21. Angie

21

ANGIE

W e closed the brewery and sent the staff home. The cleaning company wouldn't arrive until the next day, and a shop vac wasn't going to do it.

I'd pay my staff for the foreseeable future. After I called him again with an update, the insurance adjuster told me wages would be covered under my plan, which was a relief.

We also blocked off the entrance to the tasting room, which meant we could continue brewing the next day. That was a relief.

At home, we sat on the sofa, staring at the blank TV.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, noting it was way past lunch. Not that I felt like I could eat. Funny how sad stuff didn't bring on my tears as easily as happy or sweet things. Put on a cute romcom, and I'd bawl right through it. Destroy my business, and I sat in my living room with dry eyes.

"I'll make something for us, if you'd like." He rose. "Or order something if you'd prefer. "

"I can't even remember if I have any food in my fridge or cupboards, though I must since you made muffins." That felt like a year ago, not this morning. "I've been busy lately and tend to pick meals up on my way home or order delivery. It's much easier."

"Would you like pizza? Tacos? Chinese food?" He held up his phone.

I shrugged. "I'm not really hungry. I think I might have some cheese and crackers somewhere. We have a few muffins left, right? That'll be enough for me."

"Let me check out your kitchen, see if I can put something together."

He came back about fifteen minutes later with what looked like a charcuterie board purchased from the fanciest restaurant in town, placing it with a flourish on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Where did you find all that?" I asked, staring at the neat little piles of this and that, plus diced items in tidy rows lying on the wooden board.

"You had more in your fridge than you realized," he said with a smile that made my day suddenly feel a tiny bit better.

When he sat beside me and laid a napkin on my lap, I started crying.

He tugged a clump of tissues out of his pocket and handed them to me along with a small plate. After placing some food on the plate, he nudged it toward me. "Eat. Everything seems better when your belly's full."

"I'm not sure about that."

"It's a gargoyle saying."

"I never thought gargoyles were real. "

"And here you are, sitting with one in your living room. Contemplating letting him spread your legs wide and eat you for dessert."

My laughter snorted out. "I'm not sure if I'm up for something like that."

"Then I'll lounge on the sofa and hold you. I'm here for you, Angie, in any way you need me."

"I can't imagine what I'd do if you weren't."

"You're strong. You'd have to fetch your own tissues, and maybe you'd only be eating those crackers from the box, but you'd have your phone out, and you'd be making a list of all the things you were going to do to get your business back up and running."

I cocked my head, looking up at him. I was always surprised at how big he was. I forgot when we were apart and was reminded of it all over again when we came back together. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up."

He gave me a crooked smile. "Is it working?"

"Let's eat and I'll let you know after we're finished."

We munched through much of what he'd prepared, and I surprised myself again by eating my share. I thought I couldn't eat anything and here I was, fighting over the last olive with Tuvid.

He held it up while I rose onto my knees, straining to reach his hand. Laughter kept spurting up my throat, and I was worried if I didn't stop chuckling, I was going to pee myself.

Finally, he lowered his hand. "Open wide."

"You're relinquishing the final olive? I'm surprised, Tuvid. Astonished, actually."

"Why? "

"Because I thought you'd pop it into your mouth the first chance you got."

"Open up or I will." The sparkle in his eyes told me he was teasing, so I did as he asked. He placed the olive inside my mouth and watched while I ate it. "You're sexy when you eat," he finally said.

"You were staring at me so much, I was beginning to wonder if I had cracker crumbs on my chin."

"Just a few." Leaning close, he licked them off.

"Oh, my god, you did not just eat food off my chin!" I cackled and reeled backward, falling onto the cushions.

He followed, looming over me in an amazing way. He really was a gorgeous guy, all muscles and dark blue skin and fabulous wings. My belly might be full, but I wanted to eat him up.

"I think that's a yes," I said while he stared at my mouth.

"Yes, you want me to kiss you?"

"Yes, I feel better, and yes, I very much want you to kiss me."

"What about that dessert I suggested earlier?"

How could I turn down a guy who seemed delighted to eat me out every chance he got?

"I feel like I'm getting the best part of the bargain," I said, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

"How can that be true when bringing you joy makes me incredibly happy?"

"Why hasn't some gargoyle woman snatched you up already?"

"Because I was waiting for you, Angie. It has always been, and it always will be, you."