Page 31 of It's a Brewtiful Day
I was hungry, starving even, and I wanted a piece of everything,. However, I didn’t want Elliot to have guilt or to feel bad. A lightbulb went off. “Tell you what. How about I make a list of everything I take? Then I can turn it in to your boss or manager and pay for it when the system is up and running.”
In reality, it was the right thing to do. I’d offered the same at the top of the tram back when I was stuck up there, and the manager assured us it would all be taken care of. No doubt, the same would happen here, but if it helped assuage any of Elliot’sanxiety, I was willing to make a detailed and itemized list.
He nodded and came closer to the counter. “Sure, if that’ll make you happy.”
“Will it makeyouhappy?”
“It’s a start.”
Chapter Six
I took a tray and spread a napkin across it, reading out to him every delicious item I grabbed. “The last chocolate donut, two slices of whatever this is.”
Setting the pen atop the paper, he twisted the light for a better look. “Banana bread.”
“Ooh, I’ll grab another, just in case.” I laughed. Nothing could beat Cassie’s, but I was hungry and willing to try. Second place was still good. “A couple of these weird things.”
Elliot reangled the phone. “Oh, those are bear claws. One of our best sellers.”
Yet, there were two remaining in the case.
I shrugged. “Let’s try them.”
“You’re going to get sick.” Concern flashed in his eyes as he assessed the tsunami I was about to unleash on my digestive system.
“Nah, I may bruise easy, but I can fill mystomach with a shocking amount of junk and not have the slightest upset feeling.” Touching his arm briefly, because it felt so right, I then added a couple more treats to the tray. “What about something to drink?”
“There’s a variety of milk in the fridge; almond, soy, regular. There might even be chocolate.”
I hadn’t had a glass of chilled chocolate milk in ages. The fridge hadn’t been opened so there was a bit of hope it would still be quite cold. “Ooh, how big?”
“For what?”
“For the chocolate milk? If it’s a jug, I know I couldn’t finish it before it spoiled, and I don’t want to open the fridge repeatedly while the power’s out.”
“Good point, and honestly, I can’t remember how much was left.” He pushed the glass door of the pastry case open on the other side. “Can I interest you in a juice?”
“Nope. That will sour my stomach for sure.”
“Really?” He chuckled. “That’s what will upset your stomach?”
“Yeah. At least the milk will help to dilute the sugar, but the juice and all that acidity? Do youwantme to get sick?” I tipped my head back and placed the back of my hand on my forehead, all while laughing.
He added two bottles of water to the tray and scratched it down on the piece of paper. “You’re weird.”
“I enjoy being weird,” I said with a hint ofpride.
“Then that makes you even weirder. But that’s okay, because weird is wonderful.” There was a shy smile tipping on the edges of his lips. He cleared his throat. “There’s a cinnamon roll, do you want that too?”
“Does it have raisins?”
“All the best do.”
“Hard pass.” I scrunched my nose and refocused on the display case after I quickly inventoried the items on the tray.
From the corner of my eye, Elliot tipped his head to the side. Yeah, my shield of weirdness was on full display. It was only a matter of time before he considered me to be too much and would retreat to his corner in peace.
Instead, and more surprisingly, Elliot nudged me with his elbow and set the phone down display side up for lighting. “Seriously, you don’t like raisins? What do you have against them? Not a fan of the California Raisins?”