitation to the new establishments in the area.”
“Oh, wow,” I said, taking the envelope he was holding out. It wouldn’t be polite to mention I’d never even heard of his board or his competition, but at this point it would be stupid not to look into some exposure.
“It’s a great way to get your name on the board around here.” He was still trying to sell me on it and doing a damn fine job. My horse practically trotted around my brain, the sound of a competition too enticing to ignore. “We hope to see you there. Bandit’s Taphouse also agreed to go and said you’d be a good candidate.” My blood boiled that we were only offered because of them. Nothing like being a last minute addition.
“I’ll definitely consider it,” I promised with a friendly smile. “Thank you.” He tipped his nonexistent hat before leaving me in a sea of crates and supplies.
Patience wasn’t my strong suit so I ripped the envelope open and started reading, my excitement plummeting in seconds as I read the location information.
Madison.
The town I left behind along with my old life.
I sat so long staring at the invitation that I didn’t even hear Zath coming in. He started to talk but the moment I didn’t respond, he was in front of me, hands on my face and forcing me to look up.
“I know that look, Ny, and you’re white as a ghost. What’s going on?” he demanded. I simply held up the offending paper in my hand for him to read.
He read it over slowly, jaw clenching as he realized what was going on.
“So, we don’t go,” he reassured me. “It’s not a big deal. They don’t even usually have local bars. I always assumed they were just a stuffy group of old men judging bourbon.”
“The guy already said Bandit’s Tap House is going,” I countered. “And that this could give us insane exposure.”
“Come on, the event can’t be that big,” he laughed but he sounded unsure. Zath took a seat next to me and started pulling up the event on his phone, cursing at whatever he found. “Okay, I was dead wrong. But it still doesn’t mean we have to do it.”
“We do,” I groaned in defeat. This was part of growing as a person, facing your fears and not letting the past dictate your future. “How do we sit here while they go and show us up? Plus, it’s not like we’ll see my ex there. Madison is big enough that if we stick to the location we won’t encounter locals, right?”
