Page 8 of Pour Timing

I scoff. “Yeah, and I’m also engaged to be married in the place he owns.”

“What do you think the chances of that are?” my sister asks sarcastically.

“Oh, you think this is fate?”

“No, I'm the logical one.You’rethe one who believes in all that shit. What are you thinking right now?”

I don’t say what I’m thinking out loud, but in my head, I’m wondering how I got to some place I didn’t want to be and the only one who could pull me out is standing ten feet away.

As if he can read my mind, he looks my way and smiles.You okay?he mouths, and I nod, beckoning him back to the table with a wave.

He comes back holding three glasses and a bottle of wine. “Let’s make this planning a little more fun. What do you say?”

“Sounds like a perfect idea,” I relent and ignore my sister's kick under the table.

He uses a corkscrew to open the bottle. I watch his forearms flex as he holds the bottle in one hand and pulls the cork with the other. Jesus, I need to get a grip. The cork pops, and I automatically call out, “Pour timing!”

He looks at me and replies with, “Don’t you mean time to pour!” We giggle together and my sister kicks me under the table again.

“I can’t believe you remember that,” he says quietly but with awe.

“Your uncle said it every time he popped a bottle! Even when I'm alone and open one, I can hear him say it.”

He smiles and it looks a bit sad. “So, Sadie, I actually wanted to ask you for a little help. Apparently National Wine Day is soon and my uncle always made a big deal out of the holiday. Mr. Pace reminded me at the estate signing but I'm floundering a bit here.” He pours the wine and passes us glasses. We clink them together.

“I’d actually love to help.” Sadie’s eyes light up as she takes a sip. “Event planning is a dream of mine.”

He smiles and glances at me. “Your organizational skills will come in handy for sure.”

She narrows her eyes at me then at Matt before they land back on me. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“As you should,” Matt says.

“I can help too.” Both my sister and Matt snap their heads toward me. “What? I like to party.”

Matt snickers. “Planninga party andbeingthe party are two different things, KJ.” The nickname only he had for me slips out and washes over me, and I feel at peace here. I feel at home. If he notices it, he doesn’t mention it.

I shrug. “It will keep me busy. I want to help. In honor of Uncle Paul, let me be a part of it.”

Matt’s smile grows and his eyes twinkle. “You’re both hired.”

Chapter4

Matt

“Hey, man. I heard you were back in town.”

I see one of my old friends from high school walking toward me. “Well, if it isn’t Danny Love! How’re you doing?” We clap hands and I pull him in for a quick hug. We haven’t seen each other for over fifteen years but it’s like no time has passed. I last saw him when I came home for a quick visit at Christmas during my freshman year of college.

“I’m great. What about you? How are you holding up with everything?”

“Things are good. Not exactly where I thought I’d find myself at thirty-four years old, but here I am, back in Starlight Bay, and you've still got a porn star name.”

He chuckles. “That name gets me lots of attention.” We laugh together and he continues. “Life changes fast. It’s all good. Hey, I’ve got your son in my class. I saw the last name Byrne on my roster and knew he was yours.”

“You’rehis teacher?” I chuckle. “Boy, how times have changed.” We laugh together, remembering all the chaos we used to cause in that school. “How did he do on his first day?”

“Liam did great, he fit right in like a true Byrne. Of course, I had to give him a bit of shit about his dad being a hometown football hero.” He elbows me and I groan.

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