Chapter 26

Brooklyn

For all Georgia's babbling and woo-woo, she sure is good at designing. Celeste arrives shortly after the solar system grand tour and we get down to business.

They've created the signature Bassett brand logo of the bull's head front and center, just the same as our three bourbon whisky bottles have always been. The labels are all sleek, gold foiling with a different watercolor background for each flavor. It looks sophisticated, but not stuffy.

"You girls have done good," I say, sitting back satisfied. "I think a couple of those tweaks here and there and it'll be perfect."

"I'm just glad the family vote finally got through," Gray says. "It was touch and go there for a while."

"Hopefully it will all pay off," I say. "There's a lot that's gone into this, and I really need to prove it to Dad and Gabe, especially."

"Well, I have some suppliers already lined up. A road trip might be in the cards," Gray says. "I even contacted Casa Cipriani, where I met Hartley in New York, and a few boutique bars. They're interested in stocking our new brand too."

I have to hand it to the guy, he stops at nothing to keep pushing the business forward.

"That's awesome. Who knows what will be next."

"Next will be the launch," Georgia says. "And the tasting room party. Don't worry, me and Eden can organize everything. The first batch is almost ready, right?" Gray and I both give her the nod. "Great, then we can start planning the event. I already got the local gazette on board and some PR companies, media and influencers when I reached out as an expression of interest. I just have to name the day and time."

"Perfect, Sis. You did good." I glance at Celeste. "And thanks for helping with the design. The new apparel line looks great." She designed our new staff uniforms as well as merch for the retail store when she started working for us a few months ago. We're just waiting for the winter vests and jackets to arrive.

"Thanks." She smiles. "I think the bullhorns logo is a real draw card. People know it, so you've got the advantage there. The new brand isn't starting out from scratch in that respect."

"That's a very good point," Gray says. "Time will tell, but I'm sure it's going to do well."

"It better, or it's my ass on the line." I rise up out of my seat and straighten out, ready to get back to the rickhouse and I need to text Eden and see how she is.

"You'll be fine," Georgia assures me on my way out. "Just be careful for the next week or two until this whole Mercury thing is over with."

"I'll be sure to do that," I holler.

"No more punching people, even if they do deserve it!" are her last words as I saunter away to the safety and sanctity of the cellar.

I pull out my cell, feeling weary. Not just from the late-night shenanigans with Eden, but this whole thing this morning with my family has taken it out of me. Even if I'm pleased with the way the meeting went, I didn't want everyone knowing about the Kirk thing, though I know in the long run it's unavoidable. I don't want my mom getting worried about me. She'll jump on the Georgia train and start giving me tips on how to keep my cool as well. I'm not hot-headed in the slightest, but I'd taken all I could stand of Kirk's bullshit.

Me

Hey baby doll, how are you since I left?

A message shoots back by the time I'm at the bottom of the stairs.

Eden

I'm okay. My hip is a little sore and I don't think it's just from the fall ???♀?

I press my lips together and chuckle to myself. Oh dear. I wondered if we'd maybe gone a little too far when I jumped in the shower with her and gave her a good morning gift from behind.

Me

I hope I didn't hurt you

Eden

I'm surprisingly perky. Though it hurts to walk

Me

Shit… what?

I'm alarmed for half a second.

Eden

I meant from my fall! But other parts are a little sore too

Me

Does that mean you'll be thinking of where I've been all day?

Eden

Every time I move

Me

LOL. We can do it all again if you like. I do get a lunch break ya' know

Eden

We do need to talk since that's what we were supposed to be doing. We didn't get much chance this morning either

Me

Before or after we got in the shower?

Eden

Be serious please!

Me

You're not regretting things are you?

She takes a few extra seconds to respond and I frown, waiting.

Eden

No. But this complicates things

Me

You think we were too hasty?

Eden

Jumping into bed was pretty hasty, Brook.

I sigh. I knew it. She's second guessing herself again. Nobody said we were tearing up the divorce papers and we were picking things up where we left them. Okay, sleeping together wasn't exactly supposed to happen, but it did. And frankly, I'm not sorry and I have no regrets.

Me

Well, technically it was your couch first

Eden

Very funny.

Me

You weren't saying that last night

Eden

I know. But I'm still trying to get my head around Kirk showing up

Me

Tell me about it

Eden

I really hope he left town

Me

I don't see what he would be hanging around for

Why the fuck are we talking about him?

Eden

You're right.

Me

Let me know if you're worried about him. I can talk to Travis again

Eden

Will do. Talk later. I've Gtg meet Jodie

Me

Keep up with the ice packs

Eden

xx

Well the crosses are one thing, but the things she said are another. I can understand her trepidation over Kirk showing up and me smacking him in the face, but he would be long gone by now. That much I'm sure.

I get that uneasy feeling already in my gut where Eden's thoughts lay. This is where we always end up, or we have in the past. We look at it from too wide an angle and she gets all confused and says it's too complicated. Then we give up, like we did the second time around.

Now I feel like I may have over shared in my lust-filled haze last night and said too much too soon.

I wash a hand over my face. She's right; we do need to talk.

Sooner rather than later.

Blake and I take Apollo and Misty out for a run the next morning. I know Eden has a busy day with the last fall wedding on her hands so I don't bother her with any messages. We spent the morning finalizing the money from Blake's birthday wishing well. She'd already counted it all the day after her party with over four hundred dollars from the donations from her friends that came. There were quite a few kids so it didn't take long to add up. Plus Eden and I both put in another hundred bucks each.

"That's six hundred big ones, B. I'm so proud of you, girl!" I tell her before she's getting her stuff ready for her friend's sleepover tonight.

"Thanks, Dad. Knowing it's going to a good cause is a really good thing."

