Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Are you saying I’m not hip and trendy?”
“Strike two. Who says that either?”
“The man you just asked to go steady with you. We say those things round these parts.”
I laughed, and he did too. Our bodies were vibrating against each other. Brody was so much fun. But then my brain started spinning again. “I don’t want to come between you and your family.” Christ, why had I said anything to him at all? After what he told me and how I already knew he felt with them…
“We’ll figure it out, No Good Mitchell. For now, I think you need to kiss me.”
So I did. We lay in the grass and made out like a couple of teenagers, before he drove us back to my house on the four-wheeler.
Brody dropped me off, and I watched him ride away. I didn’t go straight inside. Instead I ended up on the screened-in porch with my phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom,” I said when she answered.
“Hey, you. How’s it going out there?”
We talked for close to an hour. I told her about the distillery and some of the things I found out about my family. We spoke about Isaac and how well he was fitting in too.
“It sounds like things are going well there.”
I thought about Brody…the distillery, the land, random conversations with Lauren or Rusty. “Yeah, they are.”
“We sure do miss you out here, but I’m glad things are mostly going well.”
“I miss you too.” I really did. I was lucky to have her, to have them both.
“I’d like to see it sometime. Maybe we can plan a visit. I’m sure your father would love to come too.”
The thought made me smile, but I knew with his schedule, it wasn’t likely, at least not for him. “I’m not sure exactly what will happen, but we should plan something.”
We chatted some more, about her yoga class and a charity she was working with.
Eventually, I said, “You know I love you, right? Even though I’m here? I know you’re the one who pushed me to come and all, but I want to make sure you know that no matter what, it doesn’t change the fact that I love you and you’re my mom.”
“I know, you sweet boy. You have two moms and two dads, and that’s okay. I know your heart.”
I smiled, thankful to have her. Grateful for my past, the present, and hopeful for the future.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Brody
As much as I wanted to see Cohen again some more, our week quickly got busy as we each became consumed with our distillery crises. We texted and kept up with each other, but I had to admit, I was getting a little agitated about the time we weren’t together.
“I’m not saying I’m in love with you or anything” kept playing over and over in my head.
I walked through the distillery, clipboard in hand, running my usual inspection checklist, when Walker headed in. “Hey, bro. You need anything from the store?”
“Still not talking to you.”
“Yes you are.”
“No I’m not. Not that it would even matter, since you seem to be scarce lately.”
“This is talking.”
“Says you.” But as much as I wanted to bite my tongue, I couldn’t help myself. “I figured of everyone, you would have said something. Stood up for me when Dwain said that. You think I can’t tell that something’s been off with you? I know you too well for that. Ever since Cohen came to town, you’ve been…distant. Enough so that you took this long to really try to talk to me about this.”
He quieted, his gaze shifting to the floor. “Brody, you know I don’t doubt your loyalty to the family. I would never have stood by that comment, but some of the things he said, about you wanting to leave for and after college…you can’t say that wasn’t true.”
“I wasn’t trying to get away from the family, and I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yeah, you’re here. A part of you, at least.”
Fury burned like a hot poker to my chest. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“We’ve had issues since Big Momma died, but it’s gotten worse since Cohen came to Buckridge. Now I’m not saying that’s on him or you, but it’s just added to the secrets and confusion and anger. We’re less of a family than ever before.”
“So this is my fault?”
“Jesus, sometimes you are worse than Big Daddy, Brodes. We all got shit weighing on us, that we struggle with, now as much as ever. We need to come together, not turn on each other like this.”
I couldn’t deny that he was at least in part right, but it felt so goddamn hypocritical. “Funny thing to hear from the guy who turned on me.”
Walker sighed, clearly disappointed that despite his attempts, he couldn’t break through to me. “Fine. How about you text me if you decide you need anything from the store.”