Page 16 of My Kind of Trouble
It was late on Sunday evening. Alex was locking up at The Brew and only he and Ryan were left inside. Ryan had been at the end of the bar since just after eight, like he often was on a Sunday, waiting for the early wind-down as the weekend came to an end.
Sunday evenings were when the two of them usually got to lock up together to have a catch-up over a whisky or two. Tonight, though, Ryan was being less than helpful as he sat there with his head resting on his palm, skimmingthrough something on his phone. Alex looked over his friend’s shoulder as he came to sit on the barstool next to him.
‘Planning a trip, are you?’ he asked, focussing his attention on his friend.
‘No, no,’ Ryan shook his head. ‘Noa is.’
He grunted, not sounding all that impressed about it. Ryan had always been extremely protective of his younger sister, and it was one of the reasons Alex hadn’t actively pursued Noa, even when she was all he’d wanted years ago. Even if they were best friends, he knew Ryan still wouldn’t be grateful for a fuck-up like him dating his baby sister. Sure, he’d made something of himself now, but he still had a reputation he was sure Ryan wouldn’t forget when it came to Noa.
Luckily, Ryan continued talking, not noticing that Alex’s lack of response had meant he’d disappeared into his own head.
‘I’m just looking at the safest hostels in Thailand so I can subtly influence her whilst still seeming like a supportive brother when it comes to these crazy plans of hers.’
Alex let out a chuckle because, from what he saw the other night, Noa was not a child anymore. No, she was definitely all woman now, and he had a feeling she could look after herself just fine. But, seeing his best friend so tense right now, he didn’t say that. Instead, he decided to move the conversation on.
‘Well, I, for one, can’t blame her for wanting to get away. I would kill for a break right now.’
Ryan stilled, stopped his scrolling, and looked up at Alex from where he was staring at his phone.
‘What do you mean? The bar’s doing great isn’t?’
‘Exactly,’ Alex said. ‘It’s been a long road getting here over the last year, one that has taken all my attention and time. You’ve been a huge help, and I appreciate it more than youknow, but now that the bar has finally picked up and is doing well, it feels like the adrenaline has worn off. And I am beyond exhausted.’
When Alex bought the bar a year ago, the previous owners had almost driven it into the ground. They were on their knees financially, and had let the place go. It was almost crumbling. This had meant that Alex got it for a great price, which allowed him to put in the work to bring it back to its former glory whilst putting his own stamp on it.
Alex had always found enjoyment in giving a second chance to something that had been neglected and helping it thrive again. But he wouldn’t look too deeply into why.
Such an overhaul on the bar had meant, though, that he had to close it for the first three months after taking over and, with no income coming in, he had to put in most of the work himself. And some help from the town, of course.
Freymoor was great like that. He was lucky to have so many supportive people around him. When he thought back to those long, tiring days and short, sleepless nights, he didn’t know how he got through them. Saying that, it wasn’t much better once he opened. With only one member of staff, and a reputation to rebuild, The Brew’s reopening was just the start.
Alex looked around at the memory of it and felt a sense of pride surge through him at how far he’d come. The bar really was doing great, like Ryan had said, and all his hard work had paid off. But he was well and truly spent, and he really did need a break. He made a mental note to look into taking a trip soon—Italy, maybe, or Spain. With the new help he’d been able to take on recently, now seemed like as good a time as any. Maybe Noa was truly onto something.
Ryan pulled Alex from his thoughts with a wave in front of his face.
‘Sorry man, I spaced. I told you. Tired is my new permanent setting right now. I feel like a walking zombie some days,’ Alex snickered.
‘Well, that’s exactly what I was just saying. Why don’t you go?’ Ryan asked, waiting expectantly.
‘Go where?’ Alex asked with a furrow in his brow, evidence of his confusion.
‘To Thailand. Or not just there, you could do the whole South East Asia thing. Take back all the holidays you should have taken this year in one long trip.’
Alex couldn’t help but laugh in response to that, ‘I was thinking more like a quick vacation to Europe, Ryan. You know I can’t leave this place for too long. And being so far away just doesn’t feel right.’
‘I would be here, just a phone call away if anyone needed anything. I could keep an eye on things. Besides, you said yourself you needed a break.’
‘Because you don’t have enough on?’ Alex teased. ‘Plus, I think Bella might actually kill me, and then you, if I leave you in charge whilst I’m away.’
Bella was The Brew’s manager. Alex had employed her a few months back, and she’d been a godsend. He knew she could handle things whilst he was away, but it still felt like a big ask.
‘That’s just an added bonus,’ Ryan smirked.
‘Don’t.’
Alex raised his eyebrows in a warning at his friend, but it only made Ryan smile wider.
‘Don’t what?’ he feigned ignorance, but they both knew that Ryan was using this as an opportunity to try and flirt his way into her good books.