"It sure is."

She's excited about tonight, seeing her friends Sophie and Montana. I'll be dropping her off at Sophie's mom's place around six and then heading back to the farm for what I'm hoping is a quiet night in.

I'm not working this weekend, as in, I'll drop by the rickhouse to check on everything, but I've got shit ton of my own to do this weekend and I need to spend some time with my animals.

"Do you think we could get some more pets?" Blake asks me when we've dropped by Macey's office to give her the donation money. Macey was more than startled at how it had all come about, and I could see she was very touched as well as very grateful. Knowing it will help the shelter animals in need is really something close to Blake's heart.

"It's possible," I say. "You talkin' about a dog again?"

"Can we get one?"

"Maybe." The only reason we haven't in the past is because I work long hours and it wouldn't be fair to have a dog at home by itself all day. Okay it would have the enclosed homestead area, but dogs are people animals and not all dogs can come to work like Sunny does with Callan.

"Really, Dad?"

"We'll see. Maybe a farm dog would be neat."

"Could we start off with some rabbits first then?"

I laugh and glance at my girl. "Rabbits?"

"Macey said she had some rabbits in foster care. Could we foster too?"

"Woah, woah, that's a big commitment, baby girl."

"But I'd promise to look after them."

"What about your week at your mom's?"

"I could take them, they're only small. The rescue has guinea pigs in care too."

"That's true. Well, you'd have to talk to your mom about that first. Noodle would have to be okay with it, it's her home too."

I've no idea how we would cart a rabbit or guinea pigs back and forth to our places, but I'm sure something could be worked out.

"Could I please, Dad?"

"We'll talk to Mom, okay?"

"Okay."

I can't help but smile at the way she wants to take in every homeless animal she can find. She's like her daddy in that respect. We've even thought about having a resident cat, so that will probably be the next thing.

When I drop her off, I get a text from Beau asking me if I wanna have a drink down at Moose's. He needs to talk to me about something, apparently. It all seems cryptic to me so I decide what the heck. A beer on the way home shouldn't cut my labor too short. I plan on texting Eden when I'm done there and see how her day went.

I know the wedding was out at the old homestead where a lot of people get hitched around here. It makes for a great backdrop.

When I pull up at the bar I see Beau's car already parked outside, and strangely enough, so is Autumn Leaf Photography, according to the branding down the side of her burnt orange BMW SUV. It kinda stands out around here.

My cell rings as I climb out of the cab and I see it's Eden.

I swipe across as I'm walking toward the entry. "Hey."

"Hi, Brook. How's your day been?"

"Good, Baby Doll. Just dropped Blake off at Sophie's and I'm heading to see Beau at Moose's. What about you? I was going to message you later."

"The wedding went well." She pauses. "It's still in progress. But I'll be leaving soon."

"That's great. Must be good getting to the end of a busy season?"

"Yeah, it's a relief. It went without too many hitches this year."

"Do you want to come down for a drink? It looks like Autumn is here."

"I might just have an early night."

"Is everything else okay?"

"Yes. I've been thinking about you all day, non-stop actually."

A smile creeps onto my face. "Me too."

"We really should talk about that list."

"You kinda sound serious, E. You sure you're okay?"

"The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking we were stupid last night."

My smile drops and my heart sinks. "Stupid?"

"What the hell did we think we were doing, hooking up like that?"

Hooking up? I pull my phone away from my ear for a moment and glance at the screen. Is she for real?

"E, don't do this. Let's talk in person."

"I'm freaking out, Brook."

"Can I come over?"

"No, not tonight. I'm tired and I need to think."

She sounds a whole lot different to last night, that's for sure.

"Sounds like you're doing way too much of that as it is."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You sound like you're getting in your own head about us."

"It's normal isn't it, after everything we've been through? We can't just jump back into bed like that and think it solves everything."

"I have never once thought that, or said it." I lean on the wall at the entrance of Moose's not walking inside as it'll be too noisy to talk to her.

"I took things slow with Kirk and then I go and jump into bed with you right off the bat!"

"Hardly the same thing, E. We are technically married, after all."

She sighs and I really can feel her frustration, but she needs to just take a breath. We can't figure it all out in five minutes. "I shouldn't have done what I did and grabbed you in the car. Not when I don't know what we're doing, or what the outcome will be."

"You're sorry?" I balk. "Well, I'm definitely not sorry. I'm glad you grabbed me in the car. I'm glad every time you look at me. And none of us know what the outcome will be in anything, unless you're GB and have a crystal ball." She doesn't laugh at my attempt of a joke.

"I should go. I don't want to cause a fight. Maybe I'm just tired."

It's my turn to sigh as my own frustration comes to the surface. I guess it has been a big week for both of us. Maybe she really is just tired, as her words really seem to be coming out of left field. "We'll talk tomorrow if you want," I say.

"Okay. Goodnight, Brook."

"Night, Edes."

I hang up and sigh, still leaning against the wall and run a hand through my hair.

She's really not sounding anything like she did when we were together the other night. And there was certainly no alcohol involved in what we did to influence her. And the pain meds weren't that good, surely.

I know her confidence was shot after she caught Kirk cheating, but why does she bring that guy up every time we talk? He has nothing the fuck to do with anything anymore. Is she regretting telling him to fuck off? Surely she's not reconsidering things with him again? I push off the wall, shaking my head. No way.

She may be many things, but she's not stupid.

We'll talk tomorrow where I can hopefully reassure her that we don't need to rush into things. Okay, we slept together, but we're allowed a slip or two, or three.

I'll do whatever she is comfortable with. I just don't want her to slip out of my arms before she is even in them. I don't know if I could handle losing her a third time. It's just not something I'm willing to face.