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CHAPTER 7

CLAY

IMPECCABLE TIMING

“You’re a hungry boy tonight.” I watch while Ani scarfs down his food. On one hand, it’s probably terrible that he always eats like this. I should really look into one of those slow feeder bowls for him. It cannot be healthy to eat that fast. On the other hand, I need to get going if I’m going to be ready when my Uber gets here so I can meet Collin and Tanner at Wasatch Whiskey Distillery.

He would have to pry the words out of me, but I do love my brother. And Collin, well, he is basically a brother too. I know I should be glad they’re in town, but I’m beat. Work’s been hell. I only like to be two places when I’m not working: at home or at Roxy’s for a beer. At least it’s just going to be the three of us. Tanner said the girls were doing something at the spa. Still, I could just pour a whiskey at home, sit in my office, and crack open a book. That would be an awesome night in and I’d enjoy every second of it.

If I bundled up enough, I could even hang on the deck and just enjoy the view of the mountains by the fire pit. I loved that idea so much in fact that I tried to get them to come over here instead, but no. They wanted to go out on the town so I’m being the good little brother and tagging along with them. Namely because if I didn’t go, I’d never hear the end of how I’m being a grumpy, antisocial asshole from my brother and sister.

Sometimes I wish I could just lay it all out there. I don’t enjoy being this way, but I don’t do well around people. It’s not that I don’t want to be around people, especially the ones close to me. But outside of my very small circle of friends and family, people suck. They drive me nuts. They let you down and hurt you. Or worse, you let them down. And I don’t need more of that in my life than I’ve already been through.

If I was going to be dragged out of my house against my will tonight, I guess Wasatch Whiskey isn’t the worst place. It’s a local distillery with a tasting room and restaurant right off Main Street. The outside blends in perfectly with the old mining town facades of Park City and they do make pretty solid bourbon and rye.

Walking in, I immediately spot Collin and my brother at the corner of the bar.

“Hey, what’s up, asshole?” Tanner calls to me with a raised hand already holding a glass of whiskey.

“Seriously, Tanner. You know, when I greet people like that, it’s just normal, me being me .” I sit down at the stool next to him, but not after punching him in the shoulder probably harder than I should have. “But when you do it, it just sounds like you hate me.”

That gets a laugh out of Collin. “Okay, boys, ” he says in a mocking tone. “If I knew you were going to come in hot like this, I’d have gone to the spa with the girls.”

I cock my head to the side, casting Collin a sidelong glare.

Tanner wraps an arm around, trying to pull me into a hug from our bar stools. “Come on. Lighten up.” He takes a sip of his drink before ruffling my perfect hair, only deepening my scowl. “So, you ready to be my best man? That’s a lot of responsibility, little bro .”

“Remind me how I got chosen for this again? And you know I practically run a construction company, right?” I glare at both of them. “How come you didn’t pick him?” I tip my head to Collin .

Tanner turns and smirks at Collin, who’s already grinning ear to ear. It’s always been like this with them. Given how much time he’s been around our family since before I was even born, it was like I had two big brothers every time the Perry twins visited their grandparents. “I have plenty of other duties. Perks of being the bisexual brother of the bride and best friend of the groom. I get to do bride and groom shit.”

I groan in exasperation and mutter to myself under my breath before placing my order.

After a couple minutes of catching up with them, the bartender comes by, bringing my twelve year old bourbon, served neat - my normal drink here. I’m going to need it to deal with these two tonight.

I grab the crystal rocks glass and notice a table of girls across the bar. They’re all dressed in fancy shit like fur lined jackets and silly boots. They’d probably slip and fall in them the first time they step on the ice outside. Their table is covered in girly cocktails. I know the type. The obnoxious tourists that come in thinking it’s cute to have a wild night and make some waiters night a living hell with over the top, particular orders. They remind me of Lizzy.

