Once everyone had taken a seat I gave them a short history of brewing at Lone Fox Distillery, followed by an overview of the main ingredients.
Having been trained in Bavaria had made me into a purist, and I got a little carried away describing the range of tastes you could achieve with only water, malt, hops, and yeast.
“You see, Lewis feels very strongly about beer. You’re in the right place,” Perla interrupted me after twenty minutes, and we all snorted.
Clara and Ariah brought up snacks for us, and once everyone had eaten, we went to the brewery.
We walked them through the equipment we used, and moved to the large table we’d set up for a guided tasting.
I’d been a bit reluctant about the course, and had told Perla she needed to jump in to save me. But I absolutely loved the way their faces lit up every time they tried a new sample.
Even Hazel, who was here to document the course with her camera, was all in.
“And this is how not just the raw ingredients, but also how we use them, shapes the flavour of our beer,” I ended my monologue. “And before I ramble on some more, how about we head to the restaurant to get some food into you, not just beer.”
Everyone cheered, and Knox, a teacher from Kincardie who introduced himself as a friend of our distiller Chris, struck up a conversation with me as we left the brewery.
I barely listened to what he said when we entered the restaurant a few minutes later, and my eyes fell on a familiar mop of soft brown curls bent over a laptop at a table by the window.
Asher Foxwood, our social media celebrity, whistled through his teeth when Noah looked up at our approach. “Is that Noah Bright? I didn’t know you had a celebrity at Lone Fox.”
Foxwood flinched when my head snapped around.
“I knew you looked familiar, man,” he chuckled but pretended to zip his mouth shut when I growled under my breath. “Don’t worry. I won’t say a word. Be right back, I’ll just introduce myself.”
He sauntered across the restaurant, and I ushered the other participants to the long table Clara and Ariah had prepared for us.
Foxwood joined our table after a couple of minutes of talking to Noah.
My puppy looked up at the Fox hybrid but only, I realised, to capture my gaze and eyefuck me.
Soon, Puppy. Just let me get through the next two days.
We’d agreed it would be better for him to stay away until my head was free again, but I already didn’t like our arrangement.
We only had a month left.
I texted him under the table and watched as he flinched and pulled his phone out of his cardigan.
Lewis: Can I see you tonight?
Lewis: I already miss you
My heart did a little flip-flop in my chest when he smiled at the screen.
Noah: I miss you, too
Noah: I’ll wait in your apartment
Noah: you know with how often I stay over, I should just bring Mr Pickles and my stuff here and move in
Lewis: You can move in tomorrow if you want.
Noah’s shoulders shook and he bit his lip.
Noah: I’ll ask Mr Pickles what he thinks
He sent a kissy face emoji but didn’t bring it up again when I slipped into bed and curled my body around him. My fur was still a little damp from the shower. I didn’t even make it until he gave me a goodnight kiss, but fell asleep almost the moment my head hit the pillow.
