Page 90 of Something’s Brewing

Garrett shot Cole a look. “You’re not helping.”

“Oh, I am,” Cole said, pointing at him. “Because right now? You’re doing that thing where you mope and pretend you don’t care.”

“I’m not moping,” Garrett scoffed.

Nick raised a brow.

“You didn’t go to work,” Cole said after taking a sip of his beer, “and you answered the door like you were hoping it was her.”

Garrett went still.

“Yeah,” Cole said. “Thought so.”

“So, you want me to what, drive to Minneapolis and demand she come back?” Garrett said.

“No,” Cole said simply. “I want you to stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

“Wow. Thanks.”

“I’m serious.” Cole stepped closer. “You said it yourself—you don’t want her getting hurt. So don’t sit here. Do something about it.”

Garrett frowned. “Like what?”

“Ever heard of a grand gesture?” Cole said with a grin.

“This isn’t one of those rom-coms like Paige writes,” Garrett protested.

Cole shrugged. “Pretty sure it is.”

Nick huffed a quiet laugh.

Garrett shook his head, but something shifted slightly in his gut.

“You two are crazy about each other,” Cole said, slapping him on the shoulder. “Everyone can see it. She just needs time to figure her stuff out.”

Nick nodded. “And in the meantime? She’s still working the case. Still showing up for this town—even from a hospital room.”

Garrett let that sink in. Of course she was.

“She’s not walking away,” Nick added.

“No,” Garrett said quietly. “She’s not.”

Cole squeezed his shoulder once. “So, stop acting like she did.”

Silence settled over the room again.

“Alright,” Garrett said.

Nick’s brow lifted. “Alright?”

Garrett nodded once, something steadier settling into place. “Alright.”

Cole grinned. “There he is.”

Garrett grabbed his keys off the counter, because sitting here wasn’t going to get her back. And if there was one thing he knew for sure—Madison Mitchell wasn’t someone he was going to let walk away without a fight. Because for the first time in a long time, he knew exactly what home felt like. And it wasn’t complete without Madison in it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX