Page 3 of Break My Heart
‘Yeah, so find a way to get them in here. Host an event. Advertise. Have specials.’
‘An event only lasts one night and I can’t afford to be running specials right now. I can’t afford ads either, and I shouldn’t need them. Everyone knows the place is here.’ I lean back against the counter. ‘I don’t get it. I thought the Kanfield name alone would be enough to get people in here. Is it the beer? I just switched to the fall brews. Maybe people don’t like them.’
‘The fall brews are great,’ Nick says. ‘Even better than the summer brews.’
‘Then there’s just one explanation.’ I sigh. ‘Gina Slater. She fucking cursed the place.’
‘He thinks she’s a witch,’ Brody says to Nick.
Nick laughs. ‘You’re joking, right?’
‘Hey, it’s possible,’ I tell him. ‘How else do you explain how she beat me at camp?’
Nick shrugs. ‘She’s just good at sports, I guess.’
‘It wasn’t just sports. She beat me at the damn pie-eating contest!’ I throw my hands up. ‘How is that possible? You saw how much I ate as a kid. I was bigger than her, and she beat me! And now she’s beating me at owning a brewery? I’m telling you, man, it’s pure witchcraft.’
‘He’s losing it,’ Brody says to Nick, trying not to laugh.
Nick looks back at me. ‘Have you been over there?’
‘Where?’
‘Gina’s brewery. Have you gone there to check it out?’
‘Hell no. I’m not supporting the enemy.’
‘Then how are you going to know how she’s getting customers?’
‘I know how she’s getting them,’ I huff. ‘It’s witchcraft.’
‘Sawyer, I’m serious. You have to go there and see what she’s doing. Youhave to check out the competition. You don’t think Dad used to go to other orchards when he was just starting out?’
‘That’s different. He didn’t know the people.’
‘It’s not different. You need to go check this place out.’
‘And run into Gina? I don’t want to see that woman, or even talk to her. If she’s anything like she was when she was a kid .?.?.’ I shake my head.
‘What was she like as a kid?’ Brody asks.
‘A smartass,’ I scoff. ‘Thought she was always right. Always assumed she’d win.’
‘Sounds like you,’ Nick says before swigging his beer.
‘What the hell?’ I stare at him. ‘I’m not like that.’
‘You’re exactly like that.’ Brody laughs. ‘She sounds like the girl version of you.’
‘That was your last free beer.’ I point to it.
‘Hey, I’m just joking around.’
‘I don’t know what you’re so worried about,’ Nick says. ‘This woman may not even remember you.’
‘Oh, she definitely remembers me. I was her only competition. Everyone else at camp didn’t care if they won or lost. They were just there to have fun.’
‘Which is what you were supposed to be doing,’ Nick says.
