Page 71 of Eternal Hoptimist

I turned to Ethan, who looked delicious in an outfit similar to what he’d worn on New Year’s Eve. The man could pull off a vest. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing the forearms I’d drooled over numerous times. The dimples under his smile charmed me.

“That I am.” He winked too.Yes, you are.

I stepped in close. “You had a keg delivered.”

He bit his bottom lip. I wanted to bite it for him. He smiled shyly. “It was nothing. I figured half the people in attendance are our customers anyway.”

I wouldn’t accept his dismissiveness for such a thoughtful gesture. He didn’t go around donating kegs and trying to make a good impression on everyone’s parents. I wanted to brush it off as part of the pretend dating, but I had to call bullshit on myself. I’d gone to Kansas determined to make a good impression on his family. Helping Rosie was my keg. There was absolutely something real between us—at least now. If he were pretending, he would’ve simply shown up.

Ethan and I circulated as a unit. The community center wasn’t where I would’ve expected my dad to want to hold his birthday party. I watched people playing darts and pool. Actually, it was the perfect place. The space was filled with Dad’s family and friends—all willing to give up their Valentine’s Day to celebrate Dad.

As person after person approached Ethan to say hello and chat about the brewery or some other Dahlia Springs thing I wasn’t in the loop on, it struck me how odd it was that Ethan had his own connection to important people in my life. I didn’t need to worry about bringing some stuffy corporate guy to meet my laid-back family because the guy I liked had won my family over before I even knew him.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d introduced an ex to my family with half as much success. The previous boyfriends I’d brought around weren’t impressed with Dahlia Springs. Sure, it was a small town and didn’t offer a fraction of what Portland did, but it was special in its own way. It had grown on me after being away for many years. As a teenager, the town was stifling, and I couldn’t get out fast enough. That feeling lingered throughout adulthood until I met Ethan.

The evening passed in a blur of good food and better beer. At one point, Ethan stepped in to help the caterers with an issue in the community center kitchen. I could’ve sworn I saw grandbabies dancing in my mom’s eyes like anAlly McBealepisode. When I tried to step in to help, Ethan shooed me away and told me members of the birthday boy’s family weren’t allowed to help.He’s such a good person.

I took the opportunity to go grab another drink.

“Parker? Good to see you, son.”

I smiled at one of my dad’s oldest friends. “You too, Jun.” I shook his hand.

“How’s life in Portland treating you?” He took a sip of his beer.

“It’s going great. I’m up for partner.” He was the first person I’d said the words to in casual conversation. I waited for that moment of elation, of pride, to fill me. I kept waiting. Nothing happened.

Jun whistled. “Already? You can’t even be forty yet. You’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.” He chuckled.

I’d worked for him after school a couple of days a week during my senior year of high school. During the summers of my undergrad, while trying to decide whether law was the path for me, he let me help him and figure it out.

“Seems like yesterday you were sitting in on meetings with me and doing my filing. Now you’re about to become partner as I’m about to retire.”

“You’re retiring? Wow. End of an era.” I couldn’t imagine him not working. He’d been practicing law in Dahlia Springs practically my whole life. “Who’s going to handle all the disputes when someone claims their neighbor’s fence is ten inches onto their property?”

He let out a belly laugh. I was continually shocked by people’s pettiness while working for him. Now? Nothing shocked me.

“Do you have someone taking over?”

He shook his head, frowning. “Wish I did, but the fine folks of Dahlia Springs will have to get their legal advice in Newburg or McMinnville. Too bad you’ve got some hotshot job in Portland. You’d do great here. People trust you.”

“Why would they trust me? I haven’t lived here for over fifteen years.”

“You being born here and your family living here counts for something.”

As I considered his words, I spotted Ethan talking to my sister. He tilted his head back and laughed at something my sister’s girlfriend said.I could have this life.I could spend more time with him and my family. But would I be happy? I’d worked so hard to get out of Dahlia Springs. Would returning mean giving up? I’d always wanted something bigger for my life, to have a career that made more of an impact. To achieve things I could brag about.Like helping developers kick a bunch of food truck owners out of their places to build even more expensive condos in Portland?Can’t you feel proud about building a life with Ethan?

I shook the startling thoughts from my head. It wasn’t the time or place for deep introspection.

I chatted with Jun for a few more minutes until he hustled over to the food line when Ethan called out that it was ready.

I ate dinner with Ethan, Nate, Olivia, and their partners. It was a taste of what I could have all the time if I moved home.

After dinner, we decided to play pool. I had a blast teaming up with Ethan against my siblings, who teased us. They delusionally thought they had a chance in hell of winning.

Out of the blue, Olivia clapped her hands. “I just realized something.”

“What?” I asked.

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