Page 67 of Pitcher Perfect

“I don’t know,” I managed after several tense moments.

He straightened and hooked an arm around my shoulders. A bit awkward since he was shorter than me. “That’s okay. I know you’re under a lot of pressure with the contract Ty got. Don’t think I don’t notice. You’re not alone in this. If you burn out, it affects us all. And there will always be a new contract, a new issue, a new thing that could keep you working twenty-four seven. We’re all invested in what’s best for you as your best friends, your family, and your business partners. We need to take care of ourselves and each other.”

“I know.”

He mussed my hair. “Now eat that food, and think about sexy ways you can thank Caleb for being so thoughtful. Also, find out if he has any nice food truck friends like him who he could set me up with.” He grabbed another piece of cheese before darting out of my reach. “I’d better get back out there before the townies start serving themselves. Don’t work too late.”

“Sure.”

I munched through the rest of what Caleb had brought as I thought about Ethan’s words.He’s right, but why is it so hard to admit I need help? Let alone say no to anything. Is working so much really fast-tracking me to burnout?The thought of working so hard I no longer loved my job was devastating. I couldn’t let it get there.

We need to take care of ourselves and each other.I had Ethan, Ty, and Dom taking care of me. Ty’s family too.Who takes care of Caleb?With his sister constantly traveling between jobs and his dad in Idaho, I wasn’t sure. I knew he had friends in Portland, but they weren’t close, like what I had with the guys. He talked about Dave in a way that made me think they were more good buds than BFFs.

I knew one way I could take care of Caleb. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but if I could lift some of the stress from his shoulders, I would do what I could. Though he hadn’t admitted it, I knew how worried he would be about finding a kitchen.Why waste money none of us have on renting a kitchen or impose on someone he doesn’t know well when I have an in?

I swallowed my pride and pulled out my cell phone. It went to voicemail.Of course.

“Dad, I need a favor.”

CHAPTER21

CALEB

Charity:[photo of a gorgeous sunset with vibrant tropical flowers on bushes in the foreground]

Caleb:[photo of rain dripping down the awning of the food truck]

Charity:woooow I’m sooooo jealous

Charity:[photo of a colorful cocktail over sand]

Caleb:[photo of a brick of Tillamook medium cheddar cheese]

Charity:when did you become so cruel?!

Caleb:[grinning devil emoji] you started it

* * *

As soon asI crossed the threshold of my apartment, the urge to plop onto my couch and sleep for three days nearly won over doing what I needed to. It had been one hell of a long day—great sales and steady customers but exhausting. I kicked off my shoes and stretched my feet. Before I let myself relax, I needed to go through my checklist for the chamber event in a couple of days.

The event itself wasn’t a big deal, as I’d catered tons of similar things before. What had me triple-checking my shopping list for tomorrow’s Portland trip was Frank Ambrose’s involvement in the chamber. I hoped that once he saw me supporting the community, he might finally view me as a member of it and give me a chance at the restaurant. Getting to use his empty commercial kitchen was the perfect opportunity to not only test it out and visualize what I could do with my restaurant there but helphimvisualizemein it.

With Austin and me spending more time together, I had become a regular at the brewery the past few weeks. I’d made more friends and acquaintances in town, which made me more excited about the restaurant than before. It had gone from a childhood dream to make my place in the town that had meant so much to my mom to being part of the actual community.

I hadn’t told anyone about my restaurant idea yet because I didn’t want people putting pressure on Frank and sending him the other direction, though, I kind of wished Austin might offer to put in a good word for me. But I would never ask him to.

Needing something to help me through the bit of work before I could relax for the night, I pulled a bottle of unlabeled beer from my fridge. A perk of hanging around Austin was being a taste tester for his home brew recipes. The new pale ale was a winner.

The night he’d given me the beer had been a great one. We’d had lots of those. Things were going well after our quick date in the brewery the night after he’d canceled. He’d surprised me with a bottle of a wine I liked and a sixty-minute playlist of artists I’d mentioned enjoying. Despite being a short date, it was one of the best I’d ever had.

Getting to enjoy his beer was a good stand-in when he wasn’t there in person. At least it was something of his I could get my lips on. Leaning back against my counter, I smiled at nothing as I thought about him. That was my default mode lately. The man had wormed his way into my heart. Dave had teased me relentlessly the times he’d caught me with a goofy smile all by myself at the truck. I picked up my phone to text the man on my mind.

Caleb:I’m drinking your beer right now but wishing I were swallowing something else of yours

Austin:are you trying to make me hard right now?! Jesus

Caleb:maybe. Is it working?

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