Page 63 of My Ex's Best Friend

I shake my head. “Okay, let’s go. As you wish.”

Reluctantly, I follow her onto the nearby tour bus, the open roof offering a panoramic view of the city.

As we settle into our seats, Kiera leans over to me, her excitement bubbling over. "Isn't this amazing, Jake? We get to see so much of the city in one go!"

I nod, unable to suppress a grin at her enthusiasm, enjoying the experience’s novelty more than I expected. "It's pretty cool."

The sun is shining, and the breeze carries the promise of adventure as the bus sets off. It’s like looking at the world from a different perspective.

I have to admit, I'm not usually one for touristy activities, but there's something about the way Kiera's eyes light up that makes it impossible to resist.

We ride the bus and hop off and on a few times before I gently tell her. “I’ve something else planned.”

She looks curious. “What is it?”

“Definitely not as touristy as this, but I think you’ll like it.”

“But, Jake—”

“Kiera, trust me. You’ll love it,” I say, gently squeezing her arm. “Besides, we have another full week here, I promise we’ll go again, okay?”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.” I kiss the tip of her nose, and she giggles.

We make our way back to my car. The ride is quieter this time.

We drive out of the city, the urban landscape giving way to rolling hills and vineyards.

As we pull up to the entrance, she takes off her shades, and her eyes widen. "Is that a vineyard?" Her voice is tinged with surprise.

I nod. "Yep. I thought we could take a break from the city and enjoy different scenery."

“Do you own this place as well?”

“No, but an old friend does, and let’s just say that she owes me a favor.”

“Okay,” she says. The giant doors open to let us in.

“If we’re lucky, we might be able to see her,” I say. “You’ll love her. She’s a lot like you, actually.”

“Really?” Kiera replies drily.

I nod distractedly as I park my car before I go over to the other side to help her with her door.

The air is infused with the earthy aroma of grapevines. Rows of neatly aligned vines stretch out before us, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the landscape, creating a picturesque scene that seems lifted from a postcard.

As we walk down the vineyard, the assistant manager, a friendly woman greets us. "Welcome! I'm Genevieve, and I'll be giving you a tour of our vineyard today."

Kiera beams at her. "Thank you! This is amazing!"

Genevieve leads us through the rows of vines, explaining the winemaking process and the history of the vineyard.

The vineyard itself is a canvas of green and gold, and after the personalized tour,

we come across a small area set up for tastings. Glasses of a pale, golden liquid are arranged on a wooden table.

"We're currently experimenting with a new blend," Genevieve explains. "Would you like to try it?"

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