Page 20 of More Than Words (Trickle Creek: The Lyons #2)

Chapter Sixteen

Delaney

“ W hy do we insist on having our girls’ night the same night they do trivia?” I asked, as Lauren and I pushed our way through the crowd to get to the table Kat came early to save for us. “It’s so busy in here.”

Lauren laughed. “Because trivia is fun, obviously.”

I shot her a look as we both slid into our seats. Me across from Kat, who already had one of the Wildflower’s fancy mocktails in front of her, and Lauren across from Avery, who looked like she’d also just arrived.

“When was the last time we did actual trivia at trivia night?” I directed the question to Avery.

“Careful.” Kat grinned. “That sounds like a trivia question.”

I groaned and reached for a menu.

“I’m just happy to get away from the inn for a few hours,” Avery said. “Don’t get me wrong. I love it and all, but…”

“I get it.” Lauren nodded. “Running your own business is satisfying and rewarding and blah blah blah. But also…”

“It’s so good to have a break,” Kat chimed in. “And double so to get a break from mom life, too. Don’t get me wrong, baby Billy is amazing, but some time off from everything is great, too. Trivia night or not.”

“I will cheers to that,” I said. “As soon as I get a glass of wine.”

As if by magic, the server chose that moment to appear with a tray full of drinks.

“She’s super busy,” Kat said. “So I took a chance and got everyone their usual.”

“You are the best.” Lauren blew her a kiss.

A minute later, we all had drinks in hand and were able to properly toast to a night off from any responsibilities.

“I can’t believe you’re all decorated for the holiday already.” Avery put her glass down and stared at me. “I’m still trying to decide what to do at the inn, and Reid said you were all finished?”

“It’s true.” I shrugged. “I just really like Christmas. I always do it as early as I can get away with.”

“And this year you had a little extra help.” Avery wiggled her eyebrows.

I blushed and ducked my head.

“Care to tell us about that?”

All three women stared at me, waiting for the gossip. I pretended to be engrossed in the menu for a moment before Kat snatched it from my hand. “I already ordered us a charcuterie board, Delaney. Now, spill.”

“Spill?”

“You and the sexy brewmaster,” she said. “Have you guys made it official yet?”

I glanced at Lauren for help, but she simply shrugged.

“Yes,” I confessed. “Ethan and I are dating.”

It was the first time I said it out loud. It felt good.

Kat squealed. Lauren clapped and Avery just grinned.

“It’s about time,” Lauren said. “I didn’t think the two of you were ever going to get over the whole next-door enemies thing.”

“We weren’t really enemies …”

“Right…” She dragged out the word. “You just hated the fact that a smooth-talking charmer with too much dust and noise and a brewery had moved in next door to your peaceful little bookshop.”

“Okay, maybe we were sort of enemies.” I laughed. “But that was before.”

“Before you realized he was a sexy piece of?—”

“Before,” I cut Kat off smoothly, “Ethan showed me how considerate he could be with my shop and…well, truthfully, before I got to know him.”

“And his sexy ass.” Kat couldn’t help herself, and we all laughed.

“Honestly,” I said after a moment. “There are still a few noise issues during my cozy mystery book club and my writing group. But beyond that, he’s been a really respectful neighbor and…yes, now that we’ve gotten to know each other, well…let’s just say…things are good.”

The server returned with a huge platter that she set in the middle of the table. For a few minutes, we were all quiet, distracted by cheese and meat.

“Okay.” Kat held up a cracker stacked with brie and salami. “I think we’re all dying to hear some details.”

There was no hiding the blush on my face. “Details?”

“Well, maybe not details ,” Lauren said, and I shot her a grateful look. “But…”

It was clear that my girlfriends weren’t going to let it go without me telling them something. With a sigh, I picked a grape off the board and popped it into my mouth.

Ethan

“You sure you want another round?” Brody asked, already waving down the server before I could answer. “Because I can’t be held responsible for you if you have too many.” He was laughing, but I still jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow.

“Right.” I rolled my eyes. “Because I’m the lightweight in the family.”

“Nope,” Reid jumped in. “That honor goes to our little brother. Always has.”

Preston wasn’t offended. Instead, he held up his glass of water, grinning. “Don’t be a hater just because I care about my body.”

“Right, you care so much about your body that you throw it off cliffs and hurtle down mountains at ridiculous speeds.” Grayson raised an eyebrow before taking another sip of his drink.

It was true. Our youngest brother was an adrenaline junkie and had been since we were little.

It never failed to stress out our mother, who’d rather not hear about what latest adventures Preston got up to.