I roll my eyes and take a swig of my bourbon. The second it hits my lips, it immediately brings back the memory of that kiss that’s been haunting me.

Ok. Maybe Lizzy is a little different than those girls. At least she can throw back some bourbon.

After bullshitting with Tanner and Collin over another round, I feel my phone buzz. I check it and smile seeing that it’s Kayleigh.

Kayleigh: Hey. What are you doing later? Can I come over?

Perfect. I needed an excuse to get out of here and Kayleigh is exactly who I need to see tonight. I need to vent and I’d much rather hang out with her at my place.

Me: You have impeccable timing as always.

Kayleigh: Let me guess. You were just going to ask me to save you from being social. Is Lizzy there?

I shake my head and laugh. God I love that she knows me. She’s been my best friend for years for a reason.

Me: Yes. And no, she’s not here. I’ll be home in half an hour. See you there.

I tuck my phone back into my pocket and pat my brother on the back. “As fun as this has been, I need to get home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow for dinner. The Aspen Grove Club, right?”

“Yep. We’re in unit 601.” Tanner stands and gives me a bear hug before Collin fist bumps me.

I know 601 is the Frank unit, Lizzy’s family’s condo. Great. The last thing I want to do is be forced to spend more time with her. Unless…

“Hey. Would it be cool if Kayleigh came along tomorrow?” I ask, knowing Tanner and Collin both know her and the Jensens.

They look at each other and both shrug. “Sure, why not? Been forever since we’ve seen her. The more the merrier.”

“She’ll be excited to see everyone. See you tomorrow.” I nod and grab my jacket before heading to the door.

This should be fun.

I’m looking down at my phone to check where my Uber is when a familiar voice gets my attention .

“Hello, Clay.” I look up to see Mr. Jensen. My boss, the founder of JSC Construction, and also Kayleigh’s dad. “What are you up to tonight?”

I’ve known Mr. Jensen since I was in high school. I still remember meeting him when I trained and skied with Kayleigh. He’s practically been like a second father to me. He helped me at my lowest point. He hired me, and trained me to practically run part of his company over the last eight years. But he’s also very old school and traditional and has given me a bit of an uneasy feeling that I can’t place. Drinking is on his long list of things he does not approve of. So it would be just my luck that I run into him outside of a distillery waiting for my ride. Ever since he promoted me to be his lead project manager, it seems like he’s been extra focused on everything I’m up to, both at work and outside.

“Oh. I was hanging out with Tanner and one of our friends that’s in town.” I offer a smile, but I really just want this conversation to end so I can get home to meet Kayleigh.

“That must be nice. I know you don’t see them too often. You can never spend enough time with family. That’s just so important.” He looks at me with his usual casual, but always somewhat judgmental look I’ve become accustomed to over the years. “Calling it an early night though?”

“Yeah. I’m actually heading out to meet Kayleigh. Just waiting on my Uber.” I look down at my phone again, seeing that my ride is about a minute away.

That answer gets an immediate smile and the judgmental look is gone. “Oh good. I’m glad you two are still spending time together. I still don’t know how it never worked out between you two. You were such a great couple.” He nods at me before he looks down at his watch. I’ll always be grateful for how he took me under his wing, but this is one of those things about him that has always rubbed me the wrong way. I know he’s wanted to take on a partner for the company so he can take a step back and eventually retire - and that day can’t come soon enough.

He’s always had this delusional dream that Kayleigh and I would end up being a thing, ever since we were teenagers on ski teams together. But we only dated for months, a silly high school thing, holding hands and watching movies with parental supervision. Neither of us want to tell him why it’s never going to happen for a long list of reasons. She’s my best friend though and nothing will ever change that.

“Well, don’t let me keep you. Tell Kayleigh I said hello. I’ll see you at the Aspen Grove Club next Thursday to get your update on that and the Grand Lodge project.”

He pats me on the shoulder before continuing down the sidewalk. It would be just my luck that I would run into him tonight.