Page 102 of More Than Words
“Good for you, letting her run with things, man.”Preston shook his head.
“Hey.It makes them happy.”I joined him and pulled up a stool.“And if my girls are happy, I’m happy.”
Preston turned to me with a raised brow.“Yourgirls?It’s like that, is it?”
I nodded once.Without a doubt, it was.
“Pretty serious then?”
“Like a heart attack,” I said, and then quickly added, “Only way better.”
My younger brother laughed so hard, he almost choked on his beer.“I’m glad to hear it, Ethan,” he said when he’d recovered.“Delaney’s awesome.”
“She sure is.”
“Even if her taste in decorations for this place is questionable.”
I couldn’t disagree with that.
The bells over the door announced Grayson’s arrival, along with a gust of cold air and a giant pine tree.“Ho ho ho!”
At least I was pretty sure it was Grayson.The tree was massive.
“No, no, no!”I jumped up from my stool.“You need to get that out of here.”
“Dad!”Quinn was at my side, Delaney right behind her.Both of them stared at me.“It’s a Christmas tree,” Quinn said.“Weneeda Christmas tree.”
“Wedo,” I told her.“The brewery does not.”
“Are you sure about that, Ethan?”Delaney was trying her best not to smile.“I mean, are you even properly decorated for Christmas without a tree?”
I opened my mouth to object, but she continued quickly.
“I thought maybe you could decorate it with those new cans you had made up for the beer.It’s like advertising and decorating all in one.”
“Yeah, Dad.”Quinn crossed her arms.
Grayson peered around the tree and looked at me, his eyes sparkling with laughter.“Yeah, Ethan.”
I was smart enough to know I wasn’t going to win that particular argument.I threw up my arms.“Fine.The tree can stay.”
Quinn clapped in delight while Delaney took over directing Grayson on where to put the largest Christmas tree I’d ever seen.
I rejoined Preston at the bar and tried to ignore his laughter.
A few minutes later, Avery and Reid joined us, each carrying cardboard boxes.I only shook my head at the number of decorations that continued to accumulate.
“This is…impressive,” Reid said once he’d joined us at the bar.
Grayson was right behind him, leaving the women to handle the decorating.I pulled them each a pint, and got Preston and me fresh ones.
“I was promised pasta and pizza for my efforts,” Reid said as he took the glass with a nod of thanks.
“Brody’s picking it up on his way over.”
Right on cue, the door opened once more, and Lauren and Brody walked through, laden down with take-out boxes from Willa’s Whisk across the plaza.
Delaney
