Page 27 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

Pulling into the brewery I can feel Evelyn staring at me.

“I promise I’m here for Roman.” I know she’s concerned that I’m cheating on Rome’s beer. “He asks me to come buy a six-pack of their seasonals so he can spy and compare. But he won’t buy them himself.”

“That sounds like my brother.” She chuckles.

“They’re friendly, but also the competition. This guy sends someone into Rebels every quarter so Rome asked me to do the same.” I shrug, putting the car in park.

“Let’s do it then. Think Rome would be mad if we ate here too? I’m pretty hungry after that hike, and BJ.” She smirks at me.

“I think he wouldn’t even look at the receipt and just have Emma pay me for it.” Laughing, I push the door open and walk over to meet her on the passenger’s side.

Lacing my fingers with hers I pull the door open and usher her inside.

“Hi! Welcome to Schoodic Point Brewery. Just the two of you today?” The cheery hostess greets us.

“Hi, yes. Just my girlfriend and I.” I look over to smile at Eve. It fills me with pride to be able to tell someone she’s my girlfriend.

We follow the hostess to a booth in the brewery.

It’s different than Rome’s. Rebels is mostly wood, a rustic warehouse look with the vat room open to the restaurant.

Meanwhile this one is in an old farmhouse much like the inn.

Each room has two to three tables in them with the larger rooms holding four to five.

It’s a much more intimate feel if you were coming with a loved one.

But it doesn’t do much for socializing with large groups.

“This place is so cute and homey,” Evelyn whispers, sitting down and pulling out her menu. “Don’t tell my brother I said that. I think as his sister I’m obligated to only like his place.”

“They’re very different vibes, that's for sure. But Rome’s beer blows this place out of the water.”

Picking up the beer menu, I study which one I want to get. Or maybe a flight. I’m not shocked to see they skipped the fall theme drinks that Rome dominates and went straight to their holiday flavors.

Schoodic Point Holiday Flights - We celebrate early around here when the beers are as good as they are!

Very Merry Wheat Ale - With hints of orange, cranberry and cinnamon this belgian ale will put you in the holiday spirit!

Cocoa Crazy - Enjoy this dark hot cocoa stout by the fireplace and let it warm you through and through as the sweet chocolate flavor finishes.

Merry Mulled Holidays- This ale will give you hints of mulled wine, cinnamon, and black currants.

Your Momma’s Peach Cobbler- Exactly what the name says. This ale has hints of sweet peaches that’ll make you wish you were celebrating on a porch in Georgia.

Christmas Cookie - With whiskey barrel soaked vanilla, caramel, and white chocolate you might need a six-pack for the neighborhood cookie exchange.

“Want to share a flight with me?” I ask Eve.

“Sure. I can’t believe their holiday beers are already out. That’s a leg up on Rome for sure. Everyone celebrates earlier each year.” She picks up the food menu.

“They celebrate early because they can’t compete with Rome’s pumpkin ale. They’ll have it until February if they try and Rome sells out by November first. Christmas though, it’s their season. He’s tried to beat them the last few years and he hasn’t been able to. It pisses him off.”

“I’m sure it does. I think I’ll try their beef stew. What are you getting?” She puts the menu on top of mine at the edge of the table.

“I’m going to get the burger with the onion straws and their homemade barbeque sauce. It’s one of my favorites. But don’t tell Clark I said that.”

The waitress comes over and we order our flight along with our food. The flight comes out fairly quickly and the owner comes to deliver it himself.

“Hey, Hunter. Here to grab your quarterly six-pack for Roman?” he asks with a smile on his face.

“Actually, I’m just here with my girlfriend. We hiked The Anvil, so we wanted some food and a cold beer.“

“A cold beer after a hike never misses. I hope you enjoy it. And make sure to tell Roman to bring his A game this holiday season. I want some real competition this year.” He laughs.

“You know,” Evelyn speaks up. “You and my brother should do a brew-off with your holiday flavors. I bet the Christmas festival would be the perfect time.”

