Page 40 of Canadian Harvest
“Chaos?” he chuckles.
“Yeah, chaos.” I smile shyly at him. Looking into his hazel eyes, I think of how he’s done so much for me in the short amount of time we’ve been together. Giving up everything so that I have a ride to and from work every day. Making my deliveries for me. The least I can do is show up at his work and have a drink. “You know what? I will.”
“Rach, you don’t have to…”
“No, I want to,” I interrupt. “Kylie told me she was meeting up with some friends for the concert. Maybe I’ll bring them with me.”
“You’d do that?” The joy on his face warms my heart.
“I’d do that.” I reach up on my tiptoes, giving him a kiss.
“You going to get some cider or what?” Brody’s voice makes us separate.
I notice the line in front of us has disappeared, and Brody’s watching us with a smirk on his face. Kade’s at the booth next to him, sneaking glances and smiles as she helps a customer.
“Asshole,” Mitch mutters under his breath without any heat, making Brody laugh.
I’ve known Brody my whole life, and I’ve never seen him smile as much as he has since Kade moved to town. I heard they had a fling years prior, but now that she’s back and they’ve started a family, he’s lighter. Happier.
I wonder if that would be the same for me. If I were to settle down and start a family, would I feel happier? Less alone and stuck in my ways. Is going to the brewery tonight to see Mitch the first step in that?
“Rach?” Mitch’s voice draws me out of my spiralling thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Which cider do you want?” He looks at me questioningly but doesn’t prod further.
Yet.
“Oh, uh.” I look at the options in front of me. “I’d like the Apple Pie Cider, please.”
With a nod, Brody gets to work opening our ciders and pouring them into plastic cups. Mitch chats with Brody as he gets our drinks and pays, but I can’t follow the conversation. I can’t stop thinking of what it would be like to be married and have kids. Would we bring them here and let them run around like all the other children in town? Would we ply them with ice cream and fudge and then carry their sleepy bodies to the car, buckling them in as we smile at each other across the back seat?
Could this be something I see with Mitch?
“Here you go,” he says, handing me my cider and leading me to the side as we get in line for Kade’s booth. “Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah. Why?” I try to play it cool as I take a sip of my cider, pretending I’m not having a complete freaking meltdown.
“You seem—quiet. Not your usual kind but like, quiet, quiet.” He takes a sip of his own cider, watching me over the rim of his cup.
“Everything’s fine. I’m just tired, I guess.”
My words seem to spark something in him. He lowers his cup, leaning in until his lips are at my ear, whispering words only I can hear. “Oh yeah, Belle? And why would that be?”
My knees go weak at the growly voice he’s using. “Someone kept me up late last night.”
“Hmm. That someone wants to keep you up tonight, too.”
I close my eyes and clench my legs together because holy hell, that’s hot.
“Come on now, you little addict,” Mitch jokes, nipping at my earlobe and placing his hand on the small of my back, urging me forward. “We don’t want to be caught for a second time, do we?”
I open my eyes to his playful gaze.
Damn, he’s hot.
We wait our turn and are greeted by Kade. “Well, hello! How are you guys?”