Page 46 of Undone, Love Times Three

He rubs a hand through his hair and sighs. “You know I’m with you on that. Dad would lose his mind if he thought we were giving up the IPA.”

“So why is Andy still talking about it like it’s an option?” I can’t keep the anger out of my voice.

“Because after running the numbers, it’s a no brainer.”

“Jay, tell me you’re not considering this.”

“What else are we supposed to do, Adele? We either make money with the IPA, or lose Blue’s.”

“There has to be something we can do. I told you and the others I was going to fight this.”

“Andy looked into this guy Faulkner. He’s a billionaire.”

“He’s a prick,” I mutter.

“That’s not something we need to prove,” he gives me a wry smile. “You have any other ideas? Andy thinks because he’s the oldest, he can make all the decisions.”

“He’s always been like that. We’ve never given in to him before.”

Andy is Uncle Harvey’s oldest kid. He doesn’t work in the brewery, but he is in marketing and technically, we’re a client. He does own shares in the brewery. I’m the one whose name is on the deed here, and I’m not giving in. I tell Jay as much.

“How do we fight it? The numbers the lawyers are talking about are insane. To pay it off-”

“We’re not doing that.”

Jay holds out his hands in a silent question. What then?

My lips twist in thought as I look out of the window. The sidewalk is busier now with people going about their business. Not as busy as it is in the evening when Lakeview becomes a hive of activity.

Wait a second. The night of the incident was like any other after a Cubs game. Full of people. People who come here regularly. The same people who love the bar.

“What are you thinking? You have that look on your face that is going to get us in trouble.”

“We’re not kids anymore Jay,” I tell him.

There are only six months between us, me being the oldest. We were thick as thieves as kids, always getting each other into trouble. We’re still close now. Not just because we work together with the brewery and the bar. He’s more like a brother to me, than Andy is to him.

An idea is forming in my mind. Jay is right, to a degree. My family might not like it. We agreed to keep this whole mess quiet, but the beauty of Blue’s Hideaway is the community of people we’ve created here. Locals and tourists alike love this place.

“We fight fire with fire,” I say in a determined voice.

“Adele,” he warns me.

“I need to run out,” I hurry around the bar. Jay swivels around to watch me. “You can hang around till everyone gets here, right?”

“What? No. Adele I’ve got to get back to the brewery.”

“It’ll be an hour, tops. Curtis will be here by then and you can go.”

“Adele!” He calls after me as I grab my stuff and go to the door. “At least tell me what you’re going to do.”

“I’m not letting him win. I’m not giving up 312 and we aren’t losing Blue’s Hideaway.”

“You’re gonna cause some shit, aren’t you?”

I grin at him. The concern is still in his eyes, but it softens. He’ll back me all the way. We’re on the same wavelength, Jay and me.

“Just promise to let Andy know when I’m far, far away.”

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