Page 31 of Hold Me Instead
They wrapped up their call. As he shut his apartment door behind him, though, he felt a sense of relief. This time, heading back to Elmwood Falls felt like going home.
***
“Are you gonna keep the gift?” Jordan took a sip of his beer.
Zachary sipped his taster, the orange and spice of the pale ale refreshing. “Yes. I love that shit—they make a mean tea. I can separate her from it.” He paused. “Maybe this batch will just taste a little petty.”
Jordan bellowed with laughter, then lifted his amber ale taster in a toast. “Good riddance. Hopefully, you’re finally done.”
“Been a year since the papers were finalized, and we were over well before that.”
Zachary eyed his friend. Anna had been a different person when they’d first married, but once he’d announced their split, Jordan had been vocal about his support. Apparently, he hadn’t been in the Anna Fan Club. Zachary had appreciated the support from family and friends—well, the friends he still spoke to—but when they voiced their dislike for her, he questioned his judgment.
It didn’t matter anymore. It couldn’t. He’d moved on, was done with anything serious—he wouldn’t make that mistake again. In fact, this was the first time in ages where he felt like he was really considering what he wanted. Getting out of Chicago seemed to help him clear his head.
“What’d your dad say when you told him you’d be filling in while he’s out?”
“Nothing.” Zachary glanced around the brewery. The large warehouse space was divided, the back reserved for brewing and the front for the taproom with wooden high-top tables and booths over a concrete floor.
“Did you actually tell him?”
“Believe it or not, I did. Right before I left the hospital last night.”
“Giving him ample time to actually talk about it with you then,” Jordan said sarcastically.
“That wasn’t the end of it,” he grumbled.
Jordan laughed again. “Ah, Z. Lay it all out there. Rip off the Band-Aid. You both will be happier once you clear the air.”
He knew he needed to. Years of hardly talking to his dad was sad enough, but continuing the charade well after his divorce, and with his father’s health scare…it was losing its edge. The memory of when he’d approached his dad about working for his father-in-law, wanting to explain how that had evolved, still weighed heavily on his chest. Yet, it seemed like his dad had planned to give the practice to Charlie all along.
“Why do I have to be the one to do it?”
Jordan shrugged. “I don’t know. But it feels like the right move, doesn’t it?”
“My mom just wants one of us to make the move. She doesn’t care who.”
“I bet, especially with you home.”
“She even told me I could move back in with them while I figure things out, if I want.”
“Aw, her baby boy is back.” Jordan chuckled and tossed back a lager. “I’m guessing everyone’s excited to have you back at work?”
Zachary sat back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the table. “Not quite.”
“Did you already piss someone off?”
“Why does that even come to mind?”
“Come on, Z. You were never shy about what you’d do differently if you were running your dad’s place. I can’t imagine that’s changed. Especially after working for such a hoity-toity family for years.”
“Maura seemed genuinely happy to see me.”
“That’s the office manager, right? The one who’s been like an aunt to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Right. So, basically, family. She doesn’t count.”
