Page 143 of Best Kind of Trouble
What does?
No way will this place be dried out before the party.
But I’m not going to leave that water in there. I don’t care that everyone’s busy or that it’s New Year’s Eve. I’m calling in all my favors.
After I text a few people about the situation, I make myself sit on the frozen curb beside Briar. She needs my stillness right now more than my strength. Still, I can’t help but say, “I could find and kill everyone behind this, and then it really would be over. For them.”
“And for you.” She places her hand on my thigh. “I’m not letting you go to jail.”
I nearly smile. “Is that your only objection to my plan?”
“We know my father was behind it.”
I wrap my arm around her. “Probably.”
The defeat Briar obviously feels lights a fire inside of me, though, because no, this will not be the end of what we’ve been building.
“We’re not giving up,” I insist, standing and pulling her up alongside me. “We can’t. Your great-aunt came all the way here for a party. We promised her some action.”
A smile drifts across her face, but she glances back at the brewery, and her bottom lip trembles. “It’s over. We don’t have enough money for the repairs. We wouldn’t even if the party went well, and now…”
“We’re not letting your father sell this place to that douchebag. We broke his rules, remember?”
She gives me a sad smile. “I’d sooner let it become another Hot Spot. But Iwillhave to sell it. I…” Her eyes tear up. “I didn’t want to have to do that. I really thought we were going to make it…”
I pull her close. “It’s not over yet. It’s not over until we say it is, and we don’t. Your ten-percent shareholder is holding out.”
I’ve obviously been hanging out with Dottie too much, but I think Briar’s spirit requires optimism right now. I’ll deliver—for her.
She kisses me, but I can tell she’s not convinced.
“You’re not giving up either,” I insist, holding her close enough that I hope she can feel the steady beat of my heart.
“I don’t want to.”
“So don’t. I’ve messaged some friends about helping us get the water up.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket to check for responses. “Mick’s on his way with his shop vac. Travis has one too. Rob doesn’t, but he’s coming. So is Otis. And Cormac says he has ashop vac he retrofitted himself, so it’s probably ten times better than the others, knowing him. They’ll all be here within the hour. My sister and the rest of your friends know what’s up, and they’re coming too.”
“They are?” she asks, as if she can’t imagine all those people would want to help her.
I hear someone approaching us, but I don’t take my eyes off her. “They’re your friends. Your family. And they’re coming to help us, Briar. We’ll have the water up today.”
She presses a hand to her throat, and I can see it. She’s trying not to hope. She’s afraid of it. “We still can’t have the party inside.”
“No, dear,” says a voice from the sidewalk. I finally look away from my girl and see Dottie Hendrickson, dressed in one of those silver star sweaters and a gray overcoat. “That’s why we’re going to have it outside.”
“Outside?” I’m as fond of Dottie as the next person, but I’m not convinced she can change the weather. It’s dry and cold. Not the kind of night people want to be gathered outside in while wearing party clothes.
“You have a lovely little beer garden in the back. We’ll need lots of space heaters,” she mutters. “And a tarp. Of course, we know people who have everything we need. It’s only a matter of putting it all together.”
Briar bites her lip. “But the noise ordinances…”
“It’s New Year’s Eve.” Dottie’s expression is full of righteous conviction. “If anyone wants to complain, they can complain tome. Now, come with me, Briar. We’re meeting at the tea shop straightaway. It’s all been arranged.”
I glance at the road as a few cars roll past. “The guys?—”
“Will take care of the standing water. I know all about it. But they don’t need you to oversee them.” She touches my hand, which is still wrapped around Briar’s waist. “Sheneeds you, myboy. You need each other, and I’m so glad you’ve risen to the occasion.”
