“You might not be the richest brother any more,” Logan said, grinning at Gray. “Now we’ll all be begging Tanner for a loan.”
“I’m pretty sure Cam’s the richest,” Tanner pointed out. “He just got signed for another season.”
“I can categorically state I’m the poorest,” Logan said, shrugging as if he didn’t care in the slightest. “In cash at least. I just bought another restaurant.”
“Are you guys waving your cash around again?” their little sister, Becca, asked, as she bumped Tanner along the chair, somehow squeezing into the tiny space beside him. “You’re all disgustingly rich. And you need to stop making me look bad. I’m sick of going on dates and having to tell guys who my brothers are. All they want to know is if I can get them tickets to Cam’s football games or Gray’s concerts.” She shook her head. “I wish we had a normal family.” Her voice was wistful.
“You shouldn’t be dating anyway,” Tanner said with a grin, pressing his elbow into her side. “You’re only a kid.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-four.”
Gray caught her gaze. “Tanner’s right. No dating.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You want me to grow up old and lonely like Tanner? No thanks.”
Tanner rested the base of his bottle on the grass beside the chair. “I’m not old and lonely.”
“Okay then. Young-ish and lonely. Same difference.” Becca grinned, her upturned nose wrinkling. “Speaking of which, are you going to say hi to Savannah Butler when you see her in town?”
“Who says I’m going to see her in town?” His stomach dipped at the thought of it. It had only been a few hours since he’d learned Savannah Butler had come back to Hartson’s Creek. He had no idea why she was here, either. The days when they told each other everything were long gone.
Had been for years.
Becca shrugged. “It’s a small town.”
“Sure is.” Gray’s girlfriend, Maddie, walked over, carrying two glasses and a half-full bottle of champagne. She poured a glass for Becca and herself, passing one to Tanner’s sister. Gray opened his arms up, and Maddie snuggled into his chair with him, whispering something in his ear.
Becca took a sip of champagne and turned to Tanner. “I wish you and Van were still friends. I miss her. She was like a sister to me growing up.”
There was a time when Van Butler spent more time at the Hartson house than her own. Tanner’s Aunt Gina, who’d taken care of the five Hartson siblings after their mom died, had grown used to making an extra portion for the girl who lived a few streets away.
And every evening, when Aunt Gina told her it was time to go home, Tanner would walk her to her tiny, ramshackle bungalow and watch silently as she stepped inside, grinning when she’d turn back and stick her tongue out at him before closing the door.
“You have Maddie now,” Tanner pointed out, nodding his head at Maddie and Gray. They were laughing at something she’d just said. “She’s like a sister to you as well.”
“Yeah I know. But we’re still outnumbered.” Becca took a sip of wine.
“Maybe Cam or Logan will bring a girl home,” Tanner said in an attempt to appease her. Becca was his little sister, after all. Like she was with all of his brothers, Becca was his soft spot. The one they made sure was happy. Anybody else would probably have been spoiled by it, but not Becca. She was too good for that.
She choked on her wine and he swallowed down a laugh. Logan gave her a half smile.
“I’ll believe that when I see it.” She put her glass back down and turned back to Tanner. “What happened with you and Van anyway? One minute you guys were best friends, the next it was like you didn’t even know each other. I kept asking, but nobody told me why.”
Tanner lifted Becca off him, then stood and stretched his arms. “This beer isn’t cutting it,” he said, ignoring her question. “Anybody ready for whiskey?”
“Not for me.” Gray shook his head. “But you guys go ahead. Becca brought some bourbon home from the distillery.”
She nodded, her questions about Savannah Butler forgotten. “We haven’t released it to the public yet.” She turned to Logan, her eyes sparkling. “I can probably get you some for your restaurants if you like it.”
Becca had worked at the G. Scott Carter distillery since she’d left college three years earlier, first as a trainee, now as a distiller.
“Sounds good.” Logan nodded and looked at Tanner. “I’ll take a glass, please.”
“Me too.” Cam nodded. “And then I need to hit the sack. I’m back to training next week.” He stretched his arms.
“When are you guys going back to Boston?” Becca asked the twins. Cam and Logan had settled there after college, when Cam had been one of the top draft picks and Logan was looking at starting his restaurant career.
“Monday,” Logan told her. “I need to be back at work by then.” He flashed her a smile. “The fun of being in the hospitality industry.”