Page 103 of Yours To Hold
“Don’t yell at me. I didn’t print them.” He shoves it back at my chest. “Tomorrow is bottling day, so I have to focus on that.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “I can handle this. Can we at least try them?”
“What, and tell them exactly two of them popped open?” Peter looks more annoyed than usual.
I crack the can open with a hiss. “Hey, why not? Quality control.” I take a big gulp; it’s warm, but exactly how the Clara tastes. “Damn. That’s good.”
Peter grabs the can from me and takes his own sip. “Oh shit. That’s refreshing.”
“I told you this would be a good thing.”
Rolling his eyes at me, Peter kicks back another sip. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t be a know-it-all.”
“Aww, look. My two brothers actually getting along,” Layla’s voice rings out through the quiet bar. Being three in the afternoon, we only have a few people sitting at the bar, Nash tending to them.
My gaze focuses on what’s missing from Layla. “Did you forget you were supposed to pick up my daughter from school?”
“I knew I was forgetting something.” Her voice is even, but her face is telling me I’m a dumbass.
“Then where is Willow?” I cross my arms. I used to be able to stare her down and she’d tell me anything. Now, it’s not as easy.
“You know the old souvenir shop?”
“You left her there by herself?”
Layla rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mason. I left Willow there all by herself. Figured she’d be fine with a bucket of ice cream.”
“Jesus, Layla. Where is she?”
“She’s with Gemma. There was something she wanted to see, so I left the two of them together.”
I blow out a breath. Logically, I knew she was fine. But it still sets my mind at ease knowing she’s with my sister.
“Why don’t you go check on her?” Layla asks.
“Do you not see that I’m busy?” I wave my hand in front of all the fucked-up cans of Peter’s greatest creation. With them screwing it up, it hopefully will be a fast fix.
“You were so concerned about Willow, I only figured you’d want to check on her.”
“Are you trying to get me out of here?”
“Layla, can you not see we’re busy?” Peter tells her.
“Life isn’t all about work.”
“Wow.” Peter and I say at the same time.
“Why are you two looking at me like that?” Layla switches her gaze between the two of us.
“Because you work more than I do,” Peter says.
“And I can’t pull Peter away from the bar.” Nash drops a kiss on his cheek as he walks by.
“That’s because you two work together and it doesn’t matter,” I say.
“Hey, I’ve been home more lately,” Peter argues. “Logan needs me.”
“Stop getting distracted. Mason, go get Willow.”