But the rest of us had gotten used to hearing about his hijinks.

And considering he worked with the local search and rescue, we trusted that he was smart enough to know what he was doing and not get hurt.

“Whatever.” Brody thanked the waitress who delivered a fresh round of drinks. “I still remember that one time I had to carry you up to your room, little brother.”

“I was seventeen.” Preston shook his head.

“And you’ll never live it down.”

The Brickhouse pub was loud, the wings were hot, and the beer was cold—even if it wasn’t my brew. Some time with my brothers just to unwind and shoot the shit was the perfect way to let go of the stress of a long week. It was long overdue.

“Speaking of things you’re never going to live down…” Grayson shifted in his chair and eyed me.

I knew what was coming. My brothers weren’t the type to stay quiet about…well, anything. Especially when it came to our love lives.

We’d all tried and failed when it came to Reid and his fake marriage to Avery, which turned out to be real. I couldn’t imagine any of my brothers were going to keep their mouths shut about Delaney and me.

Still, it was fun to fuck with them a little. Or at least make them work for it.

I lifted the glass to my mouth and smirked. “What are you talking about?”

Grayson groaned. “Are you going to tell us what’s going on with you and Delaney, or do we all have to keep pretending that we don’t notice the way you both look at each other?”

“There’s not much to say.”

Brody looked over his pint glass and raised his eyebrows. “And…that’s a lie.”

“If you’re not going to tell them, I will,” Reid chimed in.

“Oh yeah? You think you know something?”

My brother laughed. “I know that Quinn couldn’t stop talking about the two of you at our ice cream date the other day and how gross you both are.”

Busted.

Reid’s twin, Grayson, laughed. “Gotta love that kid. She won’t let anyone get away with anything.”

“Least of all me.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was true. My girl was sharp. Nothing got by her. Delaney and I were proof of that.

“Okay,” Preston jumped in. “We all agree that Quinn is the coolest kid ever and the very best thing you’ve ever done.”

I rolled my eyes.

“But what I think we all really want to know is what is going on with you and Delaney? And why does Quinn think it’s gross?”

“I have no doubt that Ethan is gross,” Brody jumped in. “But Delaney is?—”

“Careful.” I held up a hand to stop him, and my brother gave me a shit-eating grin. “Fine.” It was clear I wasn’t going to be able to finish my hot wings in peace if I didn’t give them something. “As you’ve all obviously figured out, Delaney and I are dating.”

“It’s official then?”

I nodded at Reid and couldn’t help but smile because that woman put a smile on my face, even when she wasn’t around. I probably hadn’t stopped smiling for longer than thirty seconds since the night of the snowstorm.

“I like her,” I said, more serious than I intended. “A lot. She’s smart, gorgeous, and doesn’t let me get away with anything.”

“Oh, that is serious.” Grayson snagged another wing off the tray. “Seriously,” he added. “You sound happy.”

I didn’t say anything for a minute, because admitting it out loud felt almost like tempting fate. Like if I admitted how good it felt to be with Delaney, how natural and easy it was, it would all go away, or I’d find a way to mess it up.

Eventually, I simply said, “I am.”

Brody nodded, the teasing fading a little. “Good. You deserve it, Ethan.”

“Thanks. That means a lot.” I lifted my glass in his direction before taking a deep drink.

Delaney

“What can I say? It’s been nice.”

“Nice?”

I nodded. “I know it’s not super exciting and dramatic. But does it have to be?”

“You tell us,” Avery said. “You’re the expert on happily ever afters.” She winked, and I laughed.

“Just because I like to read them doesn’t mean I’m an expert on anything,” I assured her.

“In fact, quite the opposite. But…” I let my thoughts drift away.

“This thing with Ethan is different, and I think that’s in part because it’s not full of drama.

It’s just easy. Being with him feels really natural. ”

“I love that.” Lauren gave me a warm smile. “That’s how it should be.”

“Oh?” Kat raised her eyebrow. “Is that how it is with you and Brody?”

My mouth dropped open at Kat’s boldness. Not that I should be surprised. Kat was never afraid to ask the questions we were all thinking. Still, I wanted to hear the answer just as much as anyone.

“We’re not talking about me and Brody,” Lauren answered smoothly.

“But there is something to talk about?”

Lauren gave Kat a look before turning her back on her and getting back to the topic at hand. “I’m glad it’s going so well with Ethan,” she said. “What about Quinn? How’s she with it all?”

I smiled. “She’s great and way too smart.”

“She figured it out first, didn’t she?” Avery grinned when I nodded.

“She did.”