The Engagement Arrangement (Boots and Bouquets #2) - Jaci Burton Page 0,62
said, carrying a glass as she came in. “You looked awfully heated when you first came in.”
“At least you showered,” Erin said, coming to sit on the edge of the bed. “Because you were heated both physically and emotionally.”
Brenna pushed herself up to sit, taking the glass Honor handed her. “Thanks. I’m sorry. I was in a mood.”
“I’ll say,” Erin said. “What’s up?”
“I had a fight with Finn.”
“Uh-oh.” Honor pulled up the chair next to the bed. “Tell us about it.”
“It was stupid. I was stupid. I said stupid things.”
Erin looked to Honor, then at Brenna. “Well now we really want to hear about it.”
Brenna couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course you do.”
Erin shrugged. “Hey, I’ve acted like an ass on my fair share of occasions. It’s only fair you get a turn.”
“That’s true,” Honor said, and when Erin shot her a look, she gave her an innocent shrug. “What? It is true.”
“It is,” Brenna said. “But this time it was me. Did you all know that Finn is making whiskey in his warehouse?”
“Yes,” Honor said.
Erin nodded. “Of course. What did you think he was doing out there? Making pizza?”
“Well, no. I knew he dabbled, and that Dad let him build that big building. But there’s a whole manufacturing facility in there now. A still and barrels and pipes and fermentation and everything.”
“Brenna,” Honor said. “Haven’t you ever been in there?”
“Well, no.”
“You did know Dad invested in Finn’s whiskey production, right?” Erin asked.
Apparently she was the only one who didn’t know that. “Uh, no, I did not. And that’s what I laid into him about.”
Honor shot her a look of concern. “Oh, Brenna, why?”
And wasn’t that the question of the day? “I don’t know. I guess it was the surprise of seeing all the equipment. I thought he was just playing around with a home still, and I expected something . . . smaller. I had no idea he had a whole potential business going.”
“And that upset you . . . why, exactly?” Erin asked.
“Again, I don’t know. I wish I did.” She pulled her knees up to her chest, feeling shame for how she’d reacted.
“Maybe because Dad invested in Finn and didn’t tell you about it?” Honor asked.
She looked over at Honor. “That’s partly it. You know, Dad and I have always been about the winemaking. That’s been our thing. You do the weddings, and Erin has the business mind.”
“And you and Dad have always had the winemaking,” Erin said. “It’s been just the two of you since you were little. You always wanted to be out there in the vineyard with him.”
“And now he’s developed an interest in what Finn is doing,” Honor said. “It’s natural for you to feel a little jealous about that.”
“It’s petty,” Brenna said. “Finn is like a son to Dad. And Finn . . . he’s so proud of what he’s doing. And I just stomped all over it.”
Erin shrugged. “Your feelings are your feelings, Bren. You have a right to feel them, even if they are petty. But how you treated Finn, well, we don’t know what you said, but if you hurt him, then you’ll have to fix that.”
She sighed. “Yes, I will. Thank you for hearing me out. And for not telling me I’m a terrible person.”
Honor laid her hand on Brenna’s arm. “We’re your sisters. We’d never tell you that.”
“Unless you killed someone,” Erin said.
Honor nodded. “Then we’d tell you that what you did was terrible.”
“After we helped you bury the body,” Erin said with a smirk.
“Erin!” Honor said.
Brenna laughed and felt immensely better. But she was still going to have to apologize to Finn.
She changed into something a little more appropriate for dinner, hoping he’d be there, that they’d get a chance to talk after. Her stomach sank in disappointment when he didn’t show up at the table. And when her parents asked where he was, she said she thought he was busy doing something. But after dinner, she walked over to his place, disappointed again to find that he wasn’t there.
She thought about texting him, but he was obviously upset or he would have come to dinner or stayed home. He had to know she’d come to her senses and apologize.
Then again, who was she to expect anything from Finn? She’d acted like a total bitch today. He probably didn’t want to see her at all.
She walked back to the house feeling more miserable than ever.