“Your brother, huh? So, you’re a Thomas too?“ His eyebrows shoot up into the air at her revelation.

“Depends who’s asking.” She winks in his direction. I know for a fact that he was screwed over by her parents before they became a huge conglomerate. Something to do with a claim that wasn’t covered. Probably why she’s not willing to admit who she is.

He walks away laughing, but turns back to look at us before he reaches the doorway and says, “You ask your brother about that. I’ll be there with my new list of beers. We’ll see who wins.”

I glower at her. “You know Rome’s going to kill you right?”

“What are little sisters good for?” Her grin reminds me that she enjoys getting Roman into trouble. Must be why we’re such a good pair. Although as teens, I think Roman and I were equal in the mischief causing.

“You are absolutely trouble, Evelyn Thomas.”

“Last time I checked you like my brand of trouble.” This time she shoots me a wink before picking up a beer and bringing it to her lips. “Oh, my God, this is so freaking good.”

I look at the list and she’s chosen the Very Merry Wheat Ale. That one intrigued me the most. She reaches out to hand me the small cup, and I drink the rest.

Shit. This is really fucking good.

“I don’t know about that brew off that you mentioned. You’re going to have to warn Rome.“ I put the empty glass back on the flight and pick up another one, drinking half and replacing it back on the board for her.

“Why? It’s not like you can do anything about it now he’s been brewing his holiday beer since the summer. Do you know what kind he’s brewing?“

“Unfortunately, he did not consult with me this summer. So I guess if he wins, maybe I’m the reason he’s been losing. But he also had Emma. She’s more into the flavored beers so she might’ve given him a leg up this year.”

At that, our food is delivered, ending the conversation as we both dig in. We finished the flight and order a second.

“You know we’re both sworn to secrecy about this date right?” When I see a flash of hurt across her face, I know my choice in words wasn’t right. “We’ll have to find a different restaurant to say we ate at. I’m not trying to hide you. I just don’t want to piss Rome off.”

Shaking her head lightly, she responds, “No, of course not. We definitely can’t tell him where we were. But we can tell them we came.”

I reach across the table to hold her hand in mine. “I’m not hiding you anymore, Evelyn. I will tell everyone that I’m a lucky enough bastard to call you mine.”

She gives me a weak smile. And I know I need to take a chance at making an ass out of myself. Getting up she watches my every move as I walk over to the doorway that opens into the largest area of the restaurant.

“Excuse me, can I have everyone’s attention?

” I shout. All the staff stop in their tracks with questioning looks on their faces and patrons stop eating to look at me.

“I just want to shout it out to the entire universe that I am in love with Evelyn Thomas and I’m the luckiest son of a bitch to call her mine. ”

“Hunter! Get over here!” She shakes her head at me, a blush spreading down her neck as applauses ring out. “This is not what I meant!”

Stalking back towards her, everyone goes back to their food and jobs, but not me. I lean down, grasping her face in my hands and crashing my lips to hers.

“I told you I’d tell everyone that I’m in love with you. You’ll never be a secret again. I promise.”

Taking my seat across from her, I pick up my food and watch her. The weak smile she gave me earlier is full blown ear to ear now.

I give myself a mental high-five for making her smile.

Evelyn has been my girlfriend officially for almost an entire week.

I feel like an idiotic kid to be excited that she agreed to be my girlfriend.

Guys my age have wives, and I feel behind due to my own stupidity.

But it doesn’t tamper the sheer happiness I have that Evelyn Thomas took my dumb ass back and still loves me.

I’ve made it a point to stop by her office every time I’m in town. Which is every day, sometimes twice a day to stop by town hall for permits. Every time she’s delighted for a quick kiss, or the coffee I bring her to get through her day.

But today is our first Keaton family function together.

Everyone has been skirting around the fact that I’m in love with Evelyn, but now it’s official and everyone is going to drill us with questions while we pass out candy at the inn.

We get so many kids that it’s all hands on deck.

