Chapter Twelve
“There’s only one bed,” I gasp. “We should check to see if they have anything else available so we can have privacy.”
Jack squeezes between me and the narrow hallway leading into the villa’s main living space, carrying two of my bags and wheeling another behind him. “We’re going to have to make it work because there’s no way we’ll be able to get anything else for a whole week during harvest season. I’ve already checked.” He brings the luggage into the large primary bedroom. “And although my mom has two extra rooms, her place is out of the question. I’m not staying in that house.”
I sigh, scanning my eyes around the romantic Mediterranean-themed villa. It’s been awkward between us since he picked me up from the airport. He barely said two words during the almost thirty-minute drive out here. It’s hard to believe he’s the same fun and charismatic guy I rashly married in Vegas.
That still sounds weird, even in the safety of my head.
Walking over to the window, I open the curtains to a small cobblestone patio, a personal pool, and vibrant rolling hills covered in full grapevines.
“We’re having dinner with my mother tonight. We should come up with a story about us and how we met,” he suggests, sitting in one of the three chairs surrounding a small wooden dining table.
“Alright. What did you have in mind?”
“On the way here, I was thinking that it would make sense if we’d met at Harry and Jess’s wedding back in March—which is technically not untrue.” He arches a brow. “Piper.”
A smile slips. “Seriously, when are you going to let that go? And yes, since I’m friends with Bailey, and her brother was one of your clients. That’s easy.” I let my hands fall from the thick curtains, turning to face him. “Then, we can say we fell madly in love?”
Jack shakes his head. “My mom knows me too well. She’ll never believe that I magically fell in love with someone that fast.”
Jack doesn’t realize it, but that one sentence tells me everything I need to know about him and his past. He probably hasn’t had many serious girlfriends. “Why? Have you not dated many women?” I press, taking a seat on the edge of the couch.
He avoids my eye contact before answering. “I have dated only a handful of women that one might assume to be more serious. None of them have met my mother, except my high school girlfriend, and that’s only because I was still living at home.”
Another very transparent comment that gives me a window into Jack Bradley. “Interesting. Well, how about we say we’ve been dating casually, and since you’re moving up here, you thought you’d bring me to visit? We can mention that we’ll be doing long distance and all. Seems simple enough.”
“That works. Completely painless and surprisingly normal.” He smiles.
I rub my palms along the length of my thighs. “What time are we going? Should I change soon?”
“Sure, whatever you want to wear will be fine, and we’ll leave here in about thirty minutes,” Jack tells me before lifting off the chair. “I have to step outside to make a few phone calls.” He tosses over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
“I guess I’ll go change and freshen up.” I point toward the bedroom, throwing him a cheeky comment. But it’s no use. He can’t hear me anyway.
I sift through my luggage, looking for something to wear. I had no idea what to bring since I”m sure we’ll be involved in a wide range of activities. Lina came over to help me pack, and she basically threw my entire closet into one massive suitcase, one medium-sized carry-on, and an extra-large brown tote. It worked to my benefit that we both travel frequently because our expert packing skills came in handy.
I take out a pair of black pants, a white sweater, a denim jacket, and cut-off booties with a slight heel that I never get to wear back home. I brought a couple of fall dresses, but I need to feel comfortable and like myself tonight before things get trickier as the week goes on.
I shut and locked the bathroom door behind me, feeling relief to be alone. Jack’s energy is intense and hard to read, which is both unsettling and exhilarating at the same time. And that says a lot, coming from me. I had to constantly read my mother’s emotions my entire life. I never knew whether each day would be a good one or a bad one for her. When I was a child, I had to be on guard, always anticipating her emotional needs and how to help her work through them.
Taking my time in the bathroom, I change my clothes and freshen up my hair and makeup before walking out. Jack’s sitting on the side of the bed with his chin in his hand. He looks up as soon as he hears the bathroom door open.
“Is this okay? You didn’t mention what type of restaurant we’re going to, so I figured I’d go with something nice but casual.”
Jack’s eyes roam my body, and it causes a shiver to move through me. “You look fine.” That intense look for a “you look fine”?
“Okay, thanks.” I aggressively pick at one of the buttons on my denim jacket.
“Everything will be alright. Stop fidgeting.”
I drop my fingers, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m not fidgeting.”
Jack puts on his coat. “Look, it’s not like you’re my real girlfriend. It doesn’t matter if my mom likes you. I just need you to make me look good around other people.” He gently rubs the side of my arm. “Meeting my mom is only to make things more believable.”
His words surprisingly sting and my expression falls. “That was harsh.” I sneer.
