Page 24 of Yours To Take
He sets a copper mug in front of me. “One Clara.”
“Why is this so good?” I sip on the cocktail. Ginger explodes on my tongue, cutting the taste of the vodka. It’s the perfect refreshing drink.
“It’s a good thing your brother isn’t here, otherwise he’d have a long-winded speech about how he makes the best drinks in town.”
“I hear that enough at home. Thanks, Nash.”
“You got it.” He heads down the bar as a familiar brunette rushes inside.
“Hi! Hi! I know, I’m late. Sorry!” Ivy runs to where I’m sitting in a whirlwind of perfume.
“Ivy. You’ve been running late since I met you. Why would tonight be any different?” I laugh, sipping my drink.
“Blame Willow.”
“You’re really blaming my niece? That sweet girl?”
Ivy drops into the seat next to me. “Yes. She didn’t want Daisy to be cold and had to get her a sweater. But she kept saying Daisy didn’t like the ones she had. And when I told her Daisy is a dog and doesn’t care, I got an entire speech about how she knows what she likes. It was a whole thing.”
I laugh. “That sounds about right.”
“Anyway, I was able to get her over to Gramps’s without too much trouble.”
“It’s going well though?”
Ivy beams at me. “It is. She’s a firecracker.”
“She gets it from her dad, that’s for sure.”
Something flashes across Ivy’s face, but it's gone before I can pick up on it.
“Hey, Ivy. You want anything to drink?” Peter comes up.
“Hey, Peter. I’ll have whatever Gem is having.”
He laughs. “You guys know that you can drink something other than the Clara, right?”
“It’s your best drink.” Ivy flashes him a bright smile.
“It is. But it also doesn’t mean you can’t order something else.”
“I’m good.”
Peter mixes her drink for her. “And Mason’s been okay?”
“He’s a peach.”
“Our brother? A peach?” Peter interjects. “No one has ever described Mason that way.”
“Maybe he’s a better boss than you are,” Ivy tells him.
“You realize I’m his boss, right?” Peter tells her. “And I’m making your drink.”
He sets it in front of her.
“Mason’s good to me. Don’t worry.”
“If you say so.” Peter taps the bar in front of us. “Holler if you need a refill.”
