Page 120 of Small Town Firsts
Nothing in my life had ever felt so big or so overwhelming since I’d taken the job at the taproom. Was I getting my feelings mixed up with the stress of the opening, and it would fade?
Or was it just as important?
How could I tell?
He cupped my face and some of the worries fell away. “I just know.”
“Kira, c’mon!” Justin called from the porch.
I started to pull away, but he held fast. “I’m not going anywhere. What can I do to make you believe that?” His brow furrowed in frustration. “I know this isn’t the time, but give me something.”
“That you’ll stick, no matter what. So many people have let me down.” My voice broke and I hated it. “No matter how much we fight about the taproom or about us, I need to know you won’t bail on me.”
He opened his mouth, and I rose on my toes to cover it. He growled when I stepped back. “Think about it before you promise me anything. Because I need to know you mean it, even when it’s hard.”
Then I slipped away and ran for the taproom.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear if he agreed.
TWENTY-NINE
RONAN
CELEBRATION
I let her go.
No matter what I said she wouldn’t believe it right now. Because I damn well was sticking no matter what. She was everything to me. However, all that pain swimming in her eyes told me I needed to be careful with her.
There was a lot I still didn’t know about her. Not that it would matter, I knew the important pieces about her and I’d learn the rest. Patience was not my strong suit, but if she needed the actions, she was going to get them.
I followed her back to the taproom. Most of the staff had arrived while we were in the workshop. Lennon was making drinks and laughing. She had a row of glasses lined up, and when she spotted me, she waved.
“There’s the man of the hour. We thought you were never going to show yourself.”
I grinned. “Just making sure I made enough for you to play with, Lennon.”
“And I have been with the pitcher you gave me. Come try my new drink. I think you’ll love it.” She flipped the shaker, then balanced it on her forearm and popped it into the air with a flourish, catching it behind her back.
Most of my buzz had worn off with the Beckett talk, as well as getting a quick and dirty taste of Kira. Right now was about the crew, not my romantic issues.
“Pour me a big one then.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Lennon strained the golden drink into a tall glass. “I think you’ll enjoy this one.”
I sat at the bar beside Justin and Annette.
“Be careful, Lennon is trying to get us all drunk.” Annette took a deep drink of a matching glass.
“I call it Sunshine Lemonade.” She flicked a napkin in front of me with a quick hand flourish and set the drink down in front of me. She added a drizzle of something orange that danced through the liquid, then garnished it with a sugared lemon.
“Did you say Sunshine Lemonade?”
She grinned. “Sure did. As if we haven’t heard you call Kira that every day.”
I flushed a little. Then again, I’d asked for it by naming the cider after her. I lifted the drink to my lips, and my sour taste buds went wild and then mellowed out with the sweet Honeycrisp cider she’d used to make the drink.
“That seems very dangerous.”
