Page 37 of Drunk Girl

“Perfect. What would I do without you?” I muse before I kiss her once again.

She laughs. “You’d be eating bar food.”

“Touché,” I say, laughing with her. “What do you say we get that dinner going. I’m starving.”

“Sounds good to me.” She stands up and pulls me with her into the kitchen. We grab the food, then head out onto the deck.

“So, I was thinking,” she says, pausing to look over at me as I place the food onto the hot grill, “what would you think about getting a dog?”

“Ah, I guess I don’t really have a thought about it. I’ve never gotten one because my hours weren’t the greatest to have one. But I’m not against the idea.”

“Yay! I’ve always wanted one, but we could never have one growing up because of living in rentals and, to be blunt, we just couldn’t afford to have one. But now, living here with you makes me want one so bad.”

“Do you know what kind you want?” I ask, dropping into a chair next to her.

“Not really. I figured adopting one from a shelter would be best. So, whatever one we like the best.”

“Sounds reasonable to me. Do you want to go check it out this weekend? Maybe after I get up on Saturday, we can go?”

“Really?!” she asks excitedly, then smiles at me. “That’s all it will take to convince you?”

“Babe”—I reach out to run a fingertip down her cheek—“if a dog will make you happy, then I’ll gladly adopt ten. Well, many not ten at once, but you know what I mean,” I say on a laugh as her eyes widen.

“Where did you come from, Nicholas David Watkins?” she asks before leaning forward and pressing her lips to mine.

“Been here, just waiting on you to sweep into my life.”

14

Ashley

Six Months Later

“Settle down,”I say to Max, our mutt of a dog that has been the perfect mix to our little household. It took us about a month to find him after that first day I brought up the idea of Nick and I adopting a dog. Once he’s calmed down and sitting nice, I place his treat on the ground in front of him, before giving him the signal he can pick it up and take it to his bed in the living room.

“Hey.” Nick walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me, pulling my back to his front. “Are you almost ready?” he asks, kissing my cheek.

“Yep, just need to slip on my shoes and we can get out of here.” I turn in his arms and press my lips to his. “I’m so damn proud of you,” I tell him before he releases his hold on me. “You followed your dream, and look where it’s gotten you.”

Tonight, they’ll be tapping the first keg from the new brewery. We’ve all taste-tested things the past week or so, and even without being a big beer drinker, Nick has done an excellent job with everything. Since the day they closed on the building, he’s been making the brewery his work priority, and he’s put in a ton of blood and sweat over the past six months, as they brought this adventure to life and hopefully a successful addition to the bar.

“Thanks,” he says sheepishly. He’s never one for much praise, but he damn sure deserves it tonight.

The drive over to the bar is quiet as Nick is, I’m sure, inside his own head, worried tonight is going to be a bust. I’m convinced it isn’t going to be. The bar has had a bunch of local press, and a few of the news stations, as well as the newspaper, have all done segments on the brewery. Plus, Kaiden put together a bunch of promotion, advertising the launch of the new beer tonight.

We pull into the parking lot, Nick parking his truck in his usual spot out back. He brought the kegs over a few days ago and made sure everything was set up and working properly, so they don’t run into any snags tonight.

“Hey,” I say once we’re out of the truck, before we reach the back door. “Just take a deep breath. Things are going to be perfect. You’ve done a phenomenal job and people are going to love it; I can just feel it.”

“Thanks,” he says, taking a deep breath before he brings his forehead to mine. His arms go around my body, pulling me into him, and I feel him relax as he does so. “We’ve just got so much riding on this and tonight.”

“I know, and I’m sure it’s a scary thought, but it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’re not going to make everything back tonight, but you can damn well sell a few kegs’ worth of beer,” I jokingly tell him.

“That’s the plan,” he says, a small smile filling his lips. He squeezes me lightly. “Thanks for being here tonight with me.”

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I tell him, before I push up slightly on my toes and press our lips together. “Love you,” I whisper against them before pulling away.

“Love you, too. Now, let’s get inside and sell some beer,” he says, pulling me along behind him as we enter the back door.

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