Chapter 6 #2
“The most pressing events coming up are the bachelor and bachelorette parties. And before anyone gets any ideas, there will be no strip clubs or exotic dancers in any capacity.” Laney looks pointedly at Dilynne and then me. “Do you hear me, you two?”
I hold my hand up. “Heard and understood. Trust me, there are far better things for us to do in Charlotte than watch women take their clothes off.”
Fletcher holds a finger up. “I whole-heartedly agree.”
Elliot scoffs. “Speak for yourself.”
Dilynne clears her throat. “I have to agree with Elliot on this one. I would very much like to watch an incredibly ripped man thrust his junk in my face. That sounds like an amazing night.”
Henley’s eyes bounce between Dilynne and Elliot. “Everyone go look outside. I think pigs are flying because Elliot and Dilynne just agreed on something.”
Elodie giggles while Dilynne rolls her eyes. “It’s not that big of a deal. I’m just saying, my best friend is only getting married once and not letting me provide her with visually stimulating entertainment is bullshit.”
Laney pats Dilynne on her shoulder. “You’ll just have to think of something else that will be appealing to my eyes. Because the only man I ever want stripping for me is Fletcher.”
Fletcher yanks her toward him and lines his lips up to her ear to whisper something, and unfortunately for me, I’m able to hear it. “If that’s something you want, I can definitely make that happen, angel.”
“Her brother is sitting right here!” I bark out.
He turns to face me. “Then plug your ears.”
Laney rolls her eyes before whispering something back to Fletcher. Whatever it is earns a low growl from him.
Jesus Christ.
“Can we please move this conversation on to something else?”
Elliot glances over his shoulder, and then back at me. “How about we focus on Ellis’s new teacher and your new neighbor?”
I glare at him. “That wasn’t what I had in mind.”
“Well, I think it’s a great topic since she just walked in.”
All eyes move to the door of the tasting room, where sure enough, Vienna is standing, surveying the room.
And she looks fucking gorgeous.
The outfit she was wearing the night we met left little to the imagination, but right now she has on a green sweater that hugs her curves and dark blue denim practically painted onto her legs.
Her feet are covered by brown boots, and her hair is down around her face, just like it was that night at The Charming Bull.
“You should go say hello,” Laney suggests.
I finally divert my eyes from Vienna. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
My sister studies me curiously. “Why not? She’s Ellis’s teacher, and she’s new to town. I’m sure she could use a friend. I mean, it’s not like you met her before, had an amazing connection, got ghosted, and now have to see her all the time. Right?”
I turn toward Fletcher. “You fucking told her?”
Fletcher shrugs. “She’s my fiancée.”
“And I’m one of your best friends.”
“Fiancée trumps friend, dude. Sorry. That detail was just too good to keep to myself.”
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Jesus Christ.”
Elodie reaches across the table and puts her hand on my arm. “If it helps, Rhonan, Henley told me too.”
I lift my head and glare at Henley. “That actually doesn’t, Elodie. But glad to know I can’t trust my friends to keep their fucking mouths shut.”
Dilynne takes a sip of wine from her glass. “Well, Laney is the one who told me, not Elliot. So at least one of the guys didn’t spill the beans.”
Elliot looks at Dilynne, confused. “Thank you, I guess.”
She tips her chin at him. “You’re welcome.”
Henley glances at the two of them. “Be careful, you two. That’s twice tonight that you’ve actually been sort of nice to each other.”
Elliot and Dilynne both flip him off simultaneously.
“Vienna!” my sister shouts, calling Vienna’s attention to us before I realize what’s happening.
“Laney, what the fuck?”
She glances down at me and then back up at my neighbor who is slowly walking in this direction. “Oh calm down.”
When Vienna reaches the table, she looks over at me as if asking permission, but my sister steps in quickly.
“Hi there,” Laney says, flashing a smile that dares anyone to make this weird. “Not sure if you remember me, but I’m Ellis’s aunt, Laney Hart.”
“Uh, hi.” Vienna’s nerves are visible—hands clasped, shoulders tight. “Yes, I remember you from Career Day.”
“How are you liking Blossom Peak so far?” The table goes quiet, every set of eyes on Vienna.
“Oh. Well, I’m really liking it a lot. The kids at the school are very sweet, but kindergarteners are exhausting,” she says through a laugh. “Hence the wine. This felt like the obvious stop after a full week of tiny humans.”
Laney nods. “You definitely came to the right place. Our family owns this winery, actually. Isn’t that right, Rhonan?” She pokes at me from the other side of Fletcher.
I straighten, every instinct screaming retreat. Instead, I force myself to finally meet Vienna’s eyes.
