Chapter 35
Mia
T he short walk from my cottage to the villa seems longer than usual with those shoes. The click of my heels is louder than I’d like. I’m expecting a quiet, intimate dinner, just a simple chance to catch up.
As I get closer, the garden ahead is ablaze with twinkling fairy lights and shadows of people moving around. A soft groan escapes me, and my pace slows. I should have known better. My grandmother sees everything as an excuse to throw a party.
With a deep breath, I straighten up, adjust my black silk dress, and smooth a stray hair behind my ears as I prepare myself. Despite the initial disappointment, I let out a small chuckle. Leave it to my grandmother to turn a simple dinner into a gala.
Stepping into the garden, I immediately spot my friend sitting at one table, including Alex and Luc. Alex is sitting next to Sarah, and Luc is next to Rylee. At another, my dad is sitting with Elena and her friends. There’s one person missing, maybe two.
“Here comes the birthday girl!” the DJ announces from his booth, breaking through my thoughts. Yes, she went all out. There’s even a DJ. The party spills out onto the villa’s large garden, and roughly fifty guests are mingling and laughing.
I force a smile and approach my group, Rylee catches me in a hug and spins me around. “Just gorgeous.”
And of course her words bring back memories of Jake.
Those flashbacks have been unstoppable since he showed up. Shaking off the memories, I focus on the surrounding faces, their smiles pulling me back to the present.
The party continues as they serve the entrées , meat, cheese trays, and of course wine. Next, they serve the main course, perfectly grilled steak with ratatouille. They refill our glasses with wine, and everyone is having a good time.
After the meal, the server rolls out a white table with my cake. It's shaped like books with a fondant of a mug of coffee on top. He places the candle inside the mug. The crowd gathers around to sing Joyeux annivesaire.
Once the singing dies down, he hands me the knife, and all eyes turn on me. This has been one of the best birthdays, but as I grasp the knife, a tightness forms in my chest, surprising me with its intensity.
I close my eyes for a moment, the air warm against my skin. Taking a deep breath, I lean forward, the candle’s small flame flickering under my breath. I make another wish, knowing in my heart how improbable it is, but that’s what wishes are for, aren’t they? To dare to want something that seems so out of reach.
With one quick puff, the candle is out, and everyone claps around me. I cut the cake and take the first slice as the server diligently cuts the rest, handing pieces to the guests.
I return to my table, absentmindedly poking at my cake while Rylee dances with Luc, and Sarah laughs at something Alex says.
Seizing the moment of distraction, I slip away, drawn to the quieter part of the garden where the mini waterfall murmurs softly.
The farther I walk from the lights, the more striking the stars become—vivid and luminous against the dark sky. It’s no wonder this place is called Les Collines d’étoiles. Starry hills. The soft sound of the waterfall is soothing, a gentle whisper in the night.
“Hey, Mom,” I whisper into the cool air, feeling the loneliness of her absence even more on my birthday. “I miss you. I really wish you were here.” Despite keeping myself busy to avoid dwelling on her absence, the tears well up, burning the backs of my eyes. “I love you so much,” I say quietly, wiping the tears as I settle onto a bench beside the waterfall.
“Hey,” comes a velvety voice from behind me, instantly recognizable. I turn to see Jake standing there, dressed in all white, a long-sleeve dress shirt with the top buttons undone, complementing his white pants. Under the moonlight, his blonde hair glows, and his green eyes seem to capture the very essence of the night itself.
My heart catches in my throat as I take in the sight of him.
He’s gorgeous.
“Hey,” I say, quickly drying my tears with the back of my hand. I can’t take my eyes off him. He has a way of holding me captive with just one look.
“Do you mind if I sit?” He points toward the bench with a gentle smile.
“Sure,” I nod, scooting over to make room for him.
As he comes closer, I catch the scent of him, clean, and lavender, which mix well with the scent of the nearby grape vine.
He sits beside me, his gaze lingering on the waterfall. “Do you always find a waterfall wherever you go, or perhaps they find you?” He chuckles. Turning to face him, I catch his smile, lighting up his features, easing some of the tightness in my chest.
“I’ll always find a waterfall wherever I go.” My smile is genuine for the first time tonight. “I didn’t think you'd come.” I wanted him here, even if I didn’t want to admit it. Having him at the cafe today was also comforting. I really needed him there.
