Chapter 16
Merri
One week later
The Pelican Point Community Center is packed, and I watch from behind our table as representatives from beverage companies, restaurant chains, and distribution networks mingle with the locals. I can barely contain my nerves.
"Breathe," Wyatt says, his hand warm on the small of my back. "We've got this."
"I know." I gesture at the crowd. "There are just a lot of people here."
"Yep, and they're all about to taste the best fucking beer on the East Coast."
I can't help but smile at his confidence. "You're not even a little nervous?"
"Maybe. But I'm a Marine, baby. Never show fear in the face of the enemy."
"The judges are the enemy?"
"Anyone standing between us and victory is the enemy."
I laugh, the tension easing from my shoulders.
It’s been a whirlwind moving into Wyatt's house, finalizing our competition entry, and managing the social media explosion from our very public reconciliation.
One video—and there were many—of Wyatt kissing me in the brewery has been viewed over 150,000 times.
We've made it on the list of Pelican Point's favorite love stories, and there’s some truly great ones there.
"Look," Wyatt says, nodding toward the entrance.
My brother appears through the crowd, looking sharp in his uniform, and my hand flies to my mouth before I can stop it.
He’d promised to be here today, but part of me worried he wouldn’t make it.
My chest goes tight and full at the same time, and I have to blink several times to keep my mascara intact.
"Danny!" I rush over, throwing my arms around him.
"Hey, sis." He hugs me, then draws away, holding me at arms-length. "You look happy."
"I am. I can’t believe you’re here!"
"I told you I would be." He turns to Wyatt, who's followed me over, and they do that bro-hug thing. "Dalton. You taking care of my sister?"
"Every day."
Danny grins, pounding Wyatt on the back. "I'm happy for you both. It's about damned time you two figured out what everyone else has known for years."
"What's that?" Wyatt asks.
"That you're perfect for each other."
Before I can respond, Mayor Snyder takes the microphone at the front of the room. "Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to the Coastal Living Magazine’s Best New Business Showcase!"
The crowd applauds, and Wyatt's hand finds mine, our fingers lacing together.
"We have some fantastic entries tonight," the mayor continues. "Each representing Pelican Point's finest new businesses. Let's give all our competitors a round of applause!"
Everyone looks nervous but excited as they clap.
"Our judges tonight include representatives from Coastal Living Magazine, business consultants from Charleston and Savannah, five restaurant critics from Atlanta, and other experts in hospitality and tourism.
" Mayor Snyder gestures to the judges' table.
"They'll be evaluating each entry on creativity, execution, marketability, and overall presentation.
The winning team in each category will receive the magazine feature, a $50,000 cash prize, and promotional opportunities through our sponsor partners. "
Mayor Snyder gives the crowd an enthusiastic smile.
"Additionally, as you all know, the magazine editors created a separate beverage collaboration category this year.
For that portion, we have specialized judges, which include five master brewers, two sommeliers, three distribution executives, and several craft beverage consultants.
They'll focus specifically on flavor profiles, innovation, technical execution, and commercial viability.
The winning beverage team will receive additional prize money and their own featured article. "
My pulse kicks up. This is what we've been working for.
"Let's begin!" Mayor Snyder announces.
The next hour passes in a blur. The judges make their way to our booth, tasting and taking notes. When I pour samples of our beer, I see it in their faces—that moment of surprise when they taste something unexpected and exceptional.
"This is remarkable," one of the master brewers says, holding his cup to the light. "The coffee integration is delicate but distinctive. And the blonde ale base is so clean. It’s sophisticated without being pretentious."
"Can you tell us about your process?" the Coastal Living representative asks.
Wyatt and I launch into our explanation of how we selected the specific Central American blend for its fruity notes, used cold infusion, and balanced the coffee-to-beer ratio through multiple test batches.
"And you two have quite the history, from what I understand," a sommelier says, smiling. "I gotta admit I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers collaboration story."
I glance at Wyatt, unsure what to say.
"The emotional commitment shows in the product," she continues. "This beer tells a story with its tension and harmony, complexity and accessibility. It's really quite special."
They move on to Gerald and MaryJo’s table, and I let out a breath.
"That went well," Wyatt says, rubbing his hand over my back.
"It did. But what if I said something wrong?"
"Merri." He turns me to face him. "Our beer is incredible. Those judges definitely loved it. That’s all that matters. Whatever happens, we succeeded here."
"I know. I just want this bad."
"Me too, babe." He kisses my forehead. "But even if we don't win, we already have our plans."
"The future," I echo, smiling.
The judging continues for what feels like an eternity but is probably only thirty minutes. Finally, the mayor returns to the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our judges have made their decisions. But first, I want to say that every entry tonight was exceptional, from our retail shops to our restaurants to our service businesses. Pelican Point should be proud of the innovation and creativity on display here."
"Get to the results!" someone shouts from the crowd.
Mayor Snyder laughs. "Alright, alright. We'll start with our beverage collaboration category. We had two outstanding entries this year, and I have to say, our beverage judges had a difficult time choosing between them."
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.
