Page 38 of That Thing You Brew
“Only if we can ring in every year like this.” His eyes shone with sincerity and promise.
“I’d like nothing more,” I whispered.
CHAPTER11
Xavier
Smitten? Yup. Me.
Distracted? One hundred percent.
Regretful? Zero percent.
January passed in a blur. Home games, away games, toffee coffees, harp afternoons, wedding prep, speaking sessions, and plenty of kissing practice. I’d even learned the ASL alphabet while attending a handful of Penny’s library lessons.
We were having fun and getting to know each other, and the other day I’d introduced her to what my elementary school speech therapist called “see-food speaking.” Penny had laughed so hard I decided we were going to practice it first thing once she got off work today. Talking with your mouth full of food, you couldn’t stutter, and you had to take your time. I’d demonstrated with a peanut butter sandwich. When she tried it, she got the hiccups and we lost focus. Hiccups turned to laughs and laughs to kissing and, well… Lesson over.
Today, as I watched her strum her harp in the Coffee Loft—I still wasn’t used to the place’s name change—I thought about the progress she’d already made.
We’d started with some simple words and phrases and role-playing. I’d pretend to be a customer or a sales rep in a retail store. Then we moved up to talking about her music and practicing interview questions. She was killing it, but we hadn’t tested it out in a real-life situation yet. And she still hadn’t attended one of my hockey games. With her final semester of classes starting and her job, all her extra time was spent with me. I wasn’t complaining.
I had to get her ready to talk to my family. And for an interview at the all-star game. Management wanted to do a special feature on me and my family, since the game was in Seattle. A full hour-long special would air on Denver’s sports network and streaming channel. Bailey would be there and said she’d try to arrange for her to be the one to interview Penny, but it was ultimately up to the producers. I told her Penny was nervous, and she’d sent a list of possible questions they typically asked.
Back in the corner by the Coffee Loft front window, at the table we’d sat at that first time together, I sipped a Lofty-size Matcha Madness and tried to clear my thoughts so I could get lost in her music. Someone had requested 1960s songs, and with my eyes closed, I could imagine myself back into the past.
I wished I had a professional recording of Penny’s songs. Discreetly, I’d videoed her playing on my phone, and I played her songs while I was on the road and/or missing her. As the chords of “In the Still of the Night” faded away, I recited the lyrics in my head. They inspired me. We would be writing our own vows, and I wanted her to know I was serious about mine. I wanted to hold her tight, every night, and never let her go.
But how did we work up to that? With our team playing so well, it’d be another four months at least until we could get started on our relationship.
Unless … unless wedidn’twait.
Brenna was right about one thing. Nothing about Penny had ever brought me bad luck.
The melody changed into a catchy, upbeat tune I’d heard before but couldn’t place. I opened my eyes. One table over, Jannell was mouthing the words as she typed on her laptop while Riva, Marie’s yellow lab therapy dog trainee, sat at her feet. Steam rose from her mug of coffee. I’d seen it in the cubby shelf earlier and wondered if she’d chosen the message for herself:Most Likely to Need Coffee.
“Excuse me.” I leaned over, and Jannell lifted her head. “Sorry to interrupt your work. And you, sweet girl.” I leaned down to scratch Riva behind her ears, and she gave me an appreciative doggie smile. “What song is this?”
She smiled. “‘That Thing You Do.’ It’s from the movie by the same title. It came out in the ’90s, but it’s ’60s-themed.”
“Thanks.” I vaguely remembered watching it as a kid with my mom. She was a big fan of musicals. “You said the movie was ‘That Thing You Brew?’” I asked, returning my gaze to Penny.
“‘That Thing YouDo,’”she corrected. “Although we all knowyourstory.” I turned back to her, surprised. “It’s Penny’sbrewthat made you a star.” She winked and tapped her finger on her chin. “I wonder if we can use that in marketing without getting sued?”
I laughed. “Maybe. I’m happy to be your ad guy. I’ve got the money to sue back.”
The music ended, and I glanced at the clock above the restroom archway. Another forty minutes.
“She can go,” Jannell said. “I know you’re waiting for her. It’s pretty dead here.” She nodded toward the counter, where Gabby was hunched over a textbook. “If it picks up, I’ll jump in and help. But I don’t expect a busy afternoon. Not with Montoya Construction staging outside.”
I turned to look out the window. Almost the entire sidewalk was blocked in front of the café.
“They’ll bring it in as soon as we close. It’ll take about a week to cut through the ceiling and attach the spiral iron staircase—like the one they put in Brenna’s barn. Then we’llreallybe a ‘coffee loft.’”
I grinned. “Can’t wait. And I’m glad it’s the week we’re in Seattle. The timing is perfect for Penny to be gone.”
“Yes, amazing how that worked out.” She tipped her chin toward Penny, who was chatting with a few of the little kids who’d been dancing to her music. “Go help your girl pack up. And good luck All-Star Weekend. Brewski’s is holding a watch party. Half the town is planning to be there.”
“Thanks,” I said.No pressure.I was looking forward to the game, of course, and with Bailey’s help, I’d secured all the necessary pieces for the Breakaway Challenge.
