Page 11 of Why Not Us?

He gives me a serious look because he knows how my sister can be, and I know he doesn’t want me to be alone on my birthday. “Are you sure?”

I glance down at my phone, still resolutely black. “She said she’s on her way. I’ll order another drink and by the time I’m done, she’ll be here.”

“Okay.” He gives me a hug, then Ava does as well. They wish me a happy birthday and promise to see me tomorrow.

When my friends head out, I’m left alone at the table. I sit there awkwardly for a minute, checking my phone, but no new texts come through. Calista had sent one about half an hour ago saying she would see me soon.

I move to one of the stools at the bar. Nate comes over and looks at me expectantly. “A pint of the Hefaweizen, please.”

He gets it for me without a word, moving with that same efficiency I’d admired before. He sets it down in front of me and I assume he’s going to turn away, ignore me. Instead, he lingers.

“You didn’t go with your friends?” he asks.

“I’m supposed to be meeting my sister,” I say. “She’s always late.”

He just nods. Taylor returns, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “I’m hungry. You want pizza?”

“Sounds good,” Nate says. Then he looks at me, asking me the same question with his eyes.

I hadn’t expected to be invited to join them, but my stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch and now it’s past 7pm. “If you don’t mind,” I say.

“Of course not, partner,” Taylor says with a grin. “I’ll be back in a bit. What do you like?”

My eyes widen at the question. “Oh, I’m fine with anything.”

The brothers share a look that clearly says they don’t believe me, but Taylor shrugs and heads out the front door.

“It’s nice you guys are close,” I say when Nate doesn’t walk away.

“He’s a pain in the ass,” he grumbles, wiping a spot on the counter that didn’t need wiping.

I smile. “Yes. But you love him anyway.”

He jerks his head in a nod. “You have a sister?”

“I do. She’s a pain in the ass, too. My brother is less of a pain in the ass. But that’s because he and I rarely get together. He’s busy. He’s adoctor, you know.” I say the words, then purse my lips. “Sorry. That sounded pretty snarky, didn’t it?”

The corner of Nate’s mouth tilts up in the first hint of a smile he’s directed at me.

“It was. I guess you’re told all the time about how successful he is?”

“You could say that. I’ve got the golden child on one side and the baby on the other. I’m stuck in the middle.” I sigh. “I shouldn’t complain. My parents love all of us. They just never really understood me. The artist with a business degree. I guess I am a little incongruous.”

Nate steps away for a moment to serve a customer who has come back for a new round. I sip my beer and check my phone, sending Calista a text asking where she is and when she thinks she’ll get here.

Nate returns and I smile at him. “You don’t have to keep me company,” I say. “If you have things you need to do.”

He gestures around him. “I don’t, really. So, you’re kind of keepingmecompany.”

I have the feeling he doesn’t usually need someone for that. He seems like the kind of person who likes to be left alone.

“Do you work in the taproom often?” I ask, propping my chin on my hand. “I thought you were the brewmaster here.”

“I am. Tuesday nights are generally pretty slow, though. On the weeks when I don’t have Dani, I work here. On the weeks when I do, Taylor does.”

“That makes sense. Probably saves money if there aren’t enough customers.”

He nods as my phone buzzes, my sister’s name lighting up the screen. When I read the text, I lift my head to the ceiling and let out a sigh, surprised at the lump that forms in my throat and the tears that well in my eyes. It’s stupid. It’s just a day. I don’t know why it matters so much that she’s bailed on me, since she does it all the time.

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