"The winning beverage collaboration, receiving the featured article in Coastal Living Magazine…" the mayor pauses, his grin widening. "The Coffee Blonde Ale from The Sassy Siren Brewery and Recon Roasters, Merri Gallagher and Wyatt Dalton!"
The room erupts in cheers and Wyatt lifts me off my feet, spinning me around while I laugh and cry at the same time. Danny's whooping, Tommy's ringing the bell he apparently brought from the brewery, and what sounds like half the town is chanting "Merriatt! Merriatt!"
"We did it," I cry. "We actually did it."
"We did." He sets me down and cups my face in his hands. "You did this, Merri. Your brewing, your vision, your talent. This is your win."
"Our win," I correct. "None of this would have happened without you. Without us."
He kisses me then, deep and sweet and full of promise, and the crowd cheers even louder.
Ms. Mitchell appears with a giant ribbon and trophy. "Congratulations! I knew you two would create something special the moment I saw you. The magazine will be reaching out next week to schedule the feature interview and photo shoot."
"Thank you," we say in unison.
"Can I just say," Ms. Mitchell adds, her eyes twinkling, "this worked out even better than I hoped. You two are exactly what we wanted to highlight, using innovation through collaboration. And a little romance never hurts either."
After the formal presentations, we spend another hour celebrating with the town. Everyone wants to try our winning beer, to congratulate us and take pictures. Heather and Julie corner me for a group hug—and to show off Julie’s own ribbon and trophy for best bakery—both of them crying happy tears.
Finally, as the crowd starts to thin, Danny pulls us aside. "I'm so fucking proud of you. Not just for winning, but for working out your shit."
"Thanks, Danny," I say, hugging him tight. "I'm so glad you were here for this."
"I wouldn't have missed it." He turns to Wyatt. "You break her heart, I break your face. Are we clear?"
"Crystal, brother."
"Good. Now I'm going to hit up Jumping Jacks to see a couple friends. I’ll catch up with you first thing tomorrow morning, okay? We’ll spend the weekend together. You two go celebrate properly."
He leaves with a wink, and Wyatt turns to me. "Ready to go home?"
"So ready."
We collect Admiral from Tommy, who's been dog-sitting, and head out. The Florida night is warm and perfect, stars visible despite the ambient light from town.
"Can you believe we did it?" I ask as Wyatt drives us home—to our home, I mentally correct myself.
"Yes. Because we're a great team." He glances at me. "In everything." His hand finds mine across the center console. "I love you, Merri Gallagher. And I can't wait to see what we build next."
"I love you too." I squeeze his hand. "And I have some ideas about what comes next."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. But they involve less talking and more taking advantage of the fact that we have a giant house, a comfortable bed, and the rest of the night to ourselves."
His eyes heat. "Best idea you've had all day."
When we get home, Admiral immediately claims his spot on his cushiony bed. Wyatt and I head upstairs, and the moment the bedroom door closes, his hands are on me, pulling me close, kissing me like he's been waiting all night to do exactly this.
"We won," I murmur against his mouth.
"We did." He walks me backward toward the bed. "But you know what the best part is?"
"What?"
"Us. Building a life together. That's the real prize for me."
I laugh softly. "That's fucking cheesy, Wyatt."
"I know. But it's true." He lays me down on the bed, his weight settling over me in the most perfect way. "You're everything I’ve always wanted, Merri. I'm never letting you go."
We make love slowly, tenderly, like we have all the time in the world. And when we're done, lying tangled together in the sheets, I think about how far we've come: from two business owners who couldn't stand each other to this.
I fall asleep in his arms, Admiral sleeping downstairs, the trophy sitting on our kitchen counter, and the knowledge that whatever challenges or crazy ideas we come up with, we'll face together.
We started as enemies, became collaborators, and somewhere in between all the chaos, we became us.
Up next in the Pelican Point world is Shamrocks & Shenanigans by CA Miconi. Click here to read it.
Some traditions are worth keeping. Others are meant to be broken.
When Quinn Kavanagh inherits her grandfather’s struggling Irish tavern, she trades marketing pitches for beer taps and clings to her last chance at honoring his legacy.
But keeping Kavanaugh’s Korner afloat isn’t easy, especially with Kane O’Brien, her grandfather’s handsome rival, lurking next door with a standing offer to buy her out.
Kane O'Brien has been trying to buy Kavanaugh’s Korner for years, and he's not about to let an inexperienced newcomer, no matter how attractive, stand in his way.
As St. Patrick's Day approaches, they strike a deal: if Quinn can't make the pub profitable by March 17th, she'll sell to him.
As Quinn uncovers secret family recipes, plans Pelican Point’s biggest Irish festival, and finds unexpected joy in the rhythms of small-town life, she also discovers something far more dangerous, feelings for the one man who could take it all away.
When long-buried love letters reveal their grandparents were once star-crossed lovers, Quinn and Kane must decide: will they keep repeating the past… or pour a new future together?
A heart-tugging enemies-to-lovers romance with family secrets, flirty banter, pub rivalries, and a splash of Irish whiskey charm.