Page 3 of Hammer and Hops

"On Sunday?"

I held up my hands. "No one cares when I'm working as long as everything goes off without a hitch." I had a reputation for ensuring that happened no matter what. I was probably the best event manager in Sacramento. But the job was stressful as hell. If I was going to plan something, I wanted it to be for me, my friends, or my family, not strangers. But it paid well and helped me get this huge loan to start this company, but I would be happy when I finally wiped my hands free of it.

“Okay. More important question…what did your dad make for dinner last night?”

I smacked his arm. “Not important.”

“Yes, it is, bro. I’m living vicariously through you.”

“Next time, you can come, then.”

Lukas gave me the side eye. “Not interested in the drama, just the food.” He knew my family and me alright.

“Whatever. I gotta go. Give me the list.”

“Right. Oh…” He shuffled papers around the desk until he found what he was looking for and held it up. “Here. Not exhaustive but I put little stars by the priorities.”

I took the list from him and looked it over. Actually, nothing on there was out of the ordinary or even unnecessary. “Solid.”

“Good. Now, go get ‘em, boss.”

We high-fived, and I headed out to the convention center.

Chapter two

A long time ago - Cameron

When Cameron was about four or five years old

I peeked around the door, wishing Cassidy was awake. She was in bed. Always in bed. But she wasn’t asleep this time. She made a weird noise. “Cameron? Is that you?”

I shoved the door open and stucked my head in. “Is me,” I whispered.

“Oh, good. I’ve been bored. Come in already.” She waved, then pointed to her dresser. “Grab my makeup bag and get up here.” She patted the bed in front of her and pushed herself up. She stucked her pillows behind her back.

She was the bestest sister in the whole world. She had really big eyes. They were dark like daddy’s and she hads a nice smile. She really liked me when she smiled like that. She used to have soft brown hair that I liked to braid, but it had all fallen out. She was still the prettiest sister ever without it.

I sat criss-cross-applesauce in front of her on the bed and handed her the bag. She dug through it and pulled stuff out. “Your eyes have a bit of gold in them, so let’s see if we can bring that out more. Okay?”

I nodded, closed my eyes, and leaned forward a bit so she could reach my face easiers. I didn’t care about the makeups but Cassy loveded the stuff. I wanted to make her happy, ‘cause she was always sad and tired. She touched my eyelids, one at a time, adding whatever colors she wanted. Then she scratched her makeups pencil over the edges. It didn’t hurt, just itched a little.

“Look up now.” She tilted my head up with her fingers. “Open your eyes just a tiny bit.”

I tried. “Like dis?”

She giggled. “No, look at me. Like this.” She made a funny face with her eyes cracked and her mouth wide open. It was so funny, I laughed. Then she swatted my leg. “Stop. Now, do it.” She pointed the makeups thing at me.

“Do I open my mouth like that too?”

“Yes. Make a long O.”

I copied her face.

“Good. Hold still.” The brush she moved over my lashes tickled, but I didn’t want to move. “Okay. Okay. Here.” She handed me a mirror.

I looked kind of funny, but she was right about my eyes. The yellowy-brown stuff she put around them made them look more like hers. My heart swooped. I had wanted to be like her ever since I could ‘member. My big sissy. My Cassy. She was the bestest. Mommy said I followed her around like a duck, but I wasn’t sure what she meant.

“You want some glossy lips?” she asked, holding up a tube.