Page 76 of Brew
“Grumpy?”
“Or a grouch.”
“I guess that’s better than asshole,” I mutter.
She giggles. “Can you show me some swear words?”
Oh, she’s smart. “Absolutely not. Your mom will kill me.”
“Ugh, you’re no fun.”
“I’m a grump, a grouch, and now I’m no fun? I guess I’m just on a roll here.”
She takes me in for a second, then she says, “Are you dating my mom?”
My eyes widen. I’m not in the habit of speaking to teenage girls at the best of times, but being grilled by Erica’s daughter is something I’m probably going to have to get used to. “Why would you think that?”
Her eyes narrow ever so slightly. “She hums. She’s been wearing perfume, and been spending a lot more time getting ready in the mornings, plus, I’m observant.”
Well, I’ve gotta hand it to her, she’d make one hell of a detective.
“So that automatically means we’re datin’?”
“No, but she’s different around you.” Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, then drift off to the side. “It’s nice to see her happy.”
I try to swallow the lump in my throat.Erica is happy because of me?
“I probably can’t lay claim to all that happiness,” I say. “But if I did want to date her, how would you feel about that?”
She shrugs. “I’d be cool with it.”
Okay, well, that went better than expected.
“Olive, there you are,” Erica says from the doorway, looking from Olive to me. “What are you doing bothering Brew?”
“She’s not botherin’ me,” I reply instantly.
“Brew’s teaching me some ASL,” Olive says excitedly.
Erica pales suddenly, her eyes flick from her daughter to me. “Oh?”
It’s fine,I mouth.
“Yeah, and look at this, I can say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’.” She signs as I watch her with just a little pride sneaking in. “And, ‘are you okay’?”
“Wow, honey, that’s fantastic.”
“I also taught her some swear words,” I say deadpan.
Olive laughs again. “No, he didn’t.”
I’m actually impressed she remembered it all.
Erica is still staring at me. She looks pretty today, but then again she looks pretty every day. She blinks away her confusion, and her eyes settle back on her daughter.
“She’s a smart kid,” I say.
“Must take after her mom?” Erica suggests, a little smile playing on her lips.
