Page 32 of Good Vibes Only
“What article?”
“Just some announcement about the plans for my brewery in the food section of the newspaper.”
“And they talked about my shop, too?”
He nodded. “They were slamming me for opening a brewery next to a sex store, and saying families wouldn’t want to eat there.”
“Hm, sothat’swhere you got the idea,” I said, stroking my chin.
“Yeah.”
“But still, that’s no excuse for how you acted,” I said. I didn’t want to let him off the hook that easy.
“You’re right. I was dumb and insensitive, and I don’t blame you for feeling insulted.” He took a deep breath. “So … I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
I smiled from ear to ear. And I even laughed a little. I couldn’t help it! He’d gotten me so worked up before, it just felt so good to hear him apologize.
Before I could acttoosmug, though, he held up a finger and grinned.
“But to be fair, you came at me, too. And at a certain point, all I was doing was returning the energy you were putting out.”
I huffed. “I didnotcome at you, Brett.”
He smiled. “Sure you did. You hated me from the second I introduced myself. You wereslyabout it, probably because you thought I was stupid and wouldn’t pick up what you were putting down. But I did.”
“And what was I putting down?” I asked doubtfully.
“The little digs at my intelligence, for one. And the implication that I was naive for starting a brewery, that I hadn’t researched the market, that I’d chosen a bad name. That I’m a trust fund kid and I have a small cock because I’m short.” He gestured with his hand that the list could keep going if I really wanted it to.
Damn.Ashamed, I pursed my lips and cast my gaze into the distance.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “You’re right. I was rude, too. But inmydefense,” I said, holding up a finger of my own, “the construction noise next door has been a serious pain in my butt for weeks now. And you didn’t exactly seem to empathize or care about it one bit. So yeah, you’re right; as soon as you introduced yourself, I immediately disliked you.”
His smile made his happy eyes crinkle.
“Why do you look so happy right now?” I asked.
“Because you said, ‘disliked.’”
“And …?”
“It’s past tense. I like it. That’s all,” he said, his innocent smile warming my heart.
“You’re really something,” I said, a burgeoning smile cresting my lips.
“Seriously, though. The noise situationisfucked up. I just don’t know what to say or what I can do about it. The work has to get done, you know? And they can’t do it at night. It’s just a little while longer. I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll make it out alright …” He trailed off, not knowing what else to say about it.
“That’sallI wanted to hear from you, Brett. I just needed you to hear me—not brush me off.”
He nodded. “I hear ya. And I’m sorry my business is making your life hell.”
“And I’m sorry for being rude,” I said.
He gave a careless dip of his shoulder. “No worries, babe. Like I told you from the beginning, I actually enjoy the banter. It’s what I do on the ice to get my opponents off their game.”
“Is that why everyone’s trying to kill you all the time?”
“You noticed, huh?” he asked with a chuckle.
