Chapter 3

3

Beau

I turn on Discord and punch a message out to everyone. We keep this channel for business purposes only, but I'd be lying if I said it isn't because I know Autumn is an avid texter and she always makes me laugh. Between her and my sister, I don't know who is more crazy. They're always scheming. But Autumn always tries to make everyone happy. Every morning there's a message to the group which ranges from:

AutumnLeaf

Boom Boom Shake Shake The Room. Who's up for pumpkin spiced lattes this morning?

Or

AutumnLeaf

I had a dream last night that we were all stuck on a desert island and we could only bring one item with us. I know you're supposed to pick flares or a life raft, but I picked watching The Witcher reruns on a portable TV screen that never runs out of battery… Is there something wrong with me? I mean, it was only a dream…

So she's a big Henry Cavill fan, which female isn't? I found myself chuckling at that, not before my sister jumped in and said she'd take Henry Cavill with her to the desert island, which encouraged all the girls on the chat; Mom, Aunt Patti, Hartley, Skye, Eden, Celeste — Callan's girl — and Jodie — Eden's assistant — to start a chat about their secret crushes. Of course, it took good old Gabriel to remind everyone this chat was for WORK PURPOSES only. If they wanted to chat about hall passes and cute asses, they could go start a chat all of their own… which they did. But I still wait for Autumn's message every morning.

I've always used Discord, but mostly it's for gaming and keeping up with my friends online. I also love how it supports cross-device syncing, has in-built game streaming features and I can use it for work. I can easily share videos, media and files all in one place, which helps when me and Georgia are working on marketing together.

I smile when I log in and see Autumn has already left a message and I'm the first one to see it:

AutumnLeaf

Is it just me, or is spring in the air? @HudsonNash I need to come to your cotton farm and take photos. If you don't answer me I'll come over there with my side-kick Georgia and hunt you down…

I know she was going to the bank today, so maybe she had good news. I type back:

VirtualHero

IDK - maybe @HudsonNash needs to get out more. I heard someone almost beat the bucking Moose's scoreboard on the weekend. Maybe he's brooding because he knows his time is up

Autumn doesn't reply straight away, but her light is green so I don't expect her to take long. My sister, however, beats her to it…

PreciousPrincess

Oh come on, @HudsonNash can't bear the thought of someone possibly tipping him off his self-made pedestal. It'd be a huge detriment to his ego.

VirtualHero

Now, now, no need for name-calling. P.S. It was you, wasn't it?

PreciousPrincess

Mind your business, and I'll have you know I've got better things to do than ride a bucking Moose just to prove that it isn't that hard. It's just nobody has the chops to see it through — or they don't want the wrath of Grumpy Pants for their rest of their natural life

AutumnLeaf

LOL OMG what I'd give to see you wear that crown, @PreciousPrincess. Even if just for a weekend. Please tell me you definitely don't have better things to do…

PreciousPrincess

I think a little healthy competition is good. Speaking of which, are you interested in coming over to take some more photos of the barn now it's nearly completed and around the creek for the new website @AutumnLeaf the weather is going to be superb these next few days

GabrielBassett

At last. Some actual work talk.

PreciousPrincess

Shut up @GabrielBassett. I am talking about work, see above ??????

AutumnLeaf

Yay Georgia! I'll DM you to arrange a time ??

VirtualHero

Hey, brothers. You know it's rude to lurk @GraysTheBoss

GraysTheBoss

Notifications come up on my screen. That doesn't mean I'm lurking, asswipe

VirtualHero

Woah, someone didn't get their extra shot of fuck-me-sideways caffeine hit this morning

MomsTheWord

@VirtualHero wash your mouth out with soap, young man!

VirtualHero

Oops, sorry Mom. I didn't think you'd be on

MomsTheWord

I had a thousand notifications, then I saw my two eldest sons — who I barely see anymore — both communicating on the chat. I want you all over for pot roast on Sunday, no excuses

GabrielBassett

Mom. This channel is for WORK PURPOSES. Enough chatter already… But yeah, pot roast sounds good. Count us in.

