Page 104 of More Than Words
“Harper always dreamed of going to culinary school and working around the world,” Ethan explained as I ate.“Grayson wanted a small-town life.”
“So he broke up with her?”I quickly filled in the blanks.
Ethan nodded.“It broke his heart.”
“And he’s never really dated since,” Reid added.“Not seriously, anyway.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah,” Brody agreed with me.“Wow.”
“And now she’s back,” I said.
Preston shrugged.“No idea for how long.”
“Huh.”I couldn’t help but smile, the inner romantic in me automatically playing out a dozen scenarios for Grayson.“Sounds like it could get complicated.”
“It sure does,” Avery said.“I hope it’s?—”
“Are you all going to sit around and talk about me all day?”Grayson yelled from the other side of the brewery, interrupting the conversation.“Or can we get some help with this tree?”
Reid laughed and shook his head.“Relax,” he fired back.“We haven’t even gotten to the good part yet.”
Grayson shook his head, but Reid jumped up to help him and just like that, the conversation was over.
With the whole group, decorating went even faster than I expected, and it wasn’t long before my theme of red and silver glitter with just a touch ofbeerwas complete.
“I have to admit,” Ethan wrapped an arm around my waist, “I had my doubts about this, but…”
“It’s pretty great.”
“You’re pretty great.”He spun me so I was in his arms, my lips only inches from his.“I’m really glad you’re here.”
“I’m really glad to be here,” I murmured before pressing my lips to his.
“Ewww.”Quinn appeared out of nowhere, just the way she always seemed to whenever we tried to sneak a kiss.“You guys aresogross.”
I pulled back just in time to see her roll her eyes, but her bright smile betrayed how she really felt.
“It just so happens I like being gross with Delaney.”Ethan kissed me again, and I laughed when Quinn groaned loudly.
“I like being gross with you, too,” I said with a wink when we pulled apart.
“Fine.”Quinn stretched out the word.“I guess I’d rather the two of you be gross instead of stupid.”
“Stupid?”
“Yeah,” Quinn responded to her dad with a shake of her head.“You know, like when you guys weren’t talking because of something dumb?And you were walking around pretending you didn’t love each other, but really you were just making the rest of us crazy?That kind of stupid.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.For a twelve-year-old, she really was wiser than her years.
“You’re right, Quinn.”With one arm still around Ethan, I opened my other one for her.She slipped easily into our arms and all together, we squeezed tight.“Gross iswaybetter than stupid.”
I closed my eyes and soaked in the moment before Quinn wiggled her way out of our embrace and ran off to check on the symmetry of the tree.
I leaned into Ethan’s side.He placed an easy kiss on the top of my head but didn’t say anything.
Neither did I.
