Page 47 of Not Safe For Work

Mitch told me to. Part of my job is getting you ready for sales

Can’t he just pretend to be nice?

Olivia Diamond:

I’ll be sure to thank him then

Gavin Scott:

How do you know all that about their marketing director?

Olivia Diamond:

I do my research

Have to go above and beyond to be the best right?

Gavin Scott:

You’re killing it

So where’s the long drive to?

Olivia Diamond:

I’m not sure actually. It’s a surprise

Gavin Scott:

Oh

I wait for another response from Gavin, but it never comes.

So now I’m back to looking out the window.

I realized we were heading toward wine country a while ago. If Ian hadn’t been so preoccupied, we could have stopped by my parents’ place a few miles back, but by the time he puts down his phone we’ve already entered Napa and turned onto the Silverado Trail.

The worst part is that it looks like we’re pulling into La Fantasia, one of my least favorite wineries in Napa. I must be mumbling to myself without realizing it, because Ian gives me a funny look.

“Have you ever been here?” he asks when we get out of the car.

Unfortunately, yes. “Not in averylong time,” I reply. He looks at me quizzically, like he thinks I’m lying. Maybe because I’ve only been twenty-one for two years.

Shoot. Was I supposed to pretend I’ve never been to wine country?

I’ve learned that Ian loves to teach me things, to help me experience something for the first time. And I love that he loves it, so every so often, I fib a little. Nothing major, just saying it’s the first time I’ve eaten some type of food or visited a landmark in The Bay. The only one I really feel bad about is pretending I’ve never shot an arrow before. But in my defense, archery shooting for a datereallycaught me off guard.

It might be time to come clean on a few of these.

“Ian, I’ve been to a lot of wineries. I grew up in Sonoma, actually.” It’s a little wild this hasn’t come up, but Ian never asks about my family. I like it that way, I think. It makes me feel more like an adult, like I’m my own person and not just a daughter or a sister. But Sonoma and winemaking are also part of my blood. It’s not something I would ever choose to hide.

“Oh,” he replies, stretching the word out for a few beats. “Well, you’ve never experienced wine country with me.”

When we get to the entrance, we’re greeted by the owner, a man named Dave that I’ve known since birth and seen annually at different competitions and events. He’s probably perfectly fine, but he and my dad have never gotten along. My dad’s family emigrated here from France and pride themselves on old world style wines using the best terroir in California. We don’t mass-produce or outsource anything.

Our prices reflect that.

La Fantasia has had a habit of calling us overpriced, not that theirs are much cheaper. And their name is a façade. Nothing about the winery, the family, or the wines themselves are Italian. They make overpriced red blends and use names like “Climax”and “The Villain” for shock value. I admit, their labels are eye-catching, but their wine is the beverage equivalent of a butter face.

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