“I didn’t know if you wanted to see me, but I needed to see you.” A small smile plays on his lip. “I got you something.” He pulls out a small box from his pocket and hands it to me.
I hesitate before opening it, and inside, I find a rose quartz charm bracelet with charms in the shape of a book, an iced coffee, a tree, and an infinity symbol. Tiny diamonds glisten around the charms, catching the light from the waterfall.
“It’s beautiful. You really didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” he insists. He takes the bracelet from me and tightens it around my wrist, his fingers lightly grazing my skin. A shiver runs through me at his touch, my breath hitching slightly.
He stands up and offers his hand to me. “Dance with me,” he says, a question and a command rolled into one.
Taking his hand, I meet his intense gaze, and my heart flutters wildly, like shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
He pulls me closer to him, his fingertip brushing the exposed skin at the small of my back. When he looks at me like that, I’m powerless to resist. A shiver of desires races through my body, from my core to the tip of my toes, settling a tingling warmth between my thighs.
My arms raise and loop around his neck. My body sinks into him as if coming home after being apart for so long. We sway together, the fading music from the party blending with the sound of the small waterfall, creating a world that is ours. The moment feels as natural as breathing.
“Can I ask you a question?” His breath is warm against my ear, traveling down my back. “Do you regret the time we spent together?”
“No,” I exhale, my breath catching in the cool night air. I could never regret any second spent with him. “And you?” Knots tighten in my stomach, afraid of his answer.
“Never,” he says with a conviction that causes my heart to flutter. “Do you remember what you said during our last night together? About finding someone worth falling for.”
“Yes,” I nod, the memory stinging a little as we continue swaying lightly.
“I found her a long time ago, about a year ago, to be exact.”
His eyes hold mine, and my heart picks up its speed as we sway together.
“I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to give her all the love she deserves, scared I would end up hurting the both of us, and I messed up, big time.”
My throat tightens as his words sink in, and I struggle to breathe.
“I would really like the chance to try again, and this time, I plan to fall for her.” His gaze locks with mine, pleading.
I step back, removing my hands from his neck. An entire year of clinging to what could have been.
“You can’t just show up and expect me to believe everything you say. I…I…”
I’ve already fallen for him once, and I wasn’t even trying to. The terrifying part is, if I let myself fall completely and he doesn’t catch me this time, I know I won’t recover. I won’t have anything left to come back to.
“Why now?” Months of waiting for him to say something like this, and now the reality feels both surreal and frightening.
“Because I’ve missed you,” he says, looking into my eyes with a sincerity that is almost too intense. “God, I missed you so much.”
The pain and relief in his voice are unmistakable. I want to say I missed you too, so, so much, but the words wouldn’t come out. They're stuck in my throat.
“I missed your pretty face in the morning,” he continues and even though he’s not touching me I can feel the ghost of his touch. “Your smile, your voice, your laughter. I even missed you yelling at me.” He chuckles, a bittersweet sound. “I’ve missed those quiet moments at the waterfall. They meant everything to me.” He continues, his words swirling around me, making my heart race and lightheaded. A small involuntary sob escapes me.
He steps a little closer, and I hold my breath. His hand reaches out toward my face, his thumb tenderly wipes the tears from my cheek. My eyes close instinctively as soft flutter tingles in my stomach.
“I’m sorry, princess.” His forehead touches mine. I breathe him in, the smell of lavender and sandalwood. “I’m sorry,” he says again. I don't know what he's apologizing for, but it feels good to hear.
He brushes loose curls away from my face, and I shiver like a leaf in the wind. Opening my eyes, I'm met with his green eyes, glowing under the moonlight. He leans down pressing his lip to mine, so light and soft. It feels like a feather blowing in the wind.
I step back, needing a moment to catch my breath and process everything. I turn my back to him, and forc air into my lungs.
Breathe, Mia.
“Mia.” My name is like a siren on his tongue. “Please look at me.”
I turn around to look at him and the longing and regret I see there are like magnets pulling me in.
“I have a proposition,” he pauses, running his hand through his hair. “What if we try again this summer? But differently, no flings, no sex, just… us dating, genuinely trying to connect. A chance for us to fall in love with each other. If, after that, you don't want this, I’ll leave. No questions asked.”