Jack’s shoulder drops and his face softens. “That did come out sharp. I’m sorry.” I give him a side-eye, folding my arms across my chest. He steps closer to me and gently brings his other hand to my arm so he’s standing in front of me. It’s a subtle gesture, but it fills me with comfort. “I meant that I didn’t want you to have to worry about it, that’s all. And if it’s any consolation, I like you.”
A smile breaks through my small pout.
“Beautiful,” he says, running his tender hands down my arms.
“Thanks.”
When he notices that I’m not bothered anymore, he releases me and turns around to grab his keys from the counter in the small kitchen. “Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s go meet your mother.”
Once again, Jack and I take the ride over to the restaurant in silence. Every so often, I’ll hear him clear his throat over the music. But when a certain track comes on, I catch the corner of Jack’s mouth curve upward. “This is one of my favorite songs.” Maybe that can break the tension? “I love “Rock the Casbah” by The Clash,” I blurt out, looking over at him. Jack rubs his lips together, holding back a smile. I stare at him for a moment, trying to get a read. My eyebrows pinch together. “I sure hope you aren’t smirking at this song.”
With his hands on the wheel, he glances over at me. “It’s not that, I love this track—”
“I do like the remix by Solar Twins a lot more,” I add, cutting him off.
Jack’s half-smile turns into a full smile that covers his entire face. “Oh, I know you do.”
I sit straighter in my seat, planting my palms on my waist. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You don’t remember dancing on that tiny side table while we were having a drink at that lounge in Vegas?”
My face slowly turns red as the memory instantly comes back. “Oh my god. Yes, I did do that, didn’t I?”
“Fun times.” He briefly laughs before his face quickly turns stoic once again.
As we pull into the small parking lot, I stare out the window at this quaint, old-town shopping area filled with restaurants and wine bars.
Jack turns the car off and twists in his seat to face me. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, continuing to take in the shops. Across the street is a bicycle shop that looks like it rents bikes to people to take on wine tours. Because getting plastered while riding a bike in the sun sounds like a fabulously safe idea.
Jack’s face softens, sensing my uneasiness. “My mother is warm and friendly. I’m sure she will love you just as much as you will love her.”
“Thanks.” I force a smile.
He gets out of the car and comes around to my side to open the door. I step out and sling my purse across my body, ready to put on a show.
“We should probably hold hands,” he suggests, slipping his hand into mine. It’s a little stiff at first, but then they slowly mold together. My heart beats fast in my chest from nerves—or our closeness. I’m not sure which one it is.
“There’s my mom.” Jack gestures to a woman with short blonde hair walking toward us from the other end of the parking lot.
With my free hand, I start to pick at the button on my jacket again.
“Stop fidgeting.” He quietly chuckles.
“Okay, okay.” I smile at Jack’s mom as she takes the last few steps toward us.
Up close, Heidi looks a lot like Jack. She has his electric blue eyes and perfect bone structure. She looks young for having a son in his mid-twenties, but I can also tell she has spent a lot of time outside in the vineyards based on her sun-kissed skin. She’s beautiful.
“Piper! It’s so good to meet you, sweetie,” she exclaims, extending her arms to me for a full-body hug.
“It’s great to meet you as well,” I return, smiling.
She turns to her son, giving him the same deep embrace. “Good to see you.”
“I’m glad Piper was able to come out.” He squeezes my hand.
“Yes, it’s lovely.” Heidi turns to me, scrunching her nose. “My son has never brought a woman home. All the what—ten years you lived in Arizona? Not once did he let me or his dad meet someone he was dating.”
Jack clears his throat. “Okay, Mom.”
Heidi continues, ignoring his gentle warning, “But I knew when we had dinner last week that something was different about him. He has this sparkle in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. I knew he had finally met someone special.”
My hands sweat. I’m speechless. It’s going to break her heart when she finds out we’re going to break up in less than two months. Jack and I were in Vegas last week—did he come home with that sparkle in his eye because he met me? No, that can’t be true. Our connection wasn’t real. It was simply having too much to drink. I’m sure we would have had the same connection with a lamp with how that night played out. I laugh on the inside.
Jack flashes me a lopsided grin. “Thanks, Mom, for embarrassing me the one time I do bring someone home.”
“Oh, Jack. It’s true.” She hooks an arm around both of us, then gestures to the entrance. “Let’s head inside, shall we?”
Jack steps in front of us, holding the door open as his mom and I enter the restaurant’s lively atmosphere. The server seats the three of us at a high pub-style table.
“We can drink our wine anytime. Let’s help some other small businesses tonight. What do you say?” Heidi beams, staring at the menu in front of her.
Jack turns to me, his elbow grazing mine on the table. “Does that sound alright?”
“Yes, that’s perfect. I’m looking forward to trying all of them.”
