Chapter 2
Nantes
“I can’t believe how busy it is today.” I lean against the butcher block island to catch my breath for a minute. “It’s been nonstop since we opened.”
“It’s rad,” Brogan, my cousin, says, as they stack empty platters. “The two tours tonight are sold out.”
My nonna ambles in with another basket of fresh muffins, cookies, and scones to complement our wine flights. “Delivery.”
I hurry over to kiss her cheek and take the baskets. “Thanks, Nonna. These smell incredible.”
“They taste good too.” She pinches my cheek, even though she has to reach up to do it. “Busy today, huh?”
“Very. And it’s not even peak season yet.”
She smiles, glancing around the bustling space.
A year ago, we converted this unused room in the main house into a small store where people can purchase some of our products to take home.
Prior to this, we only sold our wine wholesale to restaurants and retail, but me and my brother Deo put our heads together and came up with new revenue streams that have proven lucrative.
For the first time in many years, Benedetti Wines is back in the black.
“Your grandfather would be very proud,” Nonna says, rubbing my arm, her eyes welling with tears. “This is all he ever wanted.”
“I know, Nonna.” I kiss her temple. “How ya feeling?”
“Like a spring chicken.” She grins as she bends down to touch her toes. “My doctor is impressed with my mobility at my age. I told him I was just getting started.”
“You’re an inspiration.”
“I’m just too stubborn to get old. The years tick on, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a slave to them.”
“Not at all.”
The front door opens and Deo and his man, Balt, enter.
Deo looks unusually serious, while Balt is his normal stoic self.
Since Deo returned to run the family business two years ago, I’ve seen him in a whole new light.
Before that, he was sort of the black sheep of the family, but now I see he just had to figure things out on his own.
He literally saved the winery, so it all worked out the way it should have.
He drops a manila folder on the island. “We crunched the numbers you asked about and decided we can afford to hire two part-time staff or one full-time. That’s to pay them a decent wage.”
Brogan leans on the counter, stealing one of Nonna’s cookies.
Today Brogan’s hair is platinum blond with bright red tips.
It’s longer than it has been in a while too, falling well below their shoulders.
Since deciding to work up front with me, they’ve started pulling together some interesting fashion looks that have made it to social media with customers tagging us. Works for me.
Finding my place in the family business after busting my ass for over a decade to become a doctor came easier than I expected.
I took a huge risk quitting the hospital for a different life, but I haven’t regretted it.
I worried that Deo and I would butt heads or be on top of each other all the time, but working with my younger brother is easy, especially since he handles the back of house and I manage the customer-facing and retail portions.
Balt handles all of our finances and investments and does a fantastic job.
All in all, I know in my heart I made the right choice.
“Is that a tour bus?” Brogan asks, peering through the large front window.
I join Brogan at the window, following their gaze. “Shit. They aren’t on the schedule. I would know.”
The bus door swings open and a heavyset woman steps off, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt that says Wrigley-Newton Reunion. She glances around, then heads straight for the main building.
“I’ll greet her and see what’s up,” Brogan says. “Maybe they just need directions.”
We watch through the window as Brogan and the woman have a conversation. Brogan glances back at the house a couple of times, nodding, before raising their index finger to the woman and heading back.
“What’s going on?” I ask when Brogan gets inside.
“So, it’s a family reunion and they were supposed to go to a water park today, but it had an emergency closure.
They saw us on their way back to the house they rented and wondered if we could accommodate a tour.
There are thirty of them.” Brogan makes a “yikes” face.
“But she said they’re wine lovers and would love to get something local to commemorate the reunion. ”
“We can’t turn down a tour that size,” I say.
“I can go bake some more scones,” Nonna offers. “I still have dough.”
“We can help out,” Deo says while Balt nods in agreement. “We’ll take half the group to make it more manageable.”
I nod. “Okay, that’s great. We have two hours before the next scheduled tour starts. Tell them they can come in, Brogan.”
“On it, Nan.”
We scramble to get things ready as the tour bus people flood our entry area.
A year ago, Deo and Balt, with blessings from our family, made the decision to convert the main house into a limited bed and breakfast. We made all the bedrooms into guest rooms and now use the house exclusively for tours and retail.
I put my best smile on and greet the influx of excited guests. Like a well-oiled machine, my family and I take our places and launch into the first part of the tour. We got this, and we just made an unexpected wad of cash.
The next morning, I’m in Madison, heading over to my favorite clothing store. I had to come into the city to grab a few things, and since I’m here, I figured I might as well check out what they have.
I enter the store, waving to Paul, the owner, who’s folding shirts for a table, then head to the back of the store where the shoes are. While browsing, I get the distinct feeling that I’m being watched, and when I turn to check for evidence, my jaw drops.
My eyes must be playing tricks on me. That’s the only thing that makes sense.
“Nantes?”
My heart races. No way. “Vanian?”
A big smile spreads across his face. “Oh my god. It’s really you.”
Before I can process what’s happening, he closes in and pulls me into a bear hug. I am speechless. Vanian Taylor is hugging me. My first crush, my sexual awakening, my first heartbreak.
He steps back with his hands still on my shoulders. “How are you?”
“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask. “In Madison.”
“Came out for a quick visit to my sister.” He chuckles, but even now, all these years later, I hear the artificial, hollow sound to it. He was never good at hiding his emotions for me. “Would you believe it, she totally forgot and went to Disneyland for the week.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” He drags his hand through his hair.
