Page 31 of Summer Brew

“Gary,” there’s a warning in Keaton’s voice, “Gemma is having a tasting. It’s not something she’s done before and she’s nervous.”

“How do you know she’s nervous?” Gary’s question is filled with suspicion.

Keaton shoots me a look, and I already know that I barely have enough time to mentally brace myself. “Because she came to me for help and the moment I opened my door, I knew I wouldn’t ever be able to go back,” his voice is clear and carries throughout the entire room.

Part of me wants to shrink away from the sound. Part of me wants to do a happy dance.

I stand perfectly still instead of doing either.

Gary’s gaze swings over to mine. He studies me for a long time. I have no idea what he sees on my face. The best I can do right now is not let my unshed tears fall.

“Is he saying that not only has he been helping you, but you’ve also been,” he pauses and his face screws up, “dating?”

“Yes.” Keaton leaves zero room for argument.

Gary keeps his eyes on me and waits. My response is more of a squeak, “Yes.”

My brother’s eyes slam closed and his chest heaves with a few deep breaths. He spins around until his back is facing me. I watch every breath he takes even though it feels like my lungs have seized.

Keaton doesn’t hesitate. He steps in front of me like he’s protecting me from my brother. I become a puddle of goo on the spot. Even though it’s completely unnecessary.

When Gary turns around, the first thing he sees is the way Keaton is shielding me. His eyes go wide for a second before narrowing.

“So that’s how it is?” Gary scoffs. This is a side of him I’m not used to seeing. “You don’t need to stand in front of her like I’m going to hurt her. She’s my sister.”

“I don’t think you’re going to physically hurt her, but that’s not going to stop me from protecting her,” Keaton says the words like he’s commenting on the weather.

Gary blinks a few times. His focus shifts between Keaton and myself.

My breathing starts to turn ragged, the fear of my brother completely freaking the fuck out and doing something awful makes my knees buckle slightly.

“You’re not even going to offer me a free punch?” Gary’s face pulls into a mask of disgust and disappointment.

But I can see the way his eyes are sparkling. I let out a long, low breath and for the first time since Gary sprouted perceptiveness I’d never seen in him before, I can relax.

Keaton glances at me and then looks at Gary without looking away. “If that’s what you need to feel better about this, fine. I can take a punch from you. What isn’t going to happen is you making Gemma feel bad about this. She never betrayed you and neither did I. We never set out to hurt you, and we deserve to figure our private lives out privately.”

Gary’s shoulders completely slump and he pouts, “You know I hate it when you get all rational and use all the reasoning. It makes it very hard to argue with you.”

It’s not his blessing. But it’s something. I’ll take it.

“I guess,” Gary pauses and takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, “I’ll have to get over it.” He looks at Keaton meaningfully. “I’ll save my punch for if you ever hurt her. And please,” he adds, his voice whining slightly, “no mushy stuff in front of me.”

“Thank fuck,” Mayer mutters. “Now I don’t have to kick Gary’s ass. I was starting to get worried.”

A smile stretches across my face. It doesn’t fade even when the people closest to me are holding my newest attempt at making something GMH can be proud of. Somehow, after tasting my beer, my smile grows even wider.

I look up to find Keaton already watching me. Of course he is.

“What do you think?” He asks the question with gentle earnestness and hope.

“I think it’s better than anything else I’ve made before.” I look up at him and bat my eyelashes while cooing, “All because of you.”

Keaton shakes his head, his face turning solemn when he could be teasing me. “No, my Gem. It’s all because of you and your determination. You would have figured it out with or without me, I just helped you get there faster, that’s all.”

I put the beer in my hand down, forgetting it almost the instant I rest my hands on Keaton’s shoulders. Everything else fades away and I find myself trapped in his eyes.

“You’re a really good teacher,” I murmur softly, “and a really good man.”