“Fabulous,” Heidi replies and twists in her chair to wave down our server. She orders two wine flights to share, choosing only local, smaller wineries.
After our flights arrive, we all grab different glasses to taste. Jack’s mother crosses her arms on the table and leans in. “Okay, so I would love to talk to you, Jack, but I want to get to know this beautiful woman.”
I glance to my side at Jack.
He smiles at her. “It’s okay. I’m sure you have a million questions.”
“Of course I do!” She turns to me with her face lit up. “My son says you’re a flight attendant, but he would only tell me that you both met in Phoenix. As you probably know, he’s a man of little words, so I’d love to hear all about it from you.”
I swallow hard, trying to hide any obvious signs of being nervous. “We met at a friend’s wedding last March. One of my friends was marrying the brother of another friend in our group, who happens to have also attended college with Jack.”
“That’s so sweet. You both run in the same circle of friends?”
Jack nods, setting his glass on the table. “Yes, you could say that.”
“That’s so important. Jack’s father and I were good friends before we fell in love, and it enhanced everything in our relationship,” she adds.
The tips of my ears burn at her mentioning being in love, and at the same time, I feel Jack shift in his seat next to me.
When the appetizers arrive, we spend a few minutes nibbling on the food before Heidi speaks again. “How long have you been a flight attendant?”
“Since I graduated from college,” I answer. I hope she doesn’t ask me questions about Roxy or my childhood. People don’t typically understand the unconventional way I grew up. Especially those people who weren’t raised by emotionally immature parents. I grow nervous about having to rattle off the bullshit line about my family to a genuinely kind person. The same line plays in my head like a skipped record. I’ve rehearsed and practiced many times over throughout my life.
Without realizing it, my right leg bounces. Suddenly, I feel Jack’s firm hand slip over my knee. He applies just enough pressure to calm my nerves and bring my leg to a still. It relaxes me instantly. “So, that’s about five years,” I continue as Jack’s thumb moves back and forth, caressing the top of my knee. It’s distracting but also pleasant.
“Do you enjoy it?” she asks.
“Yes, I love it. I get to have all these incredible experiences every time I go to work. Things are always changing and moving fast, but I take it all in and enjoy the ride.”
As the night progresses, we continue with light conversations. Jack’s mom tells me little things about his dad and how they met. She shares stories of Wine Country and how much she enjoys living here.
“Did Jack ever tell you that he wanted to be a professional roulette player when he was younger?” She laughs, clutching my hand from across the table.
Jack cocks his head to the side as his laugh comes out strained. “Oh, Mother.”
“He didn’t tell me that, but I find it completely believable,” I smirk. Jack’s eyes flicker in my direction, and I know exactly what he’s thinking. Memories of our night in Vegas when he took a few roulette games a little too seriously. He got bothered while trying to teach me his strategies, and I showed no interest.
“Alright, I think we’re good on the stories for tonight. Piper will be in town for the whole week, and I’m sure you’ll have another opportunity,” Jack says, flagging down our server to get the check.
“You’re right. I’m sure you both want to get some rest. How do you like The Vintage Inn and Villas?” Heidi’s face lights up.
“It’s beautiful.” I take the last sip of my wine.
Her eyes are now wide. “It’s one of the most romantic boutique hotels in the area.”
Jack pauses in the middle of his signature, keeps his eyes low, and darts them in my direction. I feel a flush creep up my face. “Yes, it is.” His mom is right. The place where we’re staying is cozy and dreamy. It’s a perfect spot for a couple who’s madly in love.
As the three of us stand in front of the restaurant saying our goodbyes, Heidi pulls me in for another hug filled with warmth. I had to creatively maneuver around some potentially awkward conversations, but it was a nice time. It was endearing when she peppered me with questions, craving to get to know the woman whom her son had finally brought home to meet her.
Jack intertwines his fingers through mine as we walk back to the car.
“Oh, wait!” she yells to us.
Heidi jogs over with a wide smile. “A few of the ladies from our women’s group are having a pool and spa day tomorrow. I’d love for you to join us.” She shoots a look at Jack. “Unless my son has something planned for the two of you.”
“She’d love to,” Jack responds for me, then squeezes my hand. I take that as my cue to play along, so I smile and nod like he’s paying me to do.
“Wonderful. I’ll text you the details,” she says.
Our second attempt at leaving was successful this time.
Jack and I walk in separately after another deafening car ride back to the villa. His shoulders are square as he takes off directly into the bedroom. My mind is panicking about how we’re going to pull this off. It’s uncomfortable. I feel like I’m doing an awful job. I breathe out a heavy sigh, then drag my feet into the bedroom behind him.