GraysTheBoss

Us too Mom. But what do you mean "Who I barely see anymore"? Just because Gabe finally found a woman who'd put up with his nervous tick and grinding his molars in that annoying way of his, doesn't mean we're all ignoring you.

@SkyesAreBlue can you please keep the door closed when you visit my brother's office, not all of us want to hear their brother's muffled groans

MomsTheWord

Grayson Thomas Bassett! All of you need to wash your mouths out with soap!

SkyesAreBlue

Hey! @GraysTheBoss I happen to like that nervous tick and molar grinding, he's also good with his hands ?? PS I'll try to remember to close the door but I can't guarantee anything, sorry ??

GraysTheBoss

Ew, I think I just threw up in my mouth

MomsTheWord

That's fantastic @SkyesAreBlue — does that mean there could be a baby on the horizon?

I slap my forehead. I was waiting for Mom to grasp any opportunity to bring up more babies. I'm just glad the heat's off me. I love being an uncle, it's the best job in the world. But I've never really thought too long and hard about my own kids or if I'd have any. I think between my brothers — Gabe and Brook who both plan on having more kids, and Grayson and Hartley who definitely want them ASAP — and my sister, I might just skate under the radar.

GabrielBassett

@GraysTheBoss I don't have a nervous tick, but @SkyesAreBlue doesn't seem to mind my extra-curricular activities which, despite popular belief, are not conducted on work property

GraysTheBoss

Oh, for Christ's sake, enough already!

AuntPattiCanBake

What the heck did I miss?

VirtualHero

Oh, everything @AuntPattiCanBake. Photo shoots, why Hudson is so grumpy and Georgia taking the shit out of him, my brothers bickering, moose riding, baby making… I think you're up to date ??

HudsonNash

@PreciousPrincess you can try, little girl, but we both know you'll never beat me. And don't pretend like you aren't hung up on knocking my name off that score board, you'll never do it

PreciousPrincess

@HudsonNash I'm changing your nickname to GRUMPY PANTS SWEATY BALLS, I think it kinda suits you?

HudsonNash

@PreciousPrincess very funny. Name calling won't win you the prize, Blue Belle.

MomsTheWord

Georgia Blue! Honestly, young lady!

GraysTheBoss

Mom I'm not sure if this channel is the best place for parents

AuntPattiCanBake

It's better than watching tennis. Y'all are funny

AutumnLeaf

GTG sorry peeps. It's been fun…

VirtualHero

Don't work too hard @AutumnLeaf

AutumnLeaf

@VirtualHero I won't ??

PreciousPrincess

You two need to get a room

VirtualHero

Mom's right, you do need your mouth washed out with soap

HudsonNash

@MomsTheWord bunking in on Sunday, if that's okay? I saw something about pot roast…

MomsTheWord

Of course honey, the more the merrier

GabrielBassett

Okay, some of us are on work time, let's get back to it

SkyesAreBlue

I'm doing a coffee run, anyone want to join?

VirtualHero

I can. Gotta come into the office shortly anyway if you wanna slide on by?

SkyesAreBlue

Perfect. I'll pick you up. I feel a trip to Verne's is in order

GraysTheBoss

Red velvet, please

VirtualHero

Hey Numbnuts, you weren't interested until Verne was mentioned

AuntPattiCanBake

Ooh, Beau honey, could you pick me up a half dozen lemon bars for the pottery class I have on Wednesday, I'll fix you up

VirtualHero

I'm on it

GraysTheBoss

Suck hole

GabrielBassett

Back to work!

VirtualHero

Smell you all later ????

I click out and pull on my work shirt and a clean pair of jeans. I'm not usually in the customer facing areas of the distillery, so jeans work for me. I slide my glasses into the top pocket because I damn well keep forgetting them and I may be able to get some actual work done if I don't leave them at home this time. I only need them when reading, and though I've had contacts on and off, I find them really annoying.

