Page 35 of More Than Words (Trickle Creek: The Lyons #2)

Six Months Later

Delaney

I t was warm for a spring evening in the mountains. But after what felt like a very long winter, I’d take any indication that summer was well and truly on its way.

The air in the plaza held the freshly sweet scent of the dogwoods that were in full white bloom in the oversized planter beds. The town had recently planted some bright annuals in the gardens as well. A sign of confidence that there shouldn’t be any late-season snowstorms.

The patio at Peaks & Brews was buzzing with conversation and the low hum of acoustic music as I made my way next door.

It had only been open a few weeks, but already the outdoor seating was proving to be a massive hit. The patio had been packed every night, and Ethan was already talking about going ahead with plans to develop the space in the back to accommodate more seating.

I had to admit, he’d done an amazing job creating a welcoming space that didn’t detract from Plot Twist. If anything, the big planters of flowers and string lights that crossed overhead, gently illuminating the space, only enhanced the feel of my own shop.

At the same time that Peaks & Brews had opened the outdoor seating, I’d added a sitting area of my own. Two big cushioned armchairs with a little wrought-iron table between them and a few flower pots from Charli’s shop were set outside the front windows.

The seating was already getting used more than I’d expected, and I’d considered looking for a few more chairs for customers to enjoy.

“I swear,” Lauren said as she joined me in the plaza. “You’ve got half the town reading again with this setup.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed.

“I don’t know if it’s the books or the beer.” I laughed. “Okay, that’s not true. I’m sure the beer helps a lot .”

“Whatever it is,” my friend smiled, “it’s amazing what you’ve created here. What you’ve both created.”

She wasn’t wrong. It was amazing. When Ethan and I had first come up with the idea of Books & Brews, to spin off the table we’d had at the Fall into the Plaza event, we weren’t sure it would work as a regular activity, so we started small.

It was a pairing night where Ethan put together a curated flight of beers to match up with five books that I selected.

People loved it.

Like, really loved it.

We’d been blown away at the reception of the event, including how many people bought books to go home with, as well as six-packs of the new cans Ethan had started to produce.

Not only was the event a lot of fun, but it had been successful, too. Everyone in attendance asked about when the next one would be, and word got around so quickly that we had to limit seating.

“I’m glad we can expand outside now.” I looked around. Ethan had the big garage door windows open, creating the perfect inside-to-outside space he’d dreamed of. The entire brewery was packed.

“Do you guys have a table?” I asked Lauren.

“You know we do.” She grinned. “I brought Brett tonight.”

“Brett?” My eyes scanned the brewery, looking for her table. It didn’t take long for my gaze to land on a small table with a man who must be Brett and a very sour-looking Brody, who was nursing the beer in front of him. “Who’s Brett? And why does Brody look so pissed?”

“Brett and I have sort of been dating.” Lauren shrugged in an effort to be casual, but it didn’t work. I saw the way she bit her bottom lip and glanced away when she spoke. “I don’t know what Brody’s issue is.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I think I know very well what his issue is.”

She shook her head. “It’s not like Brody and I are dating.”

“Right.” I dragged out the word. I’d been friends with Lauren for a while now, and I’d seen the two of them together more often than not, and I still couldn’t figure out what was going on between the two of them.

But she was correct—they weren’t dating.

As for the exact status of their actual relationship, I had no idea.

I let my eyes travel inside, where Ethan was behind the bar, filling pint glasses and grinning from ear to ear.

My stomach flipped, and a smile of my own took over my face.

“Go.” Lauren elbowed me gently in the ribs. “I won’t keep you.”

I gave my friend a quick hug before attempting to pick my way through the crowd to my man. I didn’t get far when Avery stopped me.

“There you are.”

“Is something wrong?”

She laughed. “Only that Reid is losing his mind.” Avery grabbed me by the elbow and steered me to a small table where Reid sat, glowering over his beer.

“What…” I looked between Avery and Reid, my concern growing. “What’s wrong, Reid?”

“That.” He jabbed his finger out, and I followed where he pointed to see Quinn with a table of friends in the far corner, with a pile of books stacked in front of them.

I looked back at Reid in question.

“He’s mad because Quinn is over there flirting with boys.”

I laughed out loud, but when Reid glared at me, I did my best to swallow it. Avery winked at me.

“Quinn’s thirteen now,” I told her overprotective uncle. “You were at the party, remember?”

We’d hosted a big party at Ethan’s—well, our house in March. Only a few weeks after I moved in. “It’s pretty normal for girls her age to be interested in boys.”

Reid grumbled something under his breath and lifted his beer to his lips.

“You’ll be okay.” Avery patted his shoulder.

“Just think of Quinn as good practice for when you have your own one day.”

Reid’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at me in shock. “I think your daughter is all I can handle right now.”

Daughter.

Quinn? My daughter?

The word struck me speechless. It took me a minute to recover.

“I mean, she’s not…”

Avery put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Yes,” she said when I looked up at her. “She kinda is.”

I took a breath and looked at Reid, who smiled for the first time and gave me a nod.

