Page 104 of Bragg's Love

“The expansion of the brewery has nothing to do with Dad being a cheater,” I admit.

“Okay.” Elder scratches his chin. “Then, what does it have to do with?”

“I thought you wanted to expand the brewery becauseNaked Falls Brewingis doing well,” Riley says.

“It is doing well.”

“I was fine with the brewery how it is. We make plenty of money to live comfortably. And the expansion caused a whole ton of problems with the town.”

Thanks for the reminder, Elder. As if I need it. I know he’s referring to Eden when he says ‘the town’.

I grunt. I don’t want to discuss this.

Elder fills my shot glass. “New round. Why do you think you have anything to prove to Dad?”

I scowl. “You’ve had more than one question already.”

He shrugs. “I declared a new round. Truth or punch?”

I study him. Elder is scrawny compared to me, but he’s also my twin and knows all my weak spots.

Riley nudges me. “You might as well tell him. There’s more tequila where that one came from.”

“Don’t you want to get back to your girlfriend?”

“Moon is with Eden.”

Good. Eden needs her friends around her now. I wish she needed me, but I blew that bridge sky fucking high.

“I’ve got all night to wait,” Elder pushes.

“Because Harmony won’t give him the time of day,” Brody teases.

I wave at Peace. “Peace needs to get back to his girlfriend.”

“Olivia understands. Besides, she’s hanging out with her sisters tonight.”

“And you’re okay with the Dempsey sisters running wild in Winter Falls?”

He shrugs. “Cedar’s keeping an eye on them at the bar.”

Elder bumps my shoulder. “I believe you’re out of stalling techniques.”

Not quite. I can always let my brothers beat the shit out of me. I frown. Since when is allowing my brothers to take shots at me a viable solution? Fuck. I need to come clean.

“I didn’t have the same dad as you did,” I begin.

“Hold on. Damon Senior isn’t your biological dad? This is a complete mind fuck,” Peace says.

“Damon Senior is my dad, but he wasn’t the same with me as he was with the rest of you.”

“Explain.”

I shoot another tequila and then I do as Elder demands. I explain. I explain how Dad belittled me and bullied me throughout our entire childhood. I explain how he refused to sign off on me playing football because it wasn’t ‘his’ sport. I tell them about the time he wouldn’t sign my report card because I got straight B’s.

“Fuck,” Elder mumbles when I finish. “I knew Dad was harder on you than me, but I didn’t realize what a complete asshole he was to you.”

Relief courses through me at his words. I thought he just didn’t care since he was the golden twin.

---