Page 91 of Bragg's Love

“I’m not a baby,” I mutter as I put the glasses on.

A camera clicks and I whip my head up to discover Brody with his phone out. “Thanks, bro. This year’s picture for the Christmas card is done.”

I drop the card as I rush toward him. He runs around the table holding the cake, and everyone scrambles out of the way.

He holds up his hands. “Don’t come any closer or I’ll ruin your cake.”

“You’re just asking for me to prank you, aren’t you?” Moon hollers at Brody.

I stalk toward him. “Give me your phone.”

He holds up his phone. “What? This?”

I slam my hands down on the table. “Yes.”

“No.”

I lean forward to get in his face and the table creaks beneath me. I glance down and watch as the table tilts to the side and the cake slides toward the left. I lift my hands but it’s too late. The table collapses and the cake careens toward the edge.

I hurry to grab it before it falls off but I trip on the table leg and end up sprawled on the floor. Before I have a chance to recover, the cake lands on my chest with a splat!

“Best surprise birthday ever,” Eden declares as she smiles down at me.

“Oh yeah?” I knife up and wrap my arms around her. She squeals as I place her in my lap.

“Now I’m covered in cake, too.”

“I promise to lick it off of you,” I whisper into her ear and she shivers.

She’s not wrong. It is the best birthday ever. I have the woman I love in my arms. My family – no matter how annoying they are – are here. And my brewery business is expanding. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Chapter 28

What do you get when a grumpy brewer falls in love? A Satisfied Stout ~ Text from Elder to Miller

Miller

Eden giggles as I drag her out of the backdoor ofElectric Vibes.Someone’s tipsy after Moon dared her to drink horse jizz. Fortunately, it isn’t made from a horse’s actual semen. Unfortunately, it is made from beer and milk. Two liquids that should never ever be combined in one drink.

After Eden finished the drink and didn’t throw up, she dared Moon to drink a smoker’s cough. I thought beer and milk was disgusting, but Jägermeister and mayonnaise was worse.

Of course, it didn’t end there. There was an eggermeister – Jägermeister and a pickled egg – a tapeworm shot – vodka, Tobasco sauce, and a squeeze from a mayonnaise bottle – and an infected whitehead shot – vodka, bloody Mary mix, and a spoonful of cottage cheese.

Cassandra pulled the plug on their game when they begged her to make a Kim Jung Un Nuclear Bomb, which is apparently made with food from McDonald’s and vodka.

At which point, Eden, Moon, and Ashlyn started singing some song about Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. There was a dance, too. A dance they’d obviously done before since it was choreographed.

“Don’t we need to tell everyone good riddance?” Eden asks as I lead her away from the bar.

“Good riddance?”

“Yeah!” She bobs her head. “Good riddance.”

“Good riddance? You want to tell everyone in the bar good riddance?”

“Good riddance? Who said anything about good riddance? Goodbye. We need to tell everyone goodbye.”

I chuckle. She’s adorable when she’s tipsy.

---