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“I think it’s great,” Mackenzie said. She hugged me, offering her sweetest grin. Then she looked at Bryson, and her face changed—a warning.
“You do?” he and I asked at the same time.
“Of course I do. I think you’ll be amazing at anything you do, and this looks like a good opportunity to try something new.” She giggled. “Plus, isn’t this the company you bought the bar through?”
Bryson nodded, looking at the familiar name on the flyer. Lakeside Commercial Real Estate. That was why it sounded familiar. That was who Bryson used.
“It was,” he said. “My buddy Drake works there. I’ll have him look out for you.”
I groaned. “Please don’t. I can do this on my own. I don’t need you watching over me!” I knew my attempt would be feeble. He was going to do it whether I wanted him to or not.
“It wasn’t a question. I’ll give him a shout,” he said. The inner turmoil he wore on his face danced between concern and frustration. “You know it’s not going to be easy, right?”
Did he think I was looking for easy? “I never said it was.”
“Most real estate agents don’t succeed the way they think they will. Very few actually take off. What happens when you struggle? Are you prepared for that?” he asked, and Mackenzie and I both rolled our eyes. At least she was on my side. I knew she would talk him into understanding it.
“You have so little faith in me. You’re supposed to be my biggest supporter. You’re my brother.” I grabbed the flyer back from Mackenzie, shoving it in my purse. “I’m going to do this whether you think I’m going to fail or not, and I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”
I stomped away, quickly making my way out the door. “Amanda, come on!” he shouted behind me.
“You should’ve been more positive,” Mackenzie scolded. “You know she’s going to do it whether you support her or not. Why not be on her side?”
I didn’t turn around, letting the door close behind me. She was right. I was going to do it whether he supported me or not. I’d show him.
I’d show myself.
Chapter five
Drake
Bryson sounded frustrated when he called, demanding I come to his bar tonight. What could have possibly been so urgent that he needed me there on a Wednesday? The rest of Pour Decisions was empty, with the exception of a couple miscellaneous patrons scattered around the room.
“The usual?” Bryson asked me with a chuckle before filling a glass with ice and soda water. He added a lime and slid it to me when I nodded. He grabbed another glass, pouring a finger of scotch in it and throwing it back before refilling it.
I took a drink, setting it back on the counter. “So what’s so urgent that I’m watching you take shots on a weeknight?”
He cocked his head. “Amanda quit her job. She’s starting in real estate.”
“Real estate? What did she do before?” I didn’t know his sister well. She was several years younger than him, and Bryson was already a few years or so younger than me. It was rare that my path crossed hers for longer than a couple of minutes at a time.
He scoffed. “She was a secretary.”
“Why real estate?”
He grunted and shook his head. Bryson finished the rest of his glass and slammed it onto the counter. He eyed the bottle next to him, but he slid the glass away and dropped his head into his hands. “Fuck if I know, dude. She’s taking some class at Lakeside.”
Oh great.
“You’re kidding,” I said. Of course she would be taking the same class I was going to be suffering through.
“I wish,” Bryson groaned. “I’m trying to be supportive, but I think it’s a disaster waiting to happen. How legit can this class actually be? You work there. Is she wasting her time?”
Oh lord, help me. “It’s pretty legit.” I took a drink of soda water. “I, uh… I got roped into helping with it.”
The way he raised his eyebrows and reared his head back let me know exactly what he was going to say. “That’s perfect! You can keep an eye on her. Help her out.”
I scoffed. “I don’t even want to help with the class at all.”