I study his face, struggling to connect this version of him with the man that used to avoid any kind of feelings and emotional connection. But he has never lied to me, and has always been brutally honest.
This is what I’ve always wanted. Someone who genuinely wants to get to know me for me, not just for my body. My heart wants to jump at the chance, but my mind remains cautious.
“Can I think about it?” I need time to sift through my tangled emotions, to protect the fragile parts of myself still mending from before.
“Of course, take all the time you need.” His eyes meet mine with a look of understanding that melts some of the ice around my guarded heart.
“Thanks,” I say, my smile small and tentative.
“Come on, let me walk you back. They’re probably looking for the birthday girl.” He extends his arm, and I wrap mine around his, noticing the firmness of his muscles beneath his shirt.
As we walk back, the lights and sounds of the party grow closer with each step. His presence next to me is comforting. No matter how long we’ve been apart, when we’re together, he feels like home.
* * *
We’re having a wine tasting brunch in the garden, the scenic mountain and the sprawling grapevines as our backdrop. They set our table under an oak tree, and its branch provides shade from the morning sun. Around the table, we have freshly baked bread, platters of cheese, salami, and of course, wine.
It’s me, Sarah, Rylee, and the guys, Alex and Luc. Jake isn’t here. He probably wants to give me space to think about his offer.
I’m seated between Rylee and Sarah, while Alex and Luc are sitting across from us. Luc is chatting with Alex, but he glances often over our side. I can’t quite tell if he’s watching me, or Rylee.
Interesting.
“So you were gone for a while last night?” Rylee raises an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Yeah, I needed a quiet time alone.” I swirl the wine in my glass before taking a sip.
“Alone?” She presses for more.
“Jake showed up while I was there.”
“And?” she leans closer, clearly not satisfied with my answer.
“We talked.” I take a bite of the crusty bread beside my plate, buying myself some time.
“I’m gonna need more than that,” she insists.
I chew slowly before swallowing. “Well, he wants to give us a real shot, dating and actually getting to know each other besides the sex.”
“That’s great,” Sarah says, joining the conversation. “That’s what you want right?”
“Yes. Or, I don’t know.” I fidget with my napkin. “He’s never been in a relationship before, and thinks love is just a rush that will fade. What if this is just a thrill for him?” The last thing I want is to get my hopes up, only to have them shattered.
“I’ve known Jake for a long time, and he cares about you. I won’t tell you what to do, but one thing you will never have to worry about is him lying to you. It will always be honest,” Sarah reassures me.
I know she is right.
I sigh before downing the rest of my wine in one go instead of just taking a sip.
Even though the guys are engaged in their own conversation, I can tell they’re eavesdropping. I want to ask Alex what he thinks, but I hesitate to put him in the middle of this.
After our brunch, I take out my phone and snap a few pictures for the vineyard blog. The sunlight creates a natural, vibrant backdrop.
“Who’s ready for a tour by your one and only favorite tour guide?” I point at my chest, and ask them to follow me. Sarah and Alex walk beside me. Rylee is trailing behind with Luc.
We continue our walk through the vineyard. The morning sun casts a playful shadow across neat rows of grapevines, each cluster of grapes almost ready for the August harvest.
I point at our oldest vines, which produce the deep complex flavors in our vintage wines. They’ve soaked up decades of sun and soil, enriching every bottle. During my stay here, I’ve learned a lot about the wine-making process.
Next, we make our way to the processing area. The sound of Rylee giggling behind me caught me off guard. Rylee doesn’t giggle. Walking around, I show them the stainless steel and the rows of oak and barrels. The smell of fermenting grapes is thick in the air. “In these barrels, time does its finest work.” I sweep my hand over the equipment.
Leaving the processing area, we climb to the highest point of the vineyard. The entire estate spread out below us, with a few charming cottages scattered along the way. The air is cooler, and the breeze carries a mixed fragrance of wildflowers from a nearby meadow and the rich smell of the grapevines.
“Incroyables n’est ce pas?” It’s incredible isn’t it? Luc eyes sweep the panoramic view. No matter how many times I’ve been up here, it always takes my breath away.
Everyone nods in agreement as we take a moment to soak in the view. The beauty of nature wraps around us. It’s a moment that feels like a deep breath, soothing and serene.
This is exactly what I needed to clear up my head and stop overthinking. It took him a while, but he’s here. It has to mean something.