Page 57 of Merlot Marriage

My brother-in-law clears his throat and indicates Nate should lead the way. We follow in silence toward a row of grapes before he speaks up again. “I noticed that’s a local company. How did you find them? Are reusable wine bottles a thing in Europe?”

I follow along, acting as more of a pack mule than anything as Nate and Kel expertly check and assess row after row of grape vines. I have no idea what they’re looking for, but it’s impressive to see the speed at which they flip over leaves and check on bunches, working as a team despite the fight earlier.

Just like Jono and I having a row, then going surfing twenty minutes later. Thinking about my brother sends a pang through my sternum. He would love this place—Nicola too.

The whole morning, Nate explains all the reasons why the new bottles are a good idea. Kel argues his points, but it feels like he’s trying to help Nate finesse his argument rather than really change his mind.

I pipe up where I can, mostly on the numbers since that’s what Nate asked me to help him with. I’m not sure he’ll be able to convince Sutton on the numbers alone—it is a big investment, and it will set profits back by a large margin—but if he can convince Sophie and Theo that it’s the sustainable future, he might have a shot.

The tension from earlier has dissipated by the time we finish inspecting the field Nate chose. The sun is fierce and I’m sweating through my T-shirt and wishing for a bandanna or something to keep the sweat out of my eyes.

“I swear, if I have to hear that song one more time, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.” Kel has been complaining about the TikTok dances Maggie and Olive keep practicing. My theory is that Maggie is doing it to keep Olive entertained and not glued to the TV, but my expertise was not requested, so I’m keeping my mouth shut.

“Just get them a pair of AirPods to share. The new noise-canceling ones work surprisingly well. They even block out most of the sex noises you all keep making.” Nate’s solution is a good one. But he has no idea the unexploded bomb he’s just dropped in my lap.

Kel turns to me, eyes wide. “Sex noises?” Before I can defend myself, he chuckles. “Well, at least you only have to listen to it every other week.”

Nate turns and points at both of us. “I wish. Between you two, I get to listen to it every fucking night of the week.”

Shit. Fuck. By the way Kel is turning his glare on me, I’ve been caught in the chicken coop. My goose is cooked. He’s going to go full big-brother-in-law on me, and I am never going to see my sweet wife’s face again.

“You’re making sex noises. With who?”

I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. The wheels are still turning in his mind, though, because I can see the exact second he puts two and two together.

“Ophelia? But Maggie insisted…no, it can’t be.” His face grows redder and redder by the second, matching the heat rising in mine, the hot sun not helping us stay any cooler. “Is this where she’s been disappearing to when we’re there?”

“It’s new.” I step backward, out of arm’s reach of Kel.

“Is it serious? You’re not just fucking around with her before you leave, right?”

My eyes are glued to his hands. Currently, they are relaxed and loose by his sides, but I can sense the tension in his shoulders.

Fuck it. Telling him the truth may be the only way out of this without getting a taste of what he dished out to Nate. But maybe I’ll leave out the Vegas/green card bit. For now.

“Yes, it’s serious. I’ve always loved her, and I think she’s loved me for a long time too. We just didn’t want to risk our goals on an unknown while we were in school.” I desperately want to getus back into motion, but I have no idea what they were planning to do next. Risking a glance past Kel, I’m alarmed to find the space where Nate was standing is empty.

The shuffle of dirt behind me and the twitch on Kel’s face is the only warning I get before my arms are trapped behind me.

“What the fuck, man.” I attempt to pull away, but Nate has too good of a hold on me. “Are you serious right now?”

“Bro code. You mess with my best friend’s sister, you gotta be willing to face the consequences.” Nate says this without a hint of irony, until Kel rolls his eyes and sighs. “We’re not talking about me right now.”

“You better be glad we’re not,” Kel growls before turning his attention back to me.

Relaxing my arms in an attempt to get some leverage, I try reasoning with Kel again. “You realize that Ophie and I are both adults? That she is perfectly capable of making this kind of decision on her own?”

“But she’s my future wife’s little sister.” He shrugs as if that explains everything. “Gotta make sure you have honorable intentions.”

I snort. “At least I didn’t knock her up before I married her.”

Nate releases my arms so fast, I stumble forward, straight into a stunned Kel. Since my ability to breathe is now being threatened by both men, and if either of them tells Maggie before I have a chance to warn Ophie, I take advantage of their shock to book it back to my cabin, pulling my phone out as I run.

She doesn’t answer. Kel and Nate’s raised voices are still behind me, so I dash inside to grab my keys and hop in my car.

The last thing I hear before the gravel underneath my tires drowns him out is Kel shouting, “What do you mean you married her?”

Ophie

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