Page 45 of Branded

As if we summoned him by saying his name too many times, Caleb sinks into his seat with a huge smile on his face and lipstick marks on his neck.

“Why are we talking about me?” he asks, and Finn and I just stare at him. “What?”

“How the fuck do you do it? We haven’t been here thirty minutes and you’re already banging some chick in the bathroom?” Finn praises him, “Tell me your ways, Yoda.”

“My secrets, you need not,” Caleb replies, then sips his beer. “Besides, it wasn’t a random person. It was Staci. She needed it; I needed it. We understood.”

Ah yes, Staci, the server he fucks frequently when we come by for drinks.

“You’re an animal,” I tell him. “And we were talking about the fact it’s weird Christopher is getting married.”

“We were also talking about the fact Isaac is bringing a date to stay the weekend up in Napa for said wedding.”

Caleb chokes on a mouthful of beer and coughs. “What?”

“You all are making this a bigger deal than it needs to be. So what if I’m bringing a girl? I’m allowed, aren’t I? So fuck off.” I glare at both of them. “And if you do anything to make her uncomfortable, I’ll kick your asses, got it?”

“Why would we do anything to make her feel uncomfortable? Come on, man, we are the lives of the party and everyone likes us,” Finn says.

“Exactly. We’ll make her, whoever she is, feel right at home,” Caleb adds.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”

Chapter 12

Isaac

Twoweeksflewbyin a flash.

One minute, I was talking to the guys about bringing a date with me to Napa and the next; I’m stepping onto the train for the ride up with Sawyer’s hand in mine.

“I’ve never ridden a train before,” she says with wide eyes. “This is amazing and so fancy.”

The train from the Bay Area up to Napa Valley is one of the nicer train experiences. It really leans heavily into the luxe feeling the entire area has. After taking the ferry across the Bay, we were shuttled to the train, and I have to say, having Sawyer with me feels perfect.

“We are meeting a couple of my buddies. They’re sitting with us. I’m sorry for anything they say ahead of time. They can be… a lot.”

“I like when people are a lot. It keeps me on my toes.”

“You haven’t met Finn and Caleb yet.”

We weave through the other passengers, toward the back of the main car, where we find my two best friends sitting next to each other, already nursing a scotch each.

“Early start, fellas?” I slide my hand to lie on the small of Sawyer’s back. I know Caleb will know who she is, considering they work together, and to be honest, I’m proud as fuck to have her by my side right now.

“You know it,” Finn says, rising to his feet to introduce himself. “I’m Finn.” He extends his hand to Sawyer.

She takes it gladly. “Finn. I like that name. I’m Sawyer. It’s really nice to meet you.”

Caleb is up next; he rises just as Finn. “Sawyer Westbrook. Holy shit.”

“Caleb Everhart? Oh my God. You’re Isaac’s Caleb?”

“And you’re the mystery date,” Caleb replies. “Wow. It’s a small world.”

“You can say that again.” She lets out a chuckle, visibly loosening up a little since she isn’t completely new to everyone.

We slide in to take our seats across from them. The sides of the train car are glass all the way to the roof and partially above you in order to provide the perfect view up to the Napa Valley. Sawyer is looking around in wonder, and the alpha male inside of me is proud she’s experiencing things like this with me.

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