Fuck, she really is stunning.
“Yes,” I answer flatly.
Vienna’s mouth quirks. “I kind of figured, given your last name.”
My sister pipes up again. “This place was my mom’s idea, and my dad made it happen. Sadly, she passed away a little over twelve years ago, but Rhonan and I have helped keep this place running with our dad in her honor.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Vienna says, glancing from Laney back to me.
I clear my throat. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to join us?” Laney asks. “We have room for one more.”
Vienna holds her hand up. “Oh, it’s okay. I wouldn’t want to impose on—”
“You’re not.” Laney cuts her off. “I’m offering. We can make room for Vienna, right everyone?” Her eyes move between our group while she nods forcefully.
“Absolutely.” Henley slides closer to Elodie, leaving room for Vienna to sit next to him—and straight across from me. “Here you go.”
“No, really. I just wanted to grab a bottle or two and head home. My pajamas are calling my name.”
Dilynne raises her glass toward her. “I feel that, girl. At the end of a long day, I can’t wait to take my bra off and put on the grungiest clothes I own.”
Elliot’s eyes drop to Dilynne’s chest, but I’m pretty sure I’m the only one that caught it.
“You know… Dilynne, Elodie, and I have girls’ nights like that all the time. You should join us sometime,” my sister says.
I look over at her, narrowing my eyes. “Laney…” I warn, but she ignores me.
Elodie nods enthusiastically. “Yes! You definitely should. I know what it’s like to be new in a small town. I just moved here last year.”
“Really? Where are you from?” Vienna asks.
“Well, I was in California before I came here, but home is Garnet Valley, Tennessee, which is another small town. Have you heard of it?”
Vienna lets out a small gasp. “I have, actually. I have a friend who grew up there. I visited her hometown with her once. It was such a quaint, rustic little place, and absolutely beautiful.”
“What a small world!” Elodie says.
Vienna blows out a breath. “Yeah, I’m beginning to realize that.”
Dilynne snaps her fingers. “Wait… I saw you at The Charming Bull a couple weeks ago, didn’t I?”
All of my friends’ eyes land on Dilynne, but I’m looking up at Vienna as her eyes widen. “Oh my gosh, yes! You were in the bull riding contest too, right?”
Henley looks at his sister. “Hold on. You did what?”
“You act like that’s surprising,” Dilynne counters. “I came in second, by the way. The woman who won took her top off, and there was no competing with that.”
Vienna laughs. “Yeah, I guess not. I didn’t even know who won because I…” Her words trail off as she glances at me but doesn’t finish her thought.
Luckily, my sister interjects before anyone can insinuate anything. “Well, if you need wine recommendations, Rhonan knows our wines better than anyone.”
Vienna glances back at me. “I appreciate that, but I’m going to just stick with what I know and let you all get back to your evening.” She waves before heading to the bar. “It was nice to see you all again.”
“Vienna!” I call out to her, not liking how this entire conversation went down.
She looks back over her shoulder. “It’s okay, Rhonan. Enjoy your night with your friends.”
My eyes trail her as she gets further away from us, but my sister shoves my shoulder. “God, you’re stupid.”
“What? What the fuck did I do?”
“The woman is new to town, and instead of trying to be kind, you’re acting like she has a contagious disease or something.”
“No, I’m not. I just don’t want any lines to get blurred.”
Dilynne laughs. “Sounds like those lines were blurred two weeks ago, Rhonan. And not that I need to say this out loud, but that woman is hot.”
Trust me, I fucking know it.
“She’s Ellis’s teacher.”
“Yeah, but only for a little while,” Elodie chimes in. “And sorry to point this out, but you could cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife.”
Henley taps the table in front of him. “I told him to ask her out on a date.”
“I’m not asking her out on a date.”
“Why not?” my sister asks. “You clearly liked her enough to spend all night talking to her before she left—”
“That’s enough,” I say, cutting her off.
Standing from the table, I rest my palms on the wood and flash my strongest glare among my friends.
“Look, I don’t need a group vote on my love life.
I’m a fucking adult who can make my own decisions, thank you very much.
Now, can we get back to the reason we’re all here, the wedding? Otherwise, I’m going home.”
Everyone shares a look before Laney finally nods. “Fine.” She glares at me every now and again as we discuss dresses and tux fittings, speeches, and other details for the day my sister becomes Mrs. Fletcher Adams.
I nod along where I’m supposed to, but inside, I’m fuming while also trying to remember that my sister doesn’t mean any harm.
But not everyone gets a happy ending, including her older brother, a fact I’m becoming more aware of as the people around me fall into theirs.
She’s going to have to accept it.
So am I.