I exhaled slowly. “Okay,” I said. “I guess she is a little bit mine.” Saying it out loud made me smile.

I looked over at the table where she was laughing and joking with friends. And yes, also flirting. I couldn’t help but laugh.

God, I loved that kid.

And Ethan. My eyes moved once more to the man behind the bar.

I loved this whole chaotic and totally unexpected life we were building together.

“Go,” Avery said. “I’ll try to talk Uncle Reid here off the ledge.”

Ethan

It had been one of those nights that reminded me exactly why I’d wanted to start a brewery in the first place. Peaks & Brews had become one of the most popular gathering places in Trickle Creek, and that made me happier than I could ever have expected.

Of course, I was pretty sure Delaney had something to do with that happiness, too.

Just as I was thinking of her, I caught sight of my gorgeous girlfriend making her way through the crowd again. She’d already been waylaid by Lauren and then Avery. I had no doubt someone else would stop to talk to her.

Everyone loved Delaney.

Just not as much as I did.

Her hair was up, with only a few loose strands curling around her jaw. She looked relaxed and ready for the warmer weather with just a blouse and jeans on. It didn’t matter what she wore—even in that ridiculous oversized sweater that she seemed to favor, Delaney always looked stunning.

I was a lucky man.

For so many reasons.

I still couldn’t believe she lived with us now. Like a proper family. It had felt right for her to move out of her little apartment and into the house with us. Especially when she started spending more nights there than not.

I’d been concerned that Quinn might struggle with the transition, but she’d only seemed to thrive with a female role model around. The two of them got along so well, sometimes I felt like the odd man out.

But I didn’t mind. Not really. I wouldn’t trade life with my girls for anything.

Delaney reached the bar just as I’d finished pouring two pints, passing them off to a server.

“Hey there, beautiful.” I wiped down the counter with a towel. “I didn’t think you were ever going to make your way over here.”

“Sorry. I got intercepted.” She tilted her head toward Reid’s table, where my brother sat, looking as if he’d just sucked on a sour pickle. “There was a Quinn situation.”

“Let me guess.” I grinned. “Boys?”

“Apparently.”

“I should probably be more concerned,” I said. “But I have no doubt that girl can hold her own. Besides, I’m still kind of stuck on the fact that she’d share her books with someone else.”

“Right?” Delaney laughed. “The boy must be at least a little bit okay if she’d share her books with him.”

She reached across the bar, her hand slipping over mine. “Do you have time for a break?”

“Actually, I do.” I waved to my assistant manager, Jeff, and quickly pulled two pints of our favorite brew before joining Delaney.

Together, we slipped out to the back. One day, hopefully soon, we’d develop the space into a backyard deck space with more tables. But for the moment, it served as a quiet break spot.

I set the beers on the table and pulled out a chair for Delaney.

“It’s nice and quiet out here,” she said. “Perfect.”

“I agree. As much as I love the chaos inside, this is nice.”

“Chapter One?” She raised an eyebrow in question.

“Of course.” It was our favorite brew for good reason.

“That’s perfect.” She lifted her glass. “It feels like a good night for a toast.”

I picked up mine too. “To what?”

“To the life we’re building,” she started, her eyes meeting mine. “To where it started and where it’s going.”

“I like that.”

We clinked glasses, and I took a sip. But she hesitated a moment before setting her glass down.

“Something wrong?”

“Not at all.” She shook her head. “I was just thinking…it might be time for a new beer soon.”

“Why is that?”

“Chapter One is over now, don’t you think?”

“True…” I watched her carefully.

Delaney gave a quiet laugh and reached for my hand. Her expression softened slightly. “And…it looks like we’re about to start a whole new chapter.”

I searched her eyes, trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about and then?—

“What?”

She smiled shyly.

“You mean?—”

“Yup.” She nodded. “I took two tests just to be sure.”

I stared at her, my heart in my throat, not totally able to wrap my head around what was happening. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am.”

And just like that, it all became completely real.

I blinked and my mouth dropped open, but I couldn’t find any words.

She gave me a second. “I know we didn’t plan it and…I’m on birth control, so I’m not even totally sure how?—”

I was already up, out of my chair and kneeling next to her before she could finish.

Her breath caught as I took her hand and kissed it, before looking her in the eyes. “I love you, Delaney. And this is the best news that I didn’t even know I needed.”

She let out a slow, shaky breath. “You’re not freaking out?”

“Oh. I’m freaking out,” I said with a laugh. “But in the best possible way.”

She laughed then, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

I stood and pulled her up with me into my arms.

We stood like that for a long moment, just holding each other and enjoying the moment and everything it meant.

Eventually, I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You know what this means, right?”

She tilted her head up, eyes questioning. “What?”

“That new brew… It’s going to have to be non-alcoholic.”

“I like that.” Her smile was slow.

“I had a name idea.”

She arched a brow.

“New Edition.”

Her breath caught, just for a second. “It’s perfect.”

I kissed her then, with all the noise of the brewery and our family and friends in the background.

We’d started with chapter one.

And now, it was time to write a story that would last a lifetime.