Page 19 of Break My Heart
‘I can’t believe you’re saying this shit to your own brother. You’re the one who encouraged me to start this place and now you’re acting like I’m going to fail.’
‘That’s not what I’m saying. I just know you, and know you can be overly confident sometimes, to the point you stop trying. Like with the fall brews. You said you never got them to taste the way you wanted, but here you are, serving them anyway.’
‘Because I ran out of time. It’s September. I needed the fall brews to be out.’
‘Even if they’re not what you wanted?’
‘I never said they weren’t good. I was just hoping they’d be better. I’m still learning here. I didn’t go to school for this. I’m doing the best I can.’
‘I understand that, but now that G’s is open, you may need to speed up the learning curve. Spend more time trying different brews. Maybe call up some experts, see if they’ll give you some advice. You can’t assume people will come here just because you’re a Kanfield. If you want people to pay $6 or $8 for a beer, they need to be better than hers.’
Nick smiles before taking another sip of his beer. I know what he’s doing. He’s saying all this to push me to be better. He knows how competitive I am and how pissed I’d be if Gina put me out of business.
As annoyed as I am at Nick for implying my beers may not be as good as Gina’s, there’s a small part of me that thinks he’s right. That stout I had at G’s last night was better than I was expecting. It was damn good, and as much as I hate to admit this, it was better than mine. How did she do it? Where did she learn this stuff?
‘I need to go,’ I tell Nick.
‘Go where?’
‘In the back to make a new stout. The ones I have are lacking something. I don’t know what, but I’m going to figure it out.’
He gives me his smug big brother smile. ‘Go ahead. You want me to help out behind the bar?’
‘Seriously?’ I say with a laugh. ‘You’ve never bartended.’
‘How hard could it be? I can pour beer in a glass.’
‘Thanks, but I think Wade and Milo can handle it. Don’t you need to be getting home to Lyndsay?’
‘She’s with Callie tonight. They’re at the orchard, working on the wedding plans. Mom’s helping out too.’
I smile. ‘Are you next?’
‘For what?’
‘Getting married. You going to ask Lyndsay to marry you?’
‘I am eventually.’
‘What are you waiting for? You’re not getting any younger.’
‘She got divorced a few months ago. She’s not ready to get married again.’
‘Is that what she said?’
‘No, but even if she was, it’s too soon. We started dating last summer.’
‘I thinkyou’rethe one who isn’t ready. I bet if you asked, Lyndsay would say yes.’
‘Just stay out of it and go work on your beer.’
‘Oh, so you can givemeadvice, but I’m not allowed to give you any?’
‘There’s perks to being the oldest.’ He slides his empty glass over to me. ‘I think I’ll try the porter next.’
‘Get it yourself. I’ve got work to do.’
I go in the back, feeling like a jolt of energy just shot through my veins. My passion for making beer is at a new all-time high. Nick was right. I was getting comfortable, slacking off, doing the same old thing. But no more. That competitive fire in me has been lit.
