I slid an arm around Ivy’s waist, squeezing her to me. I offered Elle my hand. “Hey, Elle. Ivy’s talked about you a lot. Sounds like you and the other women living above the store have really gotten to know each other.”
Elle shook my head, her cheeks pink as well. Her voice was softer, so I moved us closer to hear her over the loud crowd of customers. “Yeah, Kate and Nic are amazing.”
“Let’s get you a drink,” I said to them both. Taking Ivy’s hand, I began to snake our way back to the bar area where Max, Emma, Sully, and Nate were gathered.
“Want our new IPA?” I asked Ivy. She nodded. I glanced to Elle and tilted my head toward the bar.
“I’ll take an IPA too,” she called.
Daryl was behind the bar now, so I held up three fingers and pointed at the tap for Fire and Rain. Daryl nodded.
I looked to Ivy to see that she and Elle had greeted Emma. It seemed that Elle already knew her. I brought them their beers and then grabbed my own. Joining the circle, I watched as Max wrapped his arm around Emma. I’d watched these two over the past eight months. They’d fallen in love and now were engaged to get married next summer. Looking to Sully, I realized that in the same time he and Maggie had gotten together, married, and would be having a baby in less than a month. Hell, Ivy and my relationship had been on its own version of warp speed. We were all damn lucky.
Nate returned to the group and raised his beer to Sully and me. “Great beer, guys. You canning this one?”
Sully moved in Nate’s direction while I noted Elle’s response to Nate joining our group. Her cheeks had flamed up, and she whispered to Emma and Ivy something, taking off toward the bathroom.
I leaned over. “Everything okay?”
Ivy turned from Emma to me, her eyes twinkling. “Yep. Emma was just telling me that Elle is a regular at the library since she moved in. And it seems her gaze is often drawn to Nate.”
I shook my head at the two of them. “You don’t have to take Lou’s matchmaking role, ladies.”
“Who’s taking my role?” I heard behind me. We turned and saw Lou dragging Verdell to our group. Lou looked to where Ivy and I were practically joined at the hip and turned, whacking Verdell on his arm. “See, I was right. They just needed a push!”
Verdell shook his head and kissed Lou on the temple, then moved on to the bar, catching Daryl’s attention.
Lou looked back to Ivy. “Great turnout. It’s packed all around town.”
“You did good work, Lou,” Ivy said, squeezing the older woman before moving back to my side.
“You do good work too, big bro,” I heard. Looking back to the group, I noted that Drew stood next to Max.
I looked at him in confusion. “Thought you were staying on dog duty tonight.”
He grinned. “And miss the big night? Hell no. Steph wants us to FaceTime her later from here. Addie insisted on sleeping on the floor with Chief, so Mom and Dad brought her to your place. They said they’re having a campout in your den.” Drew gave Ivy a wry expression. “And Dad might have promised Addie donuts tomorrow.”
Ivy laughed. “Might have?”
Drew shrugged. “Might have, or might have already called in an order to be ready at seven. You know how it goes.”
Sully looked to me. “Time for a toast.”
I glanced around, making sure everyone had a beer. Ivy’s arm slid around my waist too, squeezing as she raised her beer.
“To the Reds of Christmas; to Ivy, Jake, and Lou for this amazing event; to Jake for being a kick-ass partner, and to Drew for the inspiration for our newest beer.” Sully raised his glass.
“To friends, family, and Highland,” I said in response. Looking at Ivy: “And to you.” I tapped my glass to hers.
“To Highland.” Everyone raised their glasses.
“I’ll drink to that,” Lou crowed.
“Of course you will,” said Verdell, smiling at her.
“Think that will be us in fifty years?” Ivy whispered.
“If so, we’d be beyond blessed,” I replied, lowering my mouth to hers. She tasted of Ivy and pine. In other words, perfection.
