“You’re not wrong, but this is how Grayson feels. It’s why he’s living in Milwaukee instead of heading back up north to his hometown.”
My forehead wrinkles. Grayson told me he moved to Milwaukee because there were more opportunities in the big city. Convenient.
“Okay. What are we going to do about this?”
Wally shakes his head. “You’re not going to do a thing. You’re going to leave him to figure this out for himself.”
Please. As if men know how to handle their feelings. Case in point? Pops still pines after Hailey’s mother although she left them nearly two decades ago without so much as a look back in her rearview mirror.
“I’m serious, Suzie Langley,” he says using a commanding voice that probably makes terrorists pee their pants. “You will leave the boy alone to sort through his problems.”
My full name and the commanding voice? He pulled out the big guns. Time to appease the super-secret soldier. Then, he’ll leave, and I can start to brainstorm a plan.
I grin up at him. “Of course, I understand. You’re a soldier. You know best how to handle these situations.” I pat his chest as I spew my lies.
He narrows his eyes as he studies me. I’m waiting for him to call me a liar, but I don’t give him the chance.
“Do you want to try my Session IPA? It’s a new recipe I’m trying.”
He grunts, which I interpret to mean, Why yes, Suzie, I would love to try one of your awesome beers.
“Come on,” I drag him to the tasting station.
While Wally oohs and aahs over my beer, my mind whirls around with idea after idea. How am I going to fix Grayson? I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. I always do.