Page 65 of The Barkeep and the Bro

“I had this whole vision.” She wiped her eyes. “We had this spot picked out for pictures, and we were going to get married overlooking the valley.”

“The ballroom has those same views. And you can get lovely shots inside.”

“It’s not the same.”

I shrugged. I couldn’t argue with the weather. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but I found myself getting annoyed with her crying.

“Ellie, you and Tim decided to have a wedding in April, the month with the most rain and inconsistent weather. You knew this was a possibility.”

She sniffled, pulling out all the stops. “I know, but the forecast was looking hopeful leading up to today.”

“What do you want me to do? I can’t change the weather. I’m not that powerful.”

I felt bad for being short with her, but I had a lot of work to do today because she and Tim couldn’t pick a more reliable caterer. I was out of sympathy.

Charlie came over and sat down next to her, slumped his shoulder against hers. “Ellie, what is going to happen tonight?”

She cocked her head as if that were a trick question. “A wedding?”

“And what’s going to happen at this wedding?” He looked at her with full intent. He was listening, and he made you feel like what you said mattered.

“Tim and I are going to get married?”

He nodded at the correct answer. “You two are getting married. Rain or shine. No matter how the pics come out on the ’gram, you two are getting married and are going to spend the rest of your lives together. This,” he waved his hand at the rain, “is nothing. A speed bump on the way to happily ever after.”

He pulled a cloth napkin from the stack behind them and used it to dry her eyes. I wonder if this was what he was like as a boyfriend, bringing calm to their relationship.

“Thanks for the pep talk, Charlie,” she said.

“Anything for you.” He shot her a wink, and a flash of red tore through me. Right. They used to date. He probably winked at her all the time. It wasn’t reserved just for me.

Charlie hopped off the table. “I’m going into the truck to grab the glasses. Boss, I might need a hand.”

The smile that climbed his lips sent a spark of need fissuring in my stomach. I might’ve checked out his ass as he strutted away.

Ellie wiped lingering tears from her eyes.

“I’m sorry for freaking out, Dad,” she said with her typical level-headedness.

I couldn’t be mad at her. I kissed the top of her head. “It’s a big day. Weddings make everyone crazy.”

Crazy enough to have shower sex with an employee.

“I got my bridezilla moment out of the way early.”

We shared a laugh. The red in her eyes began to clear. The same could not be said for the rain.

My phone buzzed with a text.

I could use a hand in the truck, Charlie texted with three eggplant emojis.

That fucker. I wasn’t too old to know that wasn’t a reference to produce.

“Is everything okay?” Ellie asked as she read my face.

I shoved my phone as deep into my pants pocket as it would go. “Yeah.”

I knew exactly what kind of hand he wanted.

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