Page 32 of More Than Words
That’s when I saw her.
Delaney.
Admittedly, I’d been looking for her in the crowd all night, wondering whether she’d come.Of course she would.
She stood with Lauren against the back wall, her hair pulled up in a ponytail, one of her oversized knit sweaters on over leggings.She was wearing earrings.That was new.
Delaney had a cup in her hand, and I couldn’t help but wonder which brew she’d opted to try first.If I had to guess, it would be something light.Maybe the wheat ale.
Her eyes met mine, and my lips automatically curled up into a smile.When she smiled back, it hit me straight in the chest.
She lifted her hand in a little wave.An action I returned, my eyes locked on hers.
Lauren said something to her, but she didn’t even turn to her friend before she started to move through the crowd.
To me.
All the people faded away as I watched her make her way through the room toward me.She reached the bar, just as I stepped around the end of it.
“Looks like the town approves.”She nodded toward the packed room behind her.
“Apparently, they like the beer,” I said.“What about you?”I glanced at her still mostly full cup.
“IPA.”She shrugged.“I’m more of a wheat ale or pilsner girl myself.”
I knew it.
Without a word, I took the glass from her and quickly poured her a sample of a brew I knew she’d enjoy more.
“Thank you.”She took it with a smile.“Congratulations, Ethan,” she said after taking a sip.“Seriously.The place looks amazing.”
“You doubted me?”
She dropped her eyes and for a moment, I was sure she was going to deny it.
“Let’s just say, I wasn’t your biggest fan at first.”
I couldn’t help it; I laughed.“You don’t say.”
“It’s true.”She tried and failed to look serious.“But with beer like this, I have no choice but to change my mind.”
I watched as she took another sip of her drink before I asked, “So, it’s just the beer that changed your mind then?”
Delaney looked up at me, all traces of humor gone as she assessed me.She opened her mouth to respond, but just then, someone tapped on my shoulder.One of my newly hired bar staff, flushed and flustered and very obviously upset about something.
“Sorry to interrupt, Ethan, but we’ve got a problem with one of the CO2 lines.There’s a jam somewhere.”
Of course there was.
I turned back to Delaney.“I should…just give me a minute?”
She nodded and took a step back.“Go.”She smiled.“Save the beer.”
I watched her for another second before ducking behind the bar and into the back room.
The situation turned out to be a fairly easy fix, but by the time we got it cleaned up and I came out again, she was gone.
I scanned the room, looking for her, but there was no sign of her.
