Once Upon A Half-Time 2(56)

My email dinged. I checked the laptop.

It was news—but I didn’t know if the email was good or bad.



Nate,

The property in Santa Barbara has a lot of viewings this week. You better tour it soon if you want to put in an offer. It’s really the perfect spot for you, and I think we can win over the owners if they see your proposal—they’d definitely like the property in the hands of a small business. Let me know.

Angela



I didn’t hesitate. I called my realtor, but I was bounced to her voice mail.

“Angela, this week is no good. My best friend is getting married, and I gotta help with the wedding. Just…let this property go. There’s plenty of other places to check.”

I ended the call and felt sick.

What the fuck did I just do?

I wasn’t staying in town to help with the wedding or the preparations.

And I knew that property was the single greatest thing that might have happened to my brewery if I wanted to expand and head out west. I had tasted freedom, and it had a good, hoppy bite to it. But now something soured it.

A nagging, restless itch settled in the pit of my stomach. For twenty-eight years, I’d wanted to get the hell out of my hometown, make a name for myself beyond my family, and just fuck my way to happiness.

Now?

Only one thing kept me from packing a bag and setting down somewhere new with all the fun and prosperity it’d offer.

The only thing I wanted more than the life I had was the one I never thought I’d need.

I wanted Mandy, and that bullshit revelation knocked me onto my ass.

I headed back to the bar and grabbed a fresh beer. Chugged it. Opened another.

I drank until I got drunk, passed out on the couch in my office, and welcomed the black.

And, goddamn it—

I dreamt of Mandy.





15





Mandy





I thought nothing could be worse than walking in on Mom mid-coitus.

I was wrong.

I attempted to suppress that particularly traumatic memory, but I’d forgotten one very important person affected by my…discovery.

Dad.

Monday morning was a tightrope walk of phone acrobatics, tricks at the copier, and a lunchtime trip for the office to the busiest restaurant on the block. With a dedicated effort, I managed to avoid any one-on-one time with Dad through lunch. I lasted until that sticky, slow part of a workday afternoon where everyone gave up at three o’clock and migrated to the candy box.

Then he called me to his office.

What was I supposed to say to him? Anything about Mom would crush his heart as thoroughly as she crushed Marcus Washington’s legs.

And there were those thoughts again, swirling in my head. If nothing else, Mom’s scandal did give me something to worry about that wasn’t Nate and the baby. Good on her for always knowing when to butt into my thoughts.

Oh, I really, really didn’t want to think about her butt now too.

Dad gestured for me to sit, and he nudged his garbage can and the bag of chips under his desk. Great. Junk food twice in a day. He’d be a block of salt by the time he got home, and now Mom wasn’t there to make sure his dinner was a salad instead of a log of pepperoni and a handful of olives.

“Mandy…” Dad drummed his fingers against the desk—the same nervous rhythm I patted on my thighs. “Look, I think we need to talk about what happened this weekend.”

I bit my lip. “I’m not really the one to talk about this—”

“Of course you are. And I know it puts you in a very awkward position.”

I figured Mr. Washington was the one in the uncomfortable position, but I wasn’t saying a damn thing. “I don’t think it’s my place to say anything—”

“I don’t want you to be mad at your momma.”

I looked up. Dad rubbed his bald head with a sigh.

“But she—”

Dad nodded. “I know. It was inappropriate, and it caused quite the scene. But, you’re young. You understand. Sometimes people make mistakes in the…heat of the moment.”

Yeah, but my mistake created a life, it didn’t ruin a marriage.

“I thought you’d be more…upset?” I said.

“You know I love your Momma. We have our issues, but it’s nothing that can’t be worked out.”

“That’s very…optimistic.”

“Well, she’s worth that fight, Mandy.”

“But what about the…Washingtons?”

Dad waved a dismissive hand. “They’ll get over it. It was a momentary embarrassment.”

Wow. He was really optimistic. And maybe a little naïve? Nate was right. It was best to let them figure it all out.

“So, now that’s settled,” Dad said. “You don’t have to worry about anything. Your mom and I have an understanding, and it won’t divert any attention from your sister’s wedding.”