Page 10 of Pitcher Perfect

“Four winners over the past ten years have had ‘food truck guys’ on the team. I think we’re fine.” Ethan raised an eyebrow.

Normally the most easygoing of us, when Ethan put us in our place, we took notice.

“Fair,” I conceded, trying to ignore the itching under my skin.

The guys talked over each other as they tried to get me excited and convince me to participate. Of course I would do it. I owed them everything. They were the reason I wasn’t stuck in a corporate job that I hated. Because of them, I got to make beerfor a livinginstead of giving them small batches of home brew.

I reached over and picked up the double-headed, glittery, hot-pink dildo that we used to mediate disagreements. Once I held it up, the guys fell silent, per our rules.

“Fine. I’m in. But I’ve got some stipulations.”

CHAPTER3

AUSTIN

Team Tap That Group Text

Austin:what’s with the sandwich on my table?

Ethan:a reprieve from the nasty ass tuna sandwiches you eat every day

Austin:what did you do to it?

Ethan:[eye roll emoji] other than generously buy it for you? nothing

Ty:I saw him lick it

Dom:why didn’t I get a sandwich?

Ty:because no one likes you

Dom:[middle finger emoji]

Austin:oh shit, that’s good. Where’d you get it?

Ethan:grabbed it when I stopped for coffee at Dave’s

* * *

I scrubbedthe clean fermentation tank. Again. This Caleb guy was due to arrive in ten minutes. Ever since I’d agreed to do Portland Pairing, I’d been bent out of shape about it. I was already stressed trying to come up with at least one winter ale. Adding on the task of developing a competition-winning brew in barely any time? No pressure.Am I supposed to pull that out of my ass along with the time to work with some chef I don’t give two shits about?

“You look like you’ve had a wedgie all day. Make a switch to thongs recently? Jocks are more comfortable.” Tyler scratched his chin. “Nah, it’s more like you’ve had hiccups for a week.”

“Both of those sound horrific,” I grumbled.

“Tell that to your face. What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

“Nothing.”

“Next you’re gonna tell me Bud Light Lime is your favorite beer.”

I couldn’t hold in the shudder.

Tyler’s laugh echoed around the room. “That’s what I thought.”

I huffed out a breath. “What if this guy sucks?”

Tyler gave me a knowing smile. “Pretty sure you know he doesn’t. You ate his breakfast sandwich in two bites.”

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