Page 49 of Merlot Marriage

“We’re—”

“Before Vegas?”

“We’re not—”

“Don’t lie to me, Ophelia. You’re terrible at it.”

I don’t try to argue because she’s right. I am a terrible liar, and I know she would see right through me.

She tips her head again. “Has to have been recent. I don’t think you could have hidden this from me for that long. Look at you—I’ve never seen you turn this red. Not even when you got sunburned that time we went to the coast.”

I cross my arms and look away, my ears burning even as I deny it. “I’m red because it’s fucking hot out here, Cassie.”

“You didn’t give that southern-fried piece of ass a second glance, but the second Philip came outside, you couldn’t look away.”

“He’s my best friend.” The argument is so old it tastes stale in my mouth, even if it’s still true. Philip is still my best friend. It’s just that he’s also more.

“Jaxon was practically offering you a roll in the hay—or vines—on a silver platter.” Her hair shines in the bright sunlight as she shakes her head. “Jesus, Ophie. You didn’t even glance at his ass. And it was a fine-looking specimen.”

“Cassie!” I jump at the chance to change the subject. “What about TJ?”

“What about him? He would agree with me.” She waves away my protest. “I’m married, not dead. Besides, I’ve seen you check out plenty of other guys before. And Jaxon, fake drawl or not, washot. And Philip is cute in aGreat British Baking Showkind of way, not hot in aLove Islandkind of way.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m right.” Cassie smirks.

The more I argue with her, the more she’s going to dig. Besides, I’m tired of keeping this a secret when all I really want is to twirl through the grass like a love-sick puppy. I throw my hands up in the air with a groan. “Okay, fine.” I lean my elbows on the table and drop my voice to a whisper. “Yes. We had sex.”

“I knew it!” Cassie fist pumps, then leans her elbows on the table to match me, nearly knocking over her glass. “I have so many questions. Since when? How was it? Are you, like, together for reals now? How could you keep something so momentous from me?”

She stops with a deep breath, but all her questions open up a pit of dread in my stomach that replaces the momentary relief of telling her. This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell anyone. Because I would have to explain so much—and then explain all over again when Philip leaves and we break things off.

I take a deep breath and tick the answers off on my fingers. “A few days after graduation. It was amazing. And no, we’re not together. It’s just sex. Nothing more.”

The lie hurts my stomach, but if I keep telling myself it doesn’t mean anything, maybe I’ll start to believe it.

Philip

Nate grunts as Ihand him another case. “So, what’s up with you and the sister?”

His question is so unexpected that I almost drop the case of wine I’d just picked up. “Excuse me?”

“You and Maggie’s sister. What’s the deal?” He hefts another case and adds it to the stack.

The tasting room closed thirty minutes ago. Cassie left an hour ago, a knowing look on her face when she hugged me goodbye. I have a feeling she knows something she shouldn’t, but I wasn’t going to ask, when not only Nate but also a cluster of customers were standing nearby.

Besides, I have my own questions for my wife. Like what Cassie meant by an opportunity on the East Coast? Why don’t I know anything about this?

“She’s a good friend. My best friend,” I finally answer, moving to the next stack he brought in from storage.

Ole When-we pauses, his hands digging into the small of his back as he arches his spine. “Your best friend often sleeps over? And wears your shirt while drinking coffee on the front porch?”

I make a sound of protest, but he keeps talking.

“It’s real quiet out here at night. Sound carries.”

The heavy case slips as I set it on the floor, pinching my finger. “Fuck.” I step back, shaking it off. The storage room at the back of the wine bar is just big enough for the pair of us to move around in, but not enough that I can pace off the pain. I back out of the room, Nate taking over the stack I was moving.

---