Page 73 of Love Is Brewing

“There is a joke with my mother and having all these kids. She’d been waiting for years for someone to settle down and give her grandkids. West was the first to fall and then Braylon and Laken pretty quickly after. Foster got engaged at Christmas and he’d just met Charlotte at Easter.”

“Sounds like your family moves fast,” she said, going back to her food.

“Seems it when it’s right,” he said. “But we also try to keep my mother out of it because she can be bossy.”

Phoebe laughed. “I think most mothers feel it’s their right for that.”

“Is your mother bossy?” he asked.

“She brought up meeting you and asking you to the wedding.”

“So it’s not your idea?” he asked. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“This is where it gets to be chick-confusing.”

“Chick-confusing?” he asked. “Is that a thing? I’ve got two sisters, but it’s not like they talk to me about lingo.”

She laughed. “It’s a thing. I wanted to invite you. It crossed my mind. But Ben’s wedding is after Laken’s. I worried that if I invited you to Ben’s then you’d feel like youhadto invite me to Laken’s.”

“Surprisingly, I understand what you’re saying.”

“That’s good,” she said. “None of my brothers would have. So I guess we can say it all worked out well. You’ll just have to let me know when you’re going to Laken’s. I’m going to assume a few days early, but I could be wrong?”

“I’ll be going on West’s private jet that morning. My mother and Talia will be there prior. We’ve got other family that will fly into this area or drive here to get on the jet. My extended family is large and West tries to make it easier if he can. Thankfully, I’m not in this wedding.”

“That’s mean,” she said.

“No,” he said. “It’s not. Braylon was West’s best man. West was Braylon’s. We were all in both of the weddings. All the siblings. But Jamie has a lot of close friends and colleagues. It’s going to be a huge wedding. They are keeping the wedding party to just them and three others and Jamie’s daughter as a miniature bride. Talia is the maid of honor and then Abby and Lily are bridesmaids.”

“Your sisters-in-law,” she said.

“Yes. But it allows me to not have to be there too early either. Just a lot going on.”

“I’m in Ben’s wedding. Mason is the best man,” Phoebe said. “I didn’t know if you knew that. Eve’s sister is the matron ofhonor and then me. My brother Matt is the other groomsman. It’s going to be a big wedding too but a small wedding party.”

“So you’ll be going early then,” he said. He would work it out, but it’d be nuts to be away too many days in a short period.

“I do have to go there a few days early, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to or can’t. It’s only two hours away. You could come Friday if you want after work.”

“I might do that,” Elias said. “You’ll be okay with it?”

“If anyone understands how crazy a job or business is, it’s me,” she said. “I’m always busy.

“This is somewhat of a slow time of year because of the weather. If it’s not great, people won’t be driving to get beer. If they don’t come to me, I don’t sell.”

“You never wanted to be in retail locations?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “I’ve got more control this way and keep a larger percentage of the profit. It makes me more in demand on top of it.”

“Which is one thing Fierce would love. You’ll be getting your name out there mixed with their base. You don’t have to tell me this, but is this beer going to be in retail with them? Or only through you?”

He laughed. “We are doing two, but no one knows that. It’s been hush hush. Most people think there will only be one that is going into retail, but shortly after that one is put through distribution and sold, I’m having another one here. They are brewing the first. I’m brewing the second.”

“Wow,” she said. “That is so exciting.”

“We’ll see how it goes. I hope it’s huge for both of us.”

“I’m sure it will be. Everything Fierce touches turns to gold. Not from luck but from hard work. It seems the same with you,” she said.

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