Page 20 of Pour Timing

“I’m sor?—”

Sadie cuts me off immediately. “Don’t you even dare finish that sentence.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say!” I protest, but she just leans forward in her chair and points at me.

“I’m your sister. I can feel everything you’re going through right now, everything you’re thinking.”

“Okay, smartie. Tell me what I was going to say.”

She raises a brow. “You were going to apologize for not giving me a wedding to plan, weren’t you?” I narrow my eyes at her and she flashes a smug grin. “Told you.”

I shake my head. “I was going to say that, but I was also going to say thank you for always letting me be me. I know my ‘change with the wind’ attitude can be a lot.”

“That’s what makes you you, and if someone can’t handle that, they’re missing out.”

“Kathleen said the same thing.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh my god! Tell me about lunch! I forgot you guys went out today.”

“Was that just today?” I groan and shake my head. “Well, she got me drunk on mimosas and then I came home and fell asleep.”

She giggles. “Champagne drunk is fun.”

“I should call her and check in. I’m sure Phil is taking care of her.” We giggle together before I get quiet. “She saw it too. She knew it wasn’t right.”

“Is she trying to push you and Matt back together?”

I shrug. “I mean, she mentioned us as a couple a few times. She thinks him being back here is a sign too.” I grow quiet. “She said she always thought we’d end up together, and I had to agree with her.”

Sadie reaches for my hand. “I think we all did.”

“I never stopped loving him, but I had to move on for my own sanity, ya know? When I came across his social media profile and saw his relationship status, I knew I had to make a decision for my own heart to heal. And it did, for a little. I had to let him go. I had to accept that it was never going to beMatt and Kylie.But the moment I heard he was back here?” I turn to my sister. “Sadie, I still love him. I don’t know how to go back to living in the same town as him without being together.”

She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “I think you just have to go day by day and see where it takes you. You’ve always lived your life that way. You’ve never planned, so why is it different now? We’re all planning the Wine Day event together, let’s just have fun with it. Don’t look ahead to awhat if, orcan it happen,just enjoy rebuilding the friendship you guys always had.”

I nod. She’s absolutely right. I can do my best to put my heart in a holding pattern and just take each moment as it comes.

Chapter10

Matt

“Hey, boss.”

I watch as Kylie strolls into the winery. She’s sexy in a t-shirt with cutoff jean shorts and her hair in a ponytail. It takes me right back to high school summers when we’d spend the days chasing every last bit of sun we could find before we’d grab hold of the moonlight and I’d peel those shorts off her body. And I almost tell her that but bite the inside of my lip to regain my composure.

I never got over Kylie Johnson. It’s why I called hermy Kyliewhen my mom mentioned her name at the estate signing. She was always meant to be mine and I have no logical reason for why I let her get away.

If you listen to my mother’s reasoning, it’s because I was stubborn and chasing a dream that wasn’t real. She and dad were always supportive of me playing football. It was a passion I could never get enough of. From watching to playing to drawing up new plays, football was at the top of my list. Kylie was tied for that top space, but when she said college life wasn’t for her, I figured that meant me too. And along with my college life was football. I couldn’t replace one with the other, so I let her make the decision. She went home and I moved on.

It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Besides thinking I’d make it pro.

“Boss? Never been called that before. Doesn’t sound so bad.”

She laughs before sliding onto the stool in front of the bar and raising a brow. “Don't get used to it. The National Wine Day Event is in four days, and after that? I don't work for you anymore.”

“I better take advantage of this boss thing then, huh?” My lips twist as her eyes dilate. And if I didn't know better, I’d think she was turned on by the thought of being bossed around.

The time has flown by as we planned this event for the town. The late-night texts and stops by the winery from Kylie and Sadie, where we all enjoyed a glass of wine, soon all of it turned into excitement. The weeks blurred together in a rush of decorations and figuring out just how many string lights weretoomany. According to my mother, apparently you can never have enough. But in the middle of all the chaos and planning, something shifted. I started feeling connected to this town again. I started envisioning my future living right here in Starlight Bay. And it was all because of Kylie. I wasn’t just getting by anymore, I was enjoying myself and looking forward to each new day.

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