3. Zoe
THREE
zoe
“Another day, another winery,” Charlee said.
We sat on stools, our wine-tasting glasses sprawled out in front of us on the built-in shelf of the deck. These were prime seats overlooking the lake, the winery a fairly new one. At least, sort of new. It had been renovated and reopened recently, a perfect spot for a hangout. With just the two of us today, Charlee called it part Operation Distraction and part work. We were collaborating on the annual Fall Festivities for the resort group. Although technically Charlee and I held the same positions as managers of two different resorts, both under the Lakeside Properties brand, the fact that her father owned the company gave her a bit more status and influence within the company.
“I like what they did with the place,” I said, picking up my first wine. We’d each gotten two whites and two reds.
“I like to see you actually smiling.” Charlee picked up the same wine.
“I’m trying to make up for being a blubbering fool all morning. The day started well enough but then guess who texted to ask if he could come get his things?”
“Aw, shit.”
“Exactly.”
“What things does he have at your place that he needs back so bad? Enough to reopen a very tenuous wound?”
“Mmm,” I said about the wine. “This one isn’t my favorite.” I put the glass back. “You know, the important stuff. Like his favorite toothbrush.”
Charlee nearly spit out her wine. “You’re joking.”
“I am not.”
“So, did he come get his. . . toothbrush?”
“I didn’t text him back,” I said, picking up the second wine. The deck was filled with people, all wearing sweaters or light fleece jackets, the transition to colder weather well underway. “Instead, I just cried like an idiot. And then ate a shit-ton of Oreos.”
“Pre-gym fuel?”
“Exactly.”
We each took a sip of the wine, a chardonnay.
“Not bad,” Charlee said.
“I agree.”
“Well. . . no Erik talk today. I can’t distract you from him if we’re talking about him and his stupid toothbrush.”
“Fall Festivities.” I pushed Erik from my thoughts. “Gian had the idea to work with Grado Valley Vineyards on a cross-promotion. They’re leaning into the town’s ‘Fall into the Finger Lakes’ promotion and thought maybe we could piggyback on it.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you had that meeting with Gian. We didn’t even talk about it yesterday.”
“My fault,” I said.
“Oh no, not at all. First of all, we don’t have to talk about work twenty-four seven. And like we told you yesterday, give yourself some grace. It’s a fresh breakup, so you’re allowed to wallow. At least a little bit. Ready for the red?”
I was about to tell Charlee that I appreciated her friendship but stopped myself. I could be a sap sometimes and didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Although I was pretty proficient at making friends, having had to do it enough growing up, she and Natalie had truly been my saving grace when I came to Kitchi Falls last year not knowing a soul.
“Yep.”
As we sipped, Nate’s phrase popped into my head.
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn.
I couldn’t agree more. And yet, I’d totally fallen apart since the second Erik and I split. Maybe I just needed to look at our breakup as a learning opportunity. The lesson?
Love sucked.
“What do you know about Lucas’s partner? Nate?”
Charlee replaced her wine glass. “Let’s see. I know he’s from New York. Somewhere in the western part of the state.”
“Monticello.”
Charlee’s brows drew together. “How do you know that?”
“We texted for a bit earlier. Just before I came here.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad you connected, and he was able to thank you for the card.”
“We did. He’s actually. . . really easy to talk to. What else do you know? He doesn’t have any social media.”
“He doesn’t. Lucas said he’s a pretty private guy.”
I snorted. “I don’t know the meaning of the word.”
“You don’t,” Charlee agreed. “If there were a picture for the phrase ‘open book’ it’d be yours.”
I picked up the last wine. “Guilty as charged.”
“And I’m not saying that like it’s a bad thing at all.”
“Debatable,” I said.
“Which is funny because. . .” Charlee shook her head.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“I was just gonna say. . .for someone who puts it all out there, you don’t let others in easily.”
That took me by surprise. “I don’t?”
“Nope.”
“I always thought I made friends pretty easily.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. You absolutely do. Ten minutes in a new bar, you have three friends, which I love about you. But that doesn’t mean you let them know the real you.”
I downed the last wine. “Hmm. I guess that’s fair.”
“Which is why the Erik thing is hitting so hard. You let him all the way in and got burned because of it. I just hope the experience doesn’t sour you.”
“Fat chance of that. I’m not doing the love thing anytime soon. It fucking sucks.”
“Or can also be the best feeling in the world.”
Charlee would know. She and Lucas had been on cloud nine ever since getting back together. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Sorry to bring up Erik. I’m a bad wingwoman.”
“You are the ultimate wingwoman,” I argued as Charlee looked down at her phone. Picking it up, she read, presumably, a text, and then looked at me.
Strangely.
“What?”
Charlee glanced back down at her phone and then up again. “What did you say you and Nate talked about earlier?”
“Charlee,” I said. “You have a weird look on your face. What is it?” Then, realizing I didn’t answer her question, I added, “Nothing special. Just some small talk.”
Small talk that made me curious enough to look on social media for him, but Nate was like a ghost. Who had zero social media? I mean, he was an army sniper, but I didn’t think that meant you had to go off the grid. Even Lucas had some social media, though he didn’t use it much.
“Interesting.”
“Charlee?” I prompted.
“Lucas just texted me. Said Nate was asking about you.”
That was interesting. “What did he say exactly?”
“Just, ‘Nate is asking about Zoe.’ Remember, he’s a guy. Not a lot of details.”
“Right. Do you know anything else about him? How old he is? If he’s married?”
“I feel like he’s our age, and Lucas didn’t mention a wife, so I don’t think he’s married. Should I ask?”
I was about to say yes when I realized it didn’t matter. The last thing I needed was another relationship, especially of the long-distance variety. The guy was stationed halfway across the world after all.
“Nah. It’s not important.”
Charlee continued to watch me as if trying to determine if I was serious or not. I was deadly serious. Love sucked. Zero stars. Did not recommend.
Nate and I were a long way from love but still. Best not chance it. I’d told him I’d let him know about the winery, but after that I’d call it a day. End the convo. Let him fight terrorists— thank God for the men and women of our military—while I nursed a broken heart with more wine.
Speaking of. I held up my glass. “Empty,” I said.
Charlee laughed. “Let’s remedy that.”