Page 90 of My Almost Ex

It’s been a month since Lucy and I decided to be together again, and things are going great. I’ve yet to sleep in the master bedroom and she hasn’t pushed me, although I’ll find her in there sometimes, reading her journals or staring at pictures of us. Not a lot of memories have surfaced since Marla ambushed Lucy at their house and she recalled our wedding. For the most part, I’ve made my peace with the fact that we may never find out what caused her to leave, but that’s only because she’s a different Lucy now. The same still, but different. More open.

We’re at my brothers’ brewery today and they’re telling her how they’re going to name a beer after her.

“It’s going to be called Lucy Takes Flight. We’ll give them five different kinds of beer in small glasses.” Jed places the setup in front of Lucy.

She glances at me before saying to Jed, “You’re going to name something after me?”

“You’re an ass,” I say, shaking my head.

His forehead wrinkles. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“The name?” I raise my eyebrows. “Lucy Takes Flight.” He and Lucy still look at me confused. “Referencing how she skipped town…”

“Jesus it’s called that because it’s a flight of beer, you idiot.” He shakes his head at me.

“Oh, sorry.” Lucy’s frowning at me and I feel like an ass for assuming the worst.

“Anyway, moving on,” Jed says. “We had Mr. Sanders make wooden planks for the flights.”

Her hand falls over her heart and she glances at me and back at my brothers. “That’s so sweet!” She leans over and hugs them both.

“It’s going to be the hit of the season,” Jed says and points at the first glass. “So you have our Razzle Dazzle, Naked Digger, Melting Heart, Limp Donkey, and No Stout For You.”

“I think this is just their way of not making a beer for the season,” I say, crossing my arms.

“Well, we toyed with Minderaser but didn’t think it would sell. When Lucy came in to figure out which beer she liked best, the lightbulb went off,” Cade says.

“Technically Molly thought of it,” Jed says.

Cade rolls his eyes. It feels like he wants to say more but doesn’t. I’m not sure what that’s about, but if Jed’s messing around with Molly, heads are gonna roll and Nikki’s gonna be the one holding the ax.

“I love it.” Lucy picks up Melting Heart.

“That’s ours. Mine and Presley’s.” Cade smiles.

“It is not. It’s from the duo night,” Jed says with a scowl.

“I made that beer for her, it’s ours.”

My brothers walk away, bickering about who the beer belongs to.

“They’ll never stop fighting over who makes the best beer this place sells.” I nod toward the Melting Heart in her hand. “That was their best seller last year.”

“I love the apricot taste.” After she sips it, I lean over to kiss her.

“So, I was thinking…” I begin the conversation I’ve started in my head a million times over. “We should probably talk about the future. Not that I want to pressure you.”

She turns in her chair. Thankfully, we’re at a corner table away from the other customers, who are mostly tourists anyway. “What about the future?”

“Well, we’re living together. You still have my name. Next week is technically two months since we made our agreement.” Man, that day at the inn when she refused to sign the divorce papers seems so long ago. We’ve come so far from that moment. “I think we need to move on as though your memory isn’t going to return.”

She twists the glass in the holder. “And if it does?”

“Then we deal with it. We’re different, right? We’ll talk it out and go from there. But I want us to start building our life together again.”

“Like kids?” Her eyes are wide with surprise, but there’s a small smile on her face.

I laugh, although I’m not opposed. God knows I’m envious of Toby and his son every time I see them. “Not yet. I mean, I figure you should go back to teaching if that’s what you want. Planning vacations together, hosting friends at our place, just the everyday things couples do.”

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