Page 91 of The Misfits of Copper County
“Yeah,” I agreed.
Though by that point, Delaney would be in Costa Rica, probably.
I didn’t know exactly how his job worked—was healwaysgone for weeks or months? How long would he spend in Copper County between assignments? Would he want to be with me when he was here? Would a relationship hold him back from achieving his ambitions?
The questions were complicated, painful,risky.Emotionsthat usually made me disengage before I risked too much of myself, back away slowly before I got hurt. But I knew instinctively that I was in too deep with Delaney already.
It was time to stop dancing around what was happening between us. To be brave and name it. To ask what Delaney wanted and be honest about what I could accept.
“Delaney, there’s something I need to tell you—” I blurted.
“Brewer, we need to talk—” Delaney began at the exact same time.
He burst out laughing, and I did, too.
“You first,” he said. “Please.”
“Okay,” I agreed since I needed to rip the Band-Aid off anyway. I took a deep breath. “Being around you makes me want to be more open and honest than I’ve been in a long time. Which is why I need to tell you…” I swallowed, my tongue suddenly too thick for my mouth.Come on, Brewer. For the love of fuck. “What I’m trying to say is?—”
KAK-WEEEE!
The doorbell’s unholy shriek sliced through the morning stillness.
Delaney and I jumped.
“No,” Delaney said firmly. His teeth set, and his eyes narrowed. “Absolutely not.Je refuse. Continue, Brewer. Please.”
“Right.” I let out a shaky laugh. “Okay. What I want you to know is?—”
KAK-WEEEE!
Delaney closed his eyes. “I take back every single nice thing I have accidentally and erroneously begun to think about this town,” he bit out. “I swear to God, Brewer, if someone is ringing our bell to invite me to a butter-churning workshop, or to reenact a human sundial, or?—”
“They’re probably looking to see the paintings,” I said reasonably.
Delaney inhaled through his nose.
KAK-WEEEE! KAK-WEEEE!
Downstairs, Teeny let out an inquisitive bark, just in case the whole fucking town hadn’t heard the bell.
“Forces are conspiring against us,” he whisper-moaned.
Despite myself, I laughed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Go let Teeny out,” I said. “I’ll get rid of them. Meet back here. Yeah?”
I grabbed my jeans and T-shirt off the floor and pulled them on as I ran, which meant I was halfway down the stairs when I realized I’d grabbed Delaney’s shirt.
KAK-WEEEE!
Fuck.
I pulled the shirt on anyway, though it was ridiculously tight around the shoulders.
“Coming!” I shouted. “Jesus Christ.” I threw open the door.
“Oh, thank fuck, Brew!” Kel stood on the front porch wearing his trademark Kitchen Couriers uniform and year-round Birkenstocks. But today, he was wide-eyed, and his hair stood on end—like a cartoon character who’d caught the end of a live wire. “I need to talk to you. Like,now.”