When we were younger he wore it short and spiky, but it’s longer now, just in the front, styled and groomed nicely.
Still silky, still solid brown. His face is different though, more mature.
There’s crinkles around his eyes and the laugh lines don’t completely disappear when his expression is neutral. He’s still absolutely gorgeous.
“Amazing seeing you, Nantes. I figured you could be anywhere in the country by now, saving lives.”
“Um, yeah… about that. I’m not a doctor anymore.”
His brow crinkles and he tilts his head slightly. “Say what?”
“I work for my family business now. The winery.”
Now he looks really confused. “Are you in a hurry?”
“No, why?”
“Can we grab a coffee? Sounds like we have some catching up to do.”
I glance at my watch just to give myself a moment to think. “Yeah, of course.”
We leave the store together and walk half a block to the nearest coffee shop. I think I’m still in shock a little. My childhood best friend is standing next to me for the first time in who knows how many years. It’s surreal.
Inside the coffee shop, Vanian tells me to find a table while he orders, confirming my iced coffee order the same way I used to drink it as a teen, two shots caramel syrup, one shot cinnamon, and two-percent milk. It amazes me he remembers that.
I watch him at the counter, smiling and confident as he always was. He used to work out heavily in high school, and even though he’s still pretty toned, he’s more lean than bulked up now. I think it suits him.
He’s wearing jeans with holes and tears in them, his ubiquitous Vans sneakers in a checkerboard black and white, and a black t-shirt that says “The horrors persist but so do I” with an opossum under the words.
It’s the same casual look he’s always had.
Now I wonder how many times he’s come to Madison without reaching out.
He returns a few minutes later with our drinks and sits across from me. An awkward silence lingers between us until I break it.
“How long are you in town for?”
“Probably gonna head back since my sister is out of town.”
I nod, sipping my coffee. “Still in Chicago?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you come to Madison often?”
“No, actually.” He shakes his head. “I don’t remember the last time I was here. Normally, my work keeps me too busy. I guess that’s why it was easy for Reagan to forget I was coming.”
“Just for a visit?”
He glances down at his drink for a second. “I needed a little break. My work can take an emotional toll on me sometimes.”
“I bet. You’re still working with kids?”
“Yes. It’s fulfilling, but it takes a lot out of me. I thought a change of scenery might be nice. Reagan lives over in Janesville now.”
“Her and Chris doing well?”
“Yep. Three kids now, can you believe it?”
I smile, remembering his bossy older sister. “She hated my guts when we were kids.”
“She hated everyone when we were kids. She’s actually not so bad now. Having kids mellowed her.”
“That’s good.” I slide my straw up and down in my drink. “What about you? Married? Kids?”
He practically chokes on his coffee. Coughing to clear his throat, he shakes his head. “None of that. Not that I wouldn’t be open to it, but again, my work keeps me so busy my social life is pretty much nonexistent. You? I figured you’d have a pretty wife and two-point-five kids by now.”
I squirm in my seat. “I was never going to have a pretty wife.”
“Oh, come on, Nantes. You had to beat the girls off with a stick in high school. You could’ve had any one of them.”
I never told him. I was too afraid of how he might take it. He used to make scathing jokes about things he perceived as gay, and even though I trusted him with everything, I was just too chicken to admit it.
“Because I’m… um, I’m gay, Vanian.”
His expression goes blank for a moment, then twitches with different emotions as he processes my words. “Gay?” he finally asks. “Like, only into dudes?”
“That’s what it means, yes.”
“Since when?”
“Technically forever, but I figured it out in…” I pause as my nerves tingle. “In high school.”
“High school,” he repeats. “But we were friends in high school. Best friends. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug. “I guess I was worried you would think it was weird and stop hanging out with me.”
He opens his mouth like he’s going to object, but then snaps it shut.
“Say whatever, Vanian. I can handle it.”
“I might not have been mature enough back then, but it really sucks that you didn’t feel like you could tell me. I’m sorry I wasn’t a safe place for you.”
His response surprises me. Not that I thought he was ever intentionally homophobic, but we did so much together that I worried about his reaction.
Sleepovers, sports, looking at porn and nude magazines together.
My dick was always hard, but not for the pretty girls on-screen or on-page.
It was because Van had his dick out and I desperately wanted to touch it.
“It’s okay. We were young, and I was still wrapping my head around it.”
He nods, glancing down at his drink. “I gotta ask, man, did you ever check me out?”
There’s a hint of amusement in his voice, and when he looks up, he’s grinning. “I’ll be offended if you didn’t.”
His comment breaks the tension and I chuckle. “Maybe once.”
“Good. My ego remains intact.”
At least he’s not freaked out now.
“I should get back to work.”
“Can we meet up for dinner or something while I’m in town? I’ll probably head out later tonight, but it would be great to spend a little more time with you.”
“Sure. Where are you staying?”
“Nowhere. Stayed in a hotel last night, and I’ll just leave tonight.”
“Okay. Give me your phone.” He unlocks it and hands it to me, and I type in my address. “You can text me when you get there. Easier than trying to find me.”
“Awesome. Seven okay?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a long time, Nantes.”
“A very long time. I’ll see you then.”
“Yeah.”
Van watches me leave, and as I walk back to my car, my head is spinning. Who knows what tonight holds? A one-and-done or a chance to rekindle our friendship? Only time will tell.