Chapter Twelve
Gabriel
“I brought you something.”
I look up, startled, from my notepad to see Delilah leaning against the post by the back-flap to the tent, grinning at me. I smile back, and a warmth melts over me, like it always does when I see her.
She nods at my notepad. “What are you working on?”
“A sermon.”
She giggles. “You actually try?”
I roll my eyes. “Hilarious. And yeah, I do.”
“See I thought you just pulled stuff out of your…” She blushes adorably, and I love that she still gets all ruffled when she’s about to try and use an actual cuss word.
“Your ass.”
I chuckle. “You’re starting to get a mouth like a sailor, hanging around me.”
She giggles.
“But yes, I try.” I shrug. “You know, sometimes.” I grin and nod at the paper bag in her hand. “What’s that?”
She grins. “This.” She reaches inside and pulls out a huge mason jar filled with something orange and amber colored. My brow perks up.
“Is that some of that peach moonshine?”
“Yes indeed.”
“And you brought enough for the whole class?” I tease.
But she just rakes her teeth over her lip. “Yeah,” she breathes. “I did.”
I smile curiously. “Are you actually joining me in a drink for once?”
She nods, chewing at her bottom lip as she grins. “Just for once, though.”
I make a tsking sound and shake my head. “Naughty, naughty.”
“Well, I’ll be praying extra hard tomorrow.”
I laugh, but inside, while I drink her in, I’m trying to ignore the fact that I’m gone in three days. In three days, I’m leaving, and that means leaving her. And I’m not so sure how I’m going to deal with that quite yet.
“Well, Ms. Somerset, pull up a stool.”
She grins as I grab a couple of coffee mugs off a little shelf and pull over a second folding chair. She twists off the mason jar lid and sniffs before she giggles. “That actually smells delicious.”
I pour us two small cups, and hand her hers. “You sure about this?”
“Of course,” she shrugs nonchalantly.
I grin. “You’ve never drank before, have you?”
She smiles bashfully. “Well, not exactly.”
“Go easy,” I murmur, and click my mug to hers. “Cheers.”