Page 60 of Pitcher Perfect

“Could we rent more tanks for a couple of months just to get ahead on production? Or find some used?” Ty looked between us.

“What about hiring a part-time brewer to help you out?”

Ethan had suggested that a few times already, but I’d always pushed it off. We had so many competing priorities for when we had the money, and I wasn’t convinced hiring help to brew was where it should go first.

“All that takes money, and we don’t have a lot of it floating around. If I did, I wouldn’t be sharing a bathroom with any of you.” I tried for a smile.

None of them smiled because they were too busy looking at me like someone fragile who was days away from a complete meltdown. I wouldn’t let them down. Whatever it took.

CHAPTER19

AUSTIN

After we wrappedup our tense meeting, I quietly worked on a load of dishes. My outburst had been a surprise to us all, and I didn’t know where to go from there. The guys were understanding and accepting, as always, but I still felt like shit, like it was my fault we might need to find money for more equipment. Logically, I knew it was a sign of growth beyond the limitations of our setup, but my brain wasn’t sold on that line of thinking.

“Wanna watch some Anthony Bourdain?” Ethan pulled some beers from the fridge as I dropped the last plate into the dishwasher.

“Sounds good.” Dom nodded.

“Do you even have to ask?” Ty walked over to the slow cooker.

They all looked at me as though they expected me to make an excuse about going to the brewery or heading upstairs to work on new recipes. It hit me like a two-by-four to the face. I’d been so focused on work that I’d neglected my relationships with the three most important people in my life. The cold reality that they thought I couldn’t spare a couple of hours to watch TV with them was sobering.

“Abso-fucking-lutely. It’s been too long since we’ve had a Bourdain sesh,” I said enthusiastically.

Ty strode over and pulled me into a hug. He squeezed me tight like he had the night I’d learned I would be permanently living with his family.

After he released me, he walked back to his meatballs. “They’re ready to eat! Dessert time, boys.”

“I’d rather eat dryer lint than frozen meatballs with poor-quality meat and barbecue sauce filled with high-fructose corn syrup.” Dom’s nostrils flared as he watched Ty skewer a meatball with a toothpick and pop it into his mouth.

Ty shrugged. “More for me.”

We settled on the couches in front of Dom’s giant TV and watched an episode ofNo Reservations. It felt good BSing with them about foods we would never try and places we would love to travel.

“Caleb just texted he’s had durian. He said it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t like eating rotten shit,” I said to Ty, who had insisted it must taste like that.

“Has he eaten rotten shit? How can he compare the two?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure he can imagine how awful it would be.”

A few minutes into Ty and I bickering over whether one had to actually try something to know it would taste bad, Ethan asked me a question that stopped me cold.

“Why don’t you invite Caleb over to watch the show with us?”

I blinked at him. “I… what?”

“Invite him over to hang with us.”

I blinked at him again.Invite him into our space? To chill?I supposed he’d already been over once before after dropping me off, but that was different. “Wouldn’t that be weird?” I looked between them.

“Why would it be weird?” Dom asked.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re making it weird. We’re all friends. Consider it team bonding or something for Portland Pairing.” Ty knocked his knee against mine.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll ask.” I smiled down at my phone.

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