Chapter 17
(Aria POV)
I didn’t cry when I left Marcus’s house. Not then, not on the drive.
But the ache stayed. Deep. Quiet. Every time I blinked, I saw his face. Heard his voice. I never promised you anything.
Fine. He didn’t promise. I wouldn’t ask. I’d prove I didn’t need him.
At work, I burned daylight. I rebuilt the tasting room calendar in a single afternoon, turned their tired email list into something that actually got clicks, scheduled posts that went viral faster than a dropped glass of Chardonnay on marble.
By the time the numbers rolled in, my phone was buzzing with notifications. I had likes, shares, orders for shipping, and requests for private tours.
My dad called me into the office later that week with Marcus already there, the spreadsheet glowing on the big monitor.
“These numbers…” Dad’s voice was filled with pride. “Aria, this is you?”
I shrugged, pretending to be calm, though my heart thudded. “Marketing, outreach. Just some tweaks.”
Dad grinned so wide it hurt to look at him. “You’ve doubled our engagement in less than a month. If this keeps up, we’ll have to hire staff just to keep up with the traffic.” He turned, beaming. “Marcus, you see this?”
Marcus’s eyes were unreadable. But he nodded once. “She’s talented.”
The words should have lit me up. Instead, they scraped me raw. Because I knew what else he thought of me.
Dad clapped me on the shoulder. “You’ve got a permanent place here, kiddo. If you want it, the winery could use you full-time.”
The air caught in my lungs. They were both watching me, waiting. I smiled, slowly, carefully, and dropped the bomb. “Actually, I’ve decided to apply to graduate school. Next semester. Out of state.”
The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut.
Dad blinked. “Grad school?”
“Marketing. I want to do this,” I gestured at the numbers, “On a bigger scale. I’ve already started the applications.”
Dad’s face softened, pride and surprise tangled together. “Aria…”
But it was Marcus I looked at. His jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. He said nothing. And for the first time, I didn’t care.
And just to turn the screw one more time. “Dad, can I leave early today. I have a date with Ryan tonight.” I didn’t look at Marcus but I could feel his stare.
“Of course. He’s a fine young man, I know his father well.”
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(Marcus POV)
The words barely left her mouth before my chest locked tight. Grad school. Out of state. Leaving.
“No,” I said, sharper than I meant. The room stilled. “You have to stay. We…” My throat closed, but I forced it out. “We need you.”
Aria’s eyes widened. Her father blinked.
I swallowed hard, but I couldn’t stop myself. I looked at her, only her, and mouthed the truth. I need you.
Her lips parted, breath hitching, but then—just like that—her expression hardened.
“I’m going,” she said quietly, her voice steel.
Tom exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “Well. I can’t say I’m not disappointed. But if this is what you want, sweetheart… I’m proud of you. Always.”
She smiled at him, soft and real, and I wanted to rip the moment apart. Wanted to drag her back, tell her she couldn’t walk out of this vineyard, out of my life, not now.
But I stayed silent. And then the whole Ryan shit. She knew what she was doing. Trying to make me come undone in front of her father. I stayed stoic.
Tom clapped my shoulder as he passed. “We’ll figure something out, Marcus.” Then he left the office, shutting the door behind him.
The click of the latch was like a gunshot.
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(Aria POV)
The door had barely clicked shut behind my dad when Marcus stepped closer. Not looming. Not commanding. Just… stripped down, his voice rough with something I’d never heard in him before.
“Stay,” he said quietly. “Stay until the season is over, and I’ll show you how much you mean to me. Just… give me that. Give me time.”
My throat ached. “Marcus…”
“I know,” he cut in, eyes dark, desperate. “I know you don’t trust me. And I don’t blame you. But the thought of you leaving…” His voice broke, just for a second. “I don’t want to think about it.”
My chest squeezed. “Remember what Natalie said? I’m your type. Young and eager.”
“Yes.” His jaw tightened. He stepped closer still, until I could feel the heat of him. “My type, yes. But here’s the difference, Aria,” His hand brushed my cheek, fingers trembling just enough to give him away. “I never wanted the others to stay. You… I do.”
The words cracked me open, tears pricking hot at the corners of my eyes.
“Please,” he whispered, so soft I almost missed it. “Cancel tonight, with Ryan. Let me take you out.”
“That’s not fair,” I said.
“It’s not.” He agreed.
A tear slipped free. He caught it with his thumb, smoothed it away like it undid him to see it fall. Then he leaned in, brushed the gentlest kiss across my cheek, barely there, but it made my whole body ache.
I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the storm inside me. He was asking me for time. For trust. For something that could break me in ways I wasn’t sure I could survive.
And still… I wanted to say yes.
His lips warm against my skin. “Please,” he whispered. “Just until harvest ends. Give me time to show you you’re not a mistake. You’re not a pattern. You’re what I want.”
My chest felt like it was splitting open. God, I wanted to believe him. Wanted to lean into that kiss, sink into his arms, let myself be his. But Natalie’s voice still echoed in my head. Too young. Too eager. Exactly like I was.
I shook my head, another tear slipping free. “I don’t know if I can trust you, Marcus.”
“You can,” he said, fierce now, desperate. “I’ll prove it.”
“Maybe,” I whispered, stepping back. “But not today.”
His hand dropped from my face, and the look in his eyes nearly made me cave. Raw. Gutted. I grabbed my bag, heart pounding, and forced myself to the door. “Don’t ask me again until you can say it out loud. Not just here, not just to me. To everyone.”
Then I walked out, leaving him in silence. The key in my bag felt heavier than ever, but for the first time, I didn’t know if I’d ever use it again.