There's a mixed reaction from the audience with some loving the idea, others look skeptical.
I turn to Wyatt, my eyes wide. "Video segments?"
He shrugs, his arm dropping from the back of my chair to my shoulders in a comforting squeeze. "It'll be fine."
There's a noticeable snickering sound behind us, and I resist the urge to turn around and glare at whoever finds us so entertaining.
"The interviews will be conducted over the next week," Mayor Snyder says. "Ms. Mitchell will coordinate schedules with you. Please be available and cooperative. Don’t forget that this is excellent publicity for our town."
Ms. Mitchell moves to the podium. "Our production team has developed this exciting way to showcase our talented competitors. It will be wonderful exposure for everyone."
As the meeting ends, Ms. Mitchell makes a beeline for us.
"Merri! Wyatt!" Her gaze ping-pongs between us. "How is your collaboration going?"
"Really well," Wyatt says, his hand still resting on my shoulder. "The beer is amazing. We're confident it'll win."
"I have no doubt." She takes in our closeness, and her mouth stretches into a smile that’s all calculation. "You two certainly seem to be getting along better than expected."
"We've found common ground," I say carefully.
"I can see that." She pulls out her tablet. "Speaking of which, would you both be available tomorrow afternoon for your video interview? The crew can set up at your brewery, Merri, and we'll film some behind-the-scenes footage of your operations while we chat about your entry."
So soon? My stomach twists uncomfortably. But I force myself to nod like it’s totally fine and not terrifying at all.
"What time?" Wyatt asks.
"Two o'clock? It should take about two hours."
I glance at Wyatt, who nods. "We can make that work."
"Excellent!" Ms. Mitchell makes a note on her tablet. "The magazine is particularly interested in your partnership. The whole enemies-to-collaborators angle is very compelling."
"We weren't enemies," I protest weakly.
"You absolutely were," she says cheerfully. "And now you’re more than just collaborators, right? That’ll make the story even better. My team will be there tomorrow at two."
She bustles off, leaving Wyatt and me in the middle of the emptying community center while my brain spirals into a dozen different ways this could turn into a disaster.
"This is my nightmare," I say slowly. "A video interview tomorrow at my brewery, with strangers pointing cameras at us while we discuss our partnership." I make air quotes around thelast word because I still don't have a better term for whatever this collaboration-turned-relationship actually is.
Wyatt guides me toward the exit, completely unbothered. "You're doing that thing where you catastrophize before anything's happened. We haven't even made it to the parking lot, and you're already spiraling through at least five worst-case scenarios."
"Seven, actually, and one of them involves me accidentally dropping the f-bomb on camera when they ask about our fermentation process."
"Why would you swear about fermentation?"
"I don't know! That's why it's a worst-case scenario!" I climb into his truck and wait for him to round the front. When he slides into the driver's seat, I turn to face him. "What if they ask about us? Not the beer, not the business stuff, but our relationship. How we went from neighbors who couldn't stand each other to whatever we're doing now."
He starts the engine but doesn't put the truck in gear yet. "Then we tell them we're making it up as we go, same as everyone else who's ever attempted to date someone. The only difference is we’ve known each other a hell of a long time and also happen to make beer together, which is honestly an unfair advantage in the whole relationship department."
"An unfair advantage," I echo. "Because nothing says romance like a decades-long prank war."
"Hey, some of our best creative energies were spent on that prank war. I’m pretty damned proud of some of the shit I came up with." He reaches over and takes my hand. "Look, our beer is incredible. We both know what we're talking about when it comes to brewing and roasting. Everything else is just background noise that we don't have to get into unless we want to."
I squeeze his fingers. "And if I freeze up on camera and forget how to form complete sentences?"
"Then I'll carry the interview with my natural charm and devastating good looks while you sit there looking mysteriously brooding. It'll be very artistic." He grins at my expression. "Merri, you could talk about making beer for hours without running out of things to say. Focus on that and let everything else sort itself out."
