Page 14 of Merlot Marriage

I turn back as I ask, “Regulars?”

“Just his favorite customers.”

I jerk back, sending the tallish young woman who appeared at my side into a fit of giggles. Her long blond hair is curled and hangs over her shoulders, swinging as she moves.

Nate rolls his eyes again. “Hello, Emma. You know I can’t serve you.”

She rolls her eyes right back and leans an elbow on the bar. Her movement reveals an extraordinarily short woman peering out from behind her, her vivid orange hair a sharp contrast to the timid way she looks around the room.

“I wasn’t asking you to serve me, was I? Mom has some stuff in the car she needs help bringing in.”

The back-and-forth between them is interesting, albeit frustrating since I still haven’t been able to get a glass of wine for myself or Ophie.

Nate grunts. “I’m working the bar today. Maggie is sick, and Kel has Olive. Tell your mom to text him to come help. I can’t leave here.” He jerks a thumb in my direction, and I bristle.

The young girl, Emma, pauses to look me up and down. She’s very pretty, in that fresh-faced, college freshman kind of way. Her head tips to the side, lips pursed. “I know you from somewhere.”

The declaration takes me by surprise. “Huh?” I shake my head and back up a few steps. “I think you must have me mistaken for someone else. Lots of brown-haired, chiseled types around here.”

She snaps her fingers, pointing at my chest. “That accent. You TA’ed for Econ 101, right? My friend was in that class, and I heard you talking to her once. I remember because I thought your accent was super sexy.”

“Emma!”

“That’s my girl!”

I’d been so focused on our conversation that I’d missed the other two women coming over to the bar. The blond one, obviously the girl’s mother, looks like she can’t decide between smacking her daughter or hiding in embarrassment. The tall one, who had not been excited to see Nate, is glowing with pride, reaching across the space between us to high-five Emma.

A hand on my shoulder has me whirling, Ophie’s laughing face appearing behind me.

Oh my god, I’m surrounded. The five women are all laughing while Nate and I share a look. I still don’t like him—his customer service skills are shit—but there’s a moment of universal bro-solidarity between us as they laugh at my expense.

“You win. Also, your cheeks are so red,” Ophie whispers in my ear, squeezing my shoulder before coming to stand beside me. I want to pull her into my side and hide my flaming face in thecrook of her neck, but I don’t dare. Not if this girl knows one of my former students.

That way rumors lie.

But fuck yeah, I won the bet.

“Emma, that was so inappropriate.” The shorter woman shakes her head. “I raised you better than that.”

Emma and the taller woman burst out in peals of laughter. “No you didn’t, Sophie. And even if you did,Ididn’t.” The tall woman looks back over her shoulder at the orange-haired one. “Frankie thought it was hilarious too. Didn’t you?”

She steps around Emma to squeeze between her and the tall one. “Highly inappropriate, but hilarious.” She flips her hand out for a subtle low-five with Emma.

The one called Sophie clears her throat loudly, glaring at the other three, who instantly subside. It’s my turn to stifle a chuckle as they fall in line, cowed by the maternal vibes emanating from Sophie.

She waits until they’re calm before looking away. My god, she’s impressive. “Nate, the guys are all out in the parking lot with stuff for tomorrow. I’ll man the bar if you could go give them a hand?”

With a sigh that must come from deep in his soul, Nate rounds the front of the counter. “They are doing a flight and need the rosé next.” He points to the couple who have wandered outside and are leaning on the porch railing, oblivious to the commotion going on inside.

He jerks his thumb at me, the scowl back. “They haven’t ordered yet. Came through the back door.”

I don’t know what he’s implying by that, but he’s gone without another word. Sophie takes his place and beams at us.

I’m about to ask what’s going on when Ophie steps in front of me, holding out her hand. “Hi, Sophie. I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Maggie’s sister, Ophelia.”

Understanding crosses Sophie’s and the tall woman’s faces. “Oh, yes, I remember now. How are you? Do you remember Lauren?” She points to the tall woman, who nods. “That’s Frankie, a dear friend who works at Mailbox with my husband, and my hooligan of a daughter, Emma.”

Ophie greets everyone, then reaches back to pull me closer. “This is my friend, Philip. We parked down by Maggie and Kel’s, but since Maggie is napping, we figured we’d come up here and have a glass while we enjoy the view.”

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