Main Street puts on a big trick-or-treat downtown, and then the kids branch out to surrounding streets, especially if the weather is mild like it is today.

Mom sent me to Portland to buy more candy this morning when we saw the weather.

I get to Evelyn’s office just as she’s locking up. She is dressed in tan leggings with a tan shirt, and a tan tutu around her waist. The tan clothes have white spots on them and her nose is painted black with little ears on her head.

“And what might you be?” I ask, sauntering up to her with my hands stuffed in my pocket.

“A deer,” she says, turning to show me the little white tail attached to her tutu.

“Oh, very cute.” I kiss her, wrapping my arms around her middle and pulling her close to me.

“You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what? I see it. I get the deer thing.”

“No. You’re part of the costume too.” She chuckles at my cluelessness.

“Then I don’t get it.” I say, furrowing my brows.

“Oh my gosh, you are Hunter. Get it? A Hunter and a deer?” She gestures between us like I should get it.

“I didn’t do a costume.”

“You are so dense. It’s a play on your name, Hunter.”

I stare at her for a moment while it sinks in. “Oooooh. I get it now.”

Pulling out a bag, she hands me a nerf gun. “And maybe this will help you look more like a hunter. You’ll have to catch me.”

Nuzzling into her neck, I murmur in her ear. “Oh, trust me. I plan to.”

She melts into me, moaning. “Mmm. Do we need to pass out candy?”

“Yes, ma’am. Or Anna Keaton will hunt you down. Halloween is her favorite time at the inn.”

“Trust me. I remember. The bonfire was always my favorite part of the night. I loved hanging out with everyone and making my s’mores.”

I hold up the bags from the store in Portland. “Got all the supplies today, and five extra bags of Hershey bars.”

“You are my favorite. Let’s go so we can get this over and I can get my s’more and you.” She goes to walk away but I pull her to me, kissing her deeply.

“You didn’t think I was going to let you get away without kissing me first, did you?”

“I mean, no.” The blush that spreads across her cheeks tells me that I’ve done my job.

“I want more. But we are on the street so…” I trail off as we start walking toward the inn.

“So, can I ask you something?” She laces her fingers with mine.

“What is that, Peach?”

“Could we stay at my place tonight? I love your house, really I do. But I’m paying for this place and not even spending any nights there. Plus all my stuff is there, and I’m kind of tired of packing and—”

I squeeze her hand, stopping her from talking. “You know we could fix that. You could just move in with me. The house was literally made for you.”

“Hunter, it’s been a week of us being officially back together. Don’t you think that’s too soon?” She smirks at me over her shoulder.

“Nope,” I say, popping the P and bumping her shoulder with mine. “If it were up to me I would have had you moved in when you said you needed a place, but you decided to go live with my damn brother.”

She laughs, hard. “I definitely wasn’t moving in with you then. And I don’t know that I’m quite ready for that yet. Maybe just switching up our sleeping so I can get some stuff done around my own house, like laundry and dusting.”

“Peach, I don’t care where I am as long as I’m with you.” I kiss her forehead as that inn comes into view.

“Oh, look who’s coming! The happy couple!” Violet shouts from the front yard.

“Are you ready for this? You know they’re all going to drill us with questions. Especially Mom. I don’t think she’s been privy to any of the conversations about our past.”

“Sounds like you probably need to talk to Mama Keaton first then.”

As soon as she says that, Mom joins Violet to see who is coming and when she sees us, her hand covers her mouth.

“Hunter Keaton. You owe me one hell of an explanation!”

Eve turns to look at me. “Told you!” She happily trots off to find Violet and Emma until Mom stops her in her tracks.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of this conversation, missy.” She crooks her finger toward me. “Let’s go.”

Together, we hang our heads, following Mom like two children who know they’re about to get in trouble. But with Mom, she probably is just mad that everyone knew before her. Being behind on the gossip with her own son, won’t fly.

On my way, I drop the bags on the table next to Liam so he can finish getting the candy and s’mores ingredients out. At least filling Mom in gets me out of set-up duty.