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Being turned on at a festival concert is hell.
Absolute hell.
And then having to go to work after?
Fucking miserable.
All I want to do is get Rachel alone and do all the wickedly delicious things we did last night—and then some.
We’ve all been sitting in the brewery’s event room for the past couple of hours, chatting about everything and nothing, getting to know one another.
I have to admit, Greyson is a great guy, and he puts on one hell of a show. He had the crowd dancing and singing the whole time, including Rachel. I could barely contain myself with her moving and rubbing herself against me. I was about ready to pull her behind the abandoned hayride tractor and show her just how much she was affecting me, but I also knew that she would be horrified. As much as she loves what we do, I don’t think public sex is in her comfort zone.
So instead, I’m sitting in the event room at the brewery, being the bartender, but not really, for our little party. Greyson’s daughter, Charlotte, who is the cutest nine-year-old I’ve ever met, is fading into sleep as she lies on a chair between Greyson and Ella. Her head is on his lap, her feet on Ella’s. It’s not something I would normally notice, but it seems I’ve been paying more attention to families and kids lately.
I never would have imagined that Ella wasn’t Charlotte’s biological mom if Zach hadn’t mentioned their brief history. The two are so close and in tune with each other, it’s naturally easy to assume they are mother and daughter. Ella insisted an hour ago that she would bring Charlotte back to the inn they’re staying at to get some sleep, but Charlotte refused, saying she wasn’t going to be the reason the party ended. So, this is their compromise.
I find that I can’t stop looking at them. I’m playing with Rachel’s hair as she talks excitedly with Krissy. I’m thinking about how I want that one day. I want the comfort of having one person to share my life with. To have a family with. I want to spend time with friends while sneaking smiles and glances at each other while having different discussions. I want to know what the other is thinking without having to say it, like Ella grabbing Greyson a Coke without him asking, or how he gives her his jacket at the slightest shiver from her.
I draw my gaze away from their family and look at Rachel. My heart beats in a wild rhythm as I look at her. It’s right here that I know that I want that with her. I want the glances and the thoughts and the moments. I want the house and the kids. I want it all.
I want it all with Rachel.
“So, Mitch, tell me about this place. It’s very unique,” Greyson asks, drawing my attention away from my life altering thoughts.
“It’s Zach’s baby, really. He grew up here in Logan Creek and wanted to open a rustic brewery where he could make his own flavours. Once he got this main tasting room up and running, he had the barn built in the back for the larger events, and we just expanded to open this room for smaller events. We also have a decent sized patio that overlooks the creek, which is really popular in the summer.”
“So, when did you join him?”
“A couple of years ago. We met in college and once he had this place up and running, he gave me a call. When he got together with Mandy, he finally realized he couldn’t do it all himself and asked me to be his partner. And now I’m here.” I give Rachel’s shoulder a squeeze, earning me a smile as she looks over at me.
“Did you have your hands in this, too?” Greyson asks Brett.
“No,” he answers, shaking his hand as he leans back in his chair, the last of his beer circling in his pint glass. “Zach and I lost touch for a while when I was over in Clearwater. We just reconnected a little while ago at a brew fest in Kelowna.”
We start talking about Brett’s bar, The Lucky Dog, back in Whiskey Falls. I learn Greyson doesn’t drink after a scandal that happened a few months prior. I have to admit that while I knew a few of his songs. I don’t keep up with the gossip so I had no idea what had happened. It sounded like he went through a shit time, but managed to get his life together and has it better than ever now by the look of it.
My thoughts are drawn back to his little family. Charlotte’s fully asleep on his lap now and he’s absentmindedly running his hand along her hair as he talks with Brett. They’ve moved on to discussing the current state of our local professional hockey team, but I’m not following. I’m thinking about getting Rachel back to her place—a place that’s quickly feeling like home. I’m thinking about undressing her. Filling her.
With the night winding down, I’m counting the minutes until I can clean everything up and whisk Rachel away. I know it’s later than she usually likes to stay out. There are more people. It’s louder. There’s more chaos. But at the same time, I’ve never seen her laugh as much as she has. She’s making friends and building connections. I’m just the impatient asshole who wants her all to myself.
“I need to get this one back to the inn. I miss the days when I could just carry her,” Greyson says with a chuckle, trying to wake up his daughter.
“Aw, come on. You can’t carry around eighty pounds of sleeping deadweight?” Zach asks as he walks into the room.
“You’re welcome to try,” he jabs back, getting her into a sleepy-eyed, sitting position as we all laugh. “Thanks again for this, Zach and Mitch.” He stands, holding his hand out to us, which we shake in turn.
“It’s no problem. You’re welcome back here any time,” I say.
“Yes, thank you so much. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to just hang out like this,” Ella adds, wrapping her arm around Charlotte’s shoulder and helping the zombie-like girl up.
We say our goodbyes as Brett and Krissy follow them out, all making their way to the inn down the street.
“Do you need any help out front?” I ask Zach as I start cleaning up the empty glasses on the tables.
“Nah. It’s all done and locked up. You two get out of here.”
“Are you sure? I can clean up…’