Before I log off, I check my other discord channel. I keep a couple with my gaming friends, and one with a buddy of mine that I'm working with. Fletcher and I are developing a new app where you can get paid for playing video games online. There are other websites out there, but a lot of the free games you can play suck ass. Who wants to play Angry Birds for two hours just to get a couple of points? We're trying to get sponsors on board and get an active community interested because I know a lot of the gamers I talk to online want more options and better rewards.

My mind gets easily bored if I'm doing the same thing every day, so I like having different hobbies. I wish I could game more, but obviously I have to work so I can only do that at nighttime and on weekends. I admit, gaming has been a little bit of a crutch lately because I haven't been out much in the last few months. Things have been hectic at work and the last thing I feel like doing after work is socializing. I'll still go have a drink with my brothers and my friends once in a while so they don't think I'm a total loser, but it's been a hot minute since I went out looking for a cute chick to buy a drink. I palm the back of my neck. Why is my mind flicking to Autumn again? Her long hair. Her perfect skin. Her stunning blue eyes. Not to mention her laugh and everything else about her that's perfect…

If I'm being honest, I haven't stopped thinking about her since the auction months ago and I know I need to. Why now all of a sudden? She's been in my life for a while now and wham, out of the blue, she's the only thing I can think about. I'm not going to pursue her. For one, it'll make her howl with laughter. She'll think it's a crush and probably squeeze my cheek again and tell me I'm hilarious. The humiliation would crush me. I might be the most laidback Bassett sibling, but that doesn't mean I'm completely devoid of feelings.

Having Autumn think I was some kind of pervert crushing on her in secret would probably make her run a mile, and that would ruin the friendship. I don't want to ruin that because I really like her. Even as a friend. I look down, annoyed that I'm getting a chub because I'm thinking about her. Get a Goddamn grip!

Autumn goes for guys that are well put together and can say all the right things. Not socially awkward gamers who call themselves VirtualHero and stays in most nights with a giant bowl of Cheerios and enjoy Cherry Coke. She'd laugh in my face if she found out. No, she wouldn't do that, but she would give me a sympathetic look while she hunted for the right words to say to let me down gently. Then she'd never want to see me again. I'd ruin everything.

Laid.

I need to get laid, wash this nonsense out of my system and then I'll be right as rain again. I won't be imagining Autumn without clothes on, riding me on my gaming couch while I listen to her soft moans telling me to go harder. Nope. I won't be doing that.

I text Fletcher. He lives across town and he's the only friend I have who lives in Stoney Creek that isn't family related. Maybe he'll come out this weekend and we can scour Moose's and the Piccolo Bar. Not that either of us could pick up a broad at the Piccolo, it's where all the rich snobs go. Still. It could be worth checking out. Chicks think I'm pretty cute. Okay, chicks think I'm very cute. I've never had any complaints yet. In fact, I've had a couple of girls that lived out of town who wanted to take things further but I don't wanna do long distance. That doesn't interest me. If I like a girl and I want to spend time with her, it'll be in person. Not virtually or otherwise.

I'd want to see her all the time. Cook for her. Make her laugh and make out on the couch. I don't want to be jerking myself off over a phone or an iPad screen.

A text bounces back, breaking me out of my reverie.

Fletch

Sounds good. My cousin Janey's in town this weekend, is it okay if she tags along?

Hmm. I don't know that Janey could be any kind of wingman, but then again, she could be cute…

Me

Sure. She any good at riding a wild Moose?

Fletch

Nah, she's from Alaska

I laugh.

Me

Saturday, 9pm?

Fletch

Wow, that late?

I roll my eyes.

Me

Very funny. I've been working up a sweat with this app. Need to talk about that soon too

Fletch

I can jump on Discord tonight

Me

It's a date

Fletch

I certainly hope not

Me

?????♂?

This is exactly why I'm still single.