Page 17 of Worst Nanny Ever
Big Catch Brewing is one of the best-looking breweries in town, slick and shiny and devoted to its fishing theme down to the nautical décor. You won’t find a lot of people willing to say so, though, because the owner sold out to Bev Corp, one of the big beverage conglomerates, which pissed off locals.
We’ve played here a few times before, including back when Hannah was the second-shift floor manager. It’s funny to think about that now. I’d seen her, noticed her, but we’d never had a casual conversation. She’d existed on the periphery of my life, not unlike the black-haired woman staring slack-jawed at her cell phone in the background of one of my beach photos—a forever mystery.
Then Rob got with Sophie, and suddenly the loud, outspoken floor manager at Big Catch became loud, outspoken Hannah.
Wait…
That’swhat’s different. Hannah’s not here, and the whole vibe of the place has shifted. Before, Big Catch had the friendliest staff of any of the breweries in town. Now, most of the staff seem exhausted and annoyed.
“It’s the staff,” Imuse. “They’re…”
“Are you done up here yet?” asks a sullen-faced man with a knit beanie pulled all the way down to his eyebrows. He’s wearing the Big Catch uniform but not the old Big Catch smile.
“Uh, almost, man,” I say, nodding to my kit, which I’ve already packed up.
He glances at his watch pointedly, then sighs. “I’ll have Liam come out and help you move your stuff.”
I’m not sure what the big hurry is, given that we were the last act tonight and they don’t close for another hour, but I’m too caught on his last sentence to say so.
“You mean Hannah’s brother?”
He was already walking away, but he pauses. “You know Hannah?”
I gesture to Sophie and Briar, who’ve just walked up to the stage to join us. “Yeah…so do they. Hannah’s babysitting for my son tonight.”
His glower deepens. “We all thought she’d be here until she texted Liam earlier.”
“Yeah, he’sdefinitelynot passing the famous Travis Thomas vibe check,” Bixby says, sounding amused.
The guy looks at Bixby, shakes his head ruefully, and says, “Sorry, it’s been a long month. It’s just…anyway, I’ll get Liam.” And he takes off as if herding dogs are nipping at his heels.
“They all miss her,” Sophie says, watching him as he disappears into the back. “Of course they do. I’ll bet they replaced her with someone truly repellent.”
“And I missedyou,” Rob says as he pulls her close.
Briar crosses her arms, looking a little uncomfortable.
“I’ll hug you if you want,” Bixby tells her with a grin. He has at least half a thing for her. She isn’t the slightest bit interested in him, but I’m not worried about his feelings. He has half a thing for every woman he comes across.
“No, thank you,” she says. “But if you’d like me to help move your stuff, I can carry up to a hundred pounds.”
He whistles and hands her a case that weighs twenty, max.
“Let’s get ’em out to Travis’s truck, Rapunzel,” he says, tugging gently on a lock of her long blonde hair.
“I want to help too,” Sophie says, pulling away from Rob.
He gives her his guitar with a grin, which, for him, is like entrusting another person with his child.
Ollie.
I’m about to tug out my phone to text Hannah again, when her brother comes lumbering over with Beanie Guy. I’m six-one, but Liam’s got at least four inches on me, and he’s broad, with reddish-brown hair and a short beard. There’s a bruise on his cheekbone, and I’d hate to find myself on the wrong side of the man big enough to have given it to him.
I consider what Hannah said earlier, and I have to admit she has a point. It would make more of a statement for Ollie to walk into school with this guy than with me. But I’m grateful she reversed course and gave me the chance to make a stand for my son.
“You need help getting your stuff out?” Liam asks.
Not really, but I nod. I need to give him the bag she gave me earlier, for one thing, and I’m also curious about Hannah. Maybe he’ll give me some insight. “Sure, thanks, man.”
