Page 29 of Because of Them

“Audrey said you’re a builder, Michael?” Callum turns to me, and I have to drag my attention back to the group. A slightly older man has joined us, but I was so transfixed on watching Audrey that I hadn’t noticed when.

“Oliver,” he says, jerking his thumb to his chest. I give him a polite nod before answering Callum.

“Yeah, I uh, do framework at the moment,” I start. An uneasy prickling crawls along the back of my neck. I lift my hand to scratch it away, sweeping my hair out of the way.

Callum is so successful and I am … not. I had my chance to be and I ruined it. No matter how many times my father asks me to take the reins, I’ll never live up to his expectations. And I’d never forgive myself when I screw everything up.

“I was thinking about building a deck, but I know nothing.”

He gestures around the yard as he goes through his grand plans for the space. His plans would be easy enough to execute, the biggest issue would be time.

“I could help?” I surprise myself when I say it, and quickly work to take it back. I don’t really want to spend every weekend at Audrey’s ex-husband’s house. “Or I could get some guys over. They’ll probably be quicker. And it would look nicer. I’m used to working on the stuff that doesn’t need to look pretty.”

“That would be great, thanks mate.”

I let out a long breath and the heavy feeling of my chest floats away with it. Callum excuses himself to check on the kids. Oliver follows him inside, mumbling something about needing chairs.

“Do you have a building company?” Noah asks once we are alone. “I want to build some new accommodation at the winery. It’ll need to be from the ground up though.”

I shove my hands in my pockets, shoulders slumping down. I hate that he assumed it was my business, as though it should be. As though working for my father is something to be looked down on. I bet this guy is just as successful as Callum is.

“I just work there, but I can ask my dad about getting a project set up. Would have to come and see the site.” I speak the words to my chest.

“It’s your dad’s business?”

I huff in agreement. “He wants it to be mine.”

“You don’t want it?”

There’s something about this guy, with his sun-bleached hair and his tanned skin and his casual shirt. Something that makes me want to talk to him. I don’t get it, but the words fall out of my mouth all the same.

“Nah, not really. Maybe. It could be cool, but I’m not cut out for that shit. All the admin and coordination is not really me, you know?”

“Wasn’t mine either.” Noah shakes his head with a gentle laugh. “Can I tell you something?”

When I nod, a knowing grin spreads across his face. “I haven’t told anyone here. Don’t really know why I’m telling you, but something tells me you could use the pep talk.”

He glances around the yard before leaning in towards me, talking in a low voice. “I don’t just work at the winery. I own it.”

My eyebrows pinch together. He owns a winery? Why would he keep that from the people he hangs out with? And why is he telling me?

Before I can ask, he holds up a hand to stop me. He laughs, leaning back against the brick wall and crossing his arms across his chest.

“I inherited it from my grandmother—not the one I share with Cassidy, my father’s mother. I never met her, and she left me a whole damn winery in her will. Apparently, she always had some guy running the place, but he left when ownership was transferred to me. I don’t think he wanted to work for some young kid from Sydney, especially not one whose only experience with wine was from a goon bag. Anyways, I was going to sell it but I fell in love. I can’t explain it.”

“So, you moved to Melbourne to run the winery? And you haven’t told anyone?”

He nods, running a hand through his hair before letting it settle behind his head. “I was terrified I was going to screw everything up. So, I kept it a secret. It’s going well, but it’s too weird now to turn around and tell people. I think Callum knows because he did all this digging when Cassidy’s business was struggling. But no one else.”

“You didn’t fuck it up though. You have plans to expand, it must be going well.” It sounds like he is doing really well. The heaviness on my shoulders eases, allowing me to stand a little taller. Noah was thrown a whole damn winery and he made it work. If he can do that, maybe I could take on more responsibility from my dad. Just a little bit.

“That’s just it.” He smiles and pushes off the wall. “It’s going really well. I didn’t have an admin bone in my body, and I knewnothingabout the wine industry. But it’s going really well. And mate, if I can pull something as elaborate as this off? I reckon you could run your dad’s business.”

With a friendly slap on my arm, Noah’s attention shifts back to the women. Looking over my shoulder, I see the woman hewas spying on push herself to stand and storm back inside. Audrey adjusts her position, rubbing at her ankles.

“Amira,” Noah calls out. He pats my arm once more before darting after her.

The rest of the afternoon is a jumble of awkward small talk and moments where I actually think I might get along with these people. Most of the time, though, I have to stop myself from talking right before I put my foot in my mouth. Like when I almost said the word ‘baby’ while Maisie was in earshot. Or when I offered to get Audrey one of the fruity alcoholic seltzers. I definitely put my foot right in there when I mentioned the age difference between Oliver and his—much younger—wife.

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