Page 83 of More Than Words
I shook my head, but didn’t have a chance to tell her that she didn’tseeat all, because there was nothing to see.
“There’s trouble brewing,” she said after a moment.“Love can be tricky.”
“It’s not like?—”
“Whatever’s happened, I hope that Lyons boy is smart enough to know how to fix it.”
I blinked at the old woman in disbelief.She reached out and squeezed my arm for a moment.
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, and thankfully, Nora called to Tilley from the door, where she waited.
Tilley gave me one last look.“You, my dear, are the type of woman who deserves the grandest of grand gestures.”
My heart clenched, and I blinked hard to keep the tears at bay as she turned and swept out of the store with the rest of the group, leaving me standing there, a little bit breathless and totally heartbroken.
Sure, Tilley was missing a few details, but there was a reason she had the reputation in Trickle Creek that she did.She was spot-on.
Except for one thing.I didn’t need the grand gesture.
I only wanted to feel like I mattered.
And right now…I wasn’t so sure I did.
Ethan
The plaza was quiet by the time I left Brody’s place.
Quinn was so upset with me, she refused to talk to me.I could have pushed the issue and forced her to come home with me, but what was the point?
She was in good hands with my family, and Reid and Avery agreed to take her home with them and make sure she got to school the next morning.It seemed like the best option.Particularly considering I had a few things to work through on my own.
Quite a few.
But I still hated leaving her behind.We’d never been like this before.We’d never fought to the point where she refused to speak to me.And I couldn’t blame her.My heart ached, knowing I’d let my baby girl down.
I told myself the quiet was good.A night alone would give me a chance to think through some things.But I wasn’t ready to go back to my empty house yet, so I’d made the decision to detour to the brewery instead.
I hadn’t planned to see her.
When I rounded the corner by Earth’s Own, I stopped short and pressed up against the wall.A small group of women filtered out of Plot Twist in a burst of chatter and laughter.
Book club.
When I invited Delaney to family dinner, she said she was going to get Rochelle to lead it.But there she was, standing in the doorway, watching the women walk away.
I was pretty sure she couldn’t see me, but I stayed back anyway.I wasn’t ready to face her yet.Not when I was only just beginning to understand what exactly I’d broken.
I watched as she flipped the lock and walked back toward the front counter.She placed her hand flat on the top, and the whole thing swayed under her touch.
A breath caught in my throat, but by some miracle, it didn’t topple over.It was only a matter of time before the stupid thing collapsed altogether.
Inside the shop, the lights dimmed.Delaney left the counter, but instead of walking to the back of her shop and heading up to her apartment, she moved back to the front window.
She didn’t see me, and I felt like maybe I was intruding on a private moment when I saw her press her palm lightly against the glass.It was only for a brief moment.
But I’d seen it.
Hell, I felt it in my gut.
