Page 45 of Pitcher Perfect

“Austin. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Shit.I didn’t have time to get stopped by Wendy. She was the biggest gossip in Dahlia Springs, but it was impossible to call her out on it because she was also the most powerful woman in town, next to Mabel. She and Mabel were frenemies most of the time because of some alleged incident decades ago.But when they team up? Watch out.

“How are you, Wendy?” I tried for a polite smile but couldn’t resist glancing at my smartwatch.

She talked a mile a minute about the latest accomplishments of her family members. As the head of one of the largest and most prominent families in town, Wendy could talk for ages on the topic.

“And then he told his boss where to shove it and quit. Now he has a new job with more pay and better benefits.”

I’d lost track of what she was saying several family members ago.

“Anyway, enough about my family. How’s yours? I heard your dad is going to be doing a show here. Profiling Pacific Northwest chefs or something like that?”

I blinked at her. I hadn’t heard anything about that.Then again, why would I know about something big happening in my dad’s life? Profiling chefs in the PNW? He’s coming back to Oregon?Of course Wendy knew about it. She would know if a cat dared to piss in her prized rose garden.

“Exciting for him. If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to get to,” I said as politely as I could manage.

“Bye, dear. Stop in sometime. I have a new item I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a giant coffee mug that says, ‘There’s a chance this is beer.’” She cackled like it was the funniest thing in the world.

I offered a small smile then continued walking toward Caleb and waved over my shoulder. The excitement over the chamber event and helping Caleb had been eclipsed by my daddy issues.When will it stop hurting?

Mustering the remnants of my cheer, I forced my chin up and squared my shoulders. There was a short line at Caleb’s food truck. Instead of interrupting, I dipped into Dave’s coffee shop to get Caleb some caffeine. He probably needed it. I sure as hell did. I’d gotten to the brewery an hour earlier than usual to get some deep cleaning done before starting a new batch tomorrow.

“Slumming it for boring coffee instead of your delicious coffee porter?” Dave grinned at me over the top of the espresso machine he was adeptly working.

I laughed. “I needed the real thing. Getting a taste in the porter isn’t enough. You have the best coffee in northwest Oregon.”

“Oh, stop.” But his hand waved me to keep going.

I laughed again. Dave was a great guy. He’d done a lot to help us with the brewery. Beyond being our coffee supplier for any brews requiring the flavor, he’d stepped in to help when the town was skeptical about Ethan and Dom. Dave and his boyfriend, Mikey, were two of the nicest guys in town.

Dave had been a few years above Ty and me in school, so we hadn’t interacted much back then, but we’d been friendly when we ran into each other on my trips back to town. We’d struck up a good friendship since I’d moved home. It was great to see him so happy since he found Mikey. It hadn’t dampened his matchmaking efforts though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he started wearing cupid wings.

“What can I get you?”

“Your largest Americano with as many shots as is safe to consume, and a couple of ice cubes to cool it. And whatever Caleb’s usual is.”

He’d reached for a cup then paused when I said Caleb’s name. “Caleb, huh?” The man was terrible at acting surprised.

My cheeks burned like a teenager’s after they got busted making out with the door closed. “I’ve sicced Mabel on him and feel like I owe him an apology drink.”

He whistled. “If I were you, I’d throw in a cinnamon roll for good measure.”

“Good call. How’s it going with him out there?”

Dave eyed me for a second, but I couldn’t read his expression. “It’s been great. I keep trying to get him to cook for me so I can make his breakfast sandwiches part of my menu, but he’s got all this rhetoric about ‘wanting to run his own business’ and ‘be his own boss’ and ‘start a restaurant.’” Dave snorted. “Snooze.”

“Blasphemy.”

“Exactly!” Dave winked at me. “So, you and Caleb are friends?” He was also terrible at trying to casually ask questions.

It was funny to watch him aim his well-intended romantic meddling at other people, but I didn’t want to be in his crosshairs.

“We’re working together on a project.”And I have a massive crush on him.But Dave didn’t need to know that.

“Ooh, a project? Lots of late nights?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“You’re incorrigible. We’re friends.”

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