Page 83 of Not Safe For Work

“I think I’ve made it really clear I won’t go out with him,” I defend, even though I know she’s right. “I’m just trying to be friendly enough that I don’t totally offend him.”

She purses her lips.

Mitch has been on me for days about getting him to come to our client event next month. I just have to get Tristan there, and then I can cut off this weird texting thing. But until then, I can’t shut him out completely.

“You like Gavin. I know you do. Why are you doing this?”

“It’s just until I can make some progress with the account, then I’ll block him and never speak to him again. It’s not like I want to be doing this.”

She hands me back my phone and grabs the door. “You’re playing with fire, Liv.”

I know she’s right, Iknowthis. But I’m not sure I have it in me to give up on this deal just yet.

We both plaster on smiles when we get back to the table and enjoy our sushi while we discuss some upcoming work events and the guys’ next rugby match.

When we leave the restaurant, I push Tristan clear out of my mind. Gavin and I are hand in hand and I’m feeling giddy about wherever this is going. I don’t even bat an eye when he stops on the street corner to grab my face and kiss me.

“Ollie?”Oh no.

I pull out of Gavin’s embrace to find my brother inspecting me. “Hey, Owen.”

We stare at each other for a few moments. Owen is the youngest of my older brothers, and the one who was the most hurt when I decided to move to San Francisco instead of staying at the winery to work with him.

“What are you doing in the city?” I ask.

“Dad had me fill in for some restaurant meetings. Who are your...friends?”

“Oh! Well, you remember Andie.” She’s come with me to the winery several times. “And Daanesh, he’s actually the CEO of my company. And umm—” I track Owen’s gaze and realize Gavin and I are still holding hands. “This is Gavin, my boyfriend.”

I swallow hard, terrified of what Gavin might think that I used our fake relationship status on my brother. But with Daanesh right here, what was I supposed to say? Luckily, he seems unfazed. I watch as everyone shakes hands and gets introduced.

Daanesh and Andie let us know they have a meeting to get back to, but Gavin stays by my side so I can awkwardly catch up with my brother.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize you broke up with the last one,” Owen murmurs. I give him a look that hopefully says “let’s not talk about my ex.”

“Well, this is new and?—”

“Are you coming to Passover, then?” he asks Gavin, cutting me off.

“Yes?” Gavin looks at me with narrowed eyes.Why would he say yes?

“Awesome. Our parents will be excited to meet you. We all hated the last one, so there shouldn’t be too much pressure.”

“Owen!”

“What? He called the wineobtuse, Ollie. If there’s anything worse than a snobby visitor, it’s one who doesn’t actually know what they’re talking about.”

He’s not wrong. We all cringed when Ian said he tasted notes of cobalt in the Vega, but I hoped he just misspoke and meant cherry or charcoal. Then, after he called the mouthfeel obtuse, my brothers said he wasn’t invited back.

My family aren’t snobs. They don’t expect everyone to be wine experts. In fact, they have always loved when we bring friends who have no wine education because they all love to teach. But in true Ian form, how could you teach someone something who already knows everything about everything?

“Okay, I gotta get to my next meeting and it’s all the way over Nob Hill,” Owen says.

“Oh, where at?” I ask, intrigued.

“House of Prime Rib. The Vega’s been selling well there, so we’re trying to double their order.”

“Nice. See if you can get me a reservation!” I yell when the light changes and we’re forced to run in different directions.

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