Page 20 of More Than Words
“The movie, Dad.”She jabbed a finger toward the screen.“They’re in detention?On a Saturday?”
“Oh.Right.”
I took a breath, pushed the thoughts of Delaney aside, and focused on the movie and my daughter, reminding myself that the best part of my night was already sitting right next to me.
Delaney
“How did you not know that one?”Kat stared at me as if it were my fault we were currently in last place for trivia night.
Sure, Ishouldhave been able to answer the last question, but we sucked as a group.It took a real team effort to do as badly as we were doing.
I was starting to regret accepting Lauren’s invite to trivia night.I told her I was no good at trivia, but she promised me an amazing charcuterie board, which it was.Besides, it was long past time I got to know some more people.
“I mean, youdoown a bookstore.”Lauren shot me a look.“How did you not know who wroteThe Handmaid’s Tale?”
“I know it’s Margaret Atwood.”I reached for a cracker and put a dollop of fig jam on top.“I did warn you that I ‘m not good at this.I blank when the question is asked.”I popped the cracker in my mouth.
Lauren laughed because she knew it was true.“If they asked what color the sky was, I think she’d still get it wrong.”
“Exactly.”I reached for a grape.“I don’t know why I am the way I am.But I am totally useless at this.”
“Lucky for you,” Avery chimed in, “it’s not about getting the questions right.”The woman smiled in my direction.“It’s about the snacks.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”I grinned as I stacked a piece of peppered salami with a slab of brie.“And I do appreciate the invitation.Despite the fact that I’m not a lot of help.”
“We’re happy to have you,” Kat said.“I’m just happy to get out of the house for a few hours.”
I’d run into Kat a few times since we both owned businesses in the plaza.Kat Carlson, soon to be Kat Fisher, ran the hair salon in town, Strands, and had lived in Trickle Creek her entire life.She was the youngest daughter of the town savior, Michael Carlson, who passed away a few years ago after being credited for single-handedly saving the town by bringing in more tourism after the mining industry closed.
She was also a new mother of a baby boy, and cherished her rare nights out.
Avery Walker was even newer to town than I was, having moved back recently after inheriting the Tamarack Inn.She’d married Reid Lyons, Ethan’s brother, in order to keep her inheritance.In a town the size of Trickle Creek, everyone seemed to be connected in some way.
I was thankful for the opportunity to get to know them better.Especially considering they were both warm, friendly, and incredibly easy to talk to.
“I hear you’re working with Ethan on the Fall into the Plaza event.”
The change of subject was so abrupt, I almost choked on the candied almond I’d been chewing.
“I was sorry to miss the meeting the other day, but I heard Tilley didn’t give you much of a choice,” Avery added.
“She sure didn’t.”I shook my head.
“Not that it’s too much of an imposition to work with a sexy brewmaster, though, is it, Delaney?”
I shot a glare toward my best friend, but Lauren either didn’t seem to notice or didn’t care.She grinned back at me.
“I don’t know about sexy.”It was a full-on lie.
“Yeah, right.”Kat pretended to fan herself.“Ethan has always been a sexy beast.Even when we were kids.”
“Kat!”
“What?”The redhead feigned innocence.“Just because I have Andy, who, I might add, is the hottest man in this town, especially when he holds baby Billy.”
“Aww,” Lauren said.“That is so sweet.”
“It is,” Kat agreed.“But to the point.”She looked at me again.“It doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good-looking man when I see him.”
