Page 113 of Love Among Vines

She smiled. “Fine.”

She set the spatula down, then lifted her head. Rett opened the spout.

“Chug, chug, chug,” everyone chanted behind her.

A very warm chardonnay washed down her throat. It tasted like undergrad. Her shoulders hunched up, and she did a full-body shudder. He finally closed the tap, and she wiped her mouth on her T-shirt. There was definitely some chardonnay in her bra. Between that and the 5k and the shouting match with Nate, she desperately needed a shower. Maybe she could convince Rett to follow her in when everyone left.

Rett raised his eyebrows.

“Oh, right.” She slapped the bag, and everyone cheered.

“As the keeper of the bag, I’m giving it a mandatory ten-minute rest in the freezer. Lukewarm white wine is a crime against humanity.”

“She’s right,” Rett added.

Everyone else grumbled but didn’t argue when she disappeared through the back door. She plopped the bag in the freezer before coming back out.

“Let’s eat,” Rett announced, setting platters on the picnic table.

Everyone gathered around. Jade carefully assembled a burger on one of Antonia’s arepas, and it was basically a flavor explosion in her mouth. Her head swam pleasantly from the crappy wine.

Next to her, Rett stood up. He lifted his glass. Oh, shit. Aside from a handful of picnics at Flushing Meadows Park, she didn’t have a lot of experience at barbecues. Did toasts normally happen?

“I just wanted to say a couple of things while everyone was here,” he began. “I know I haven’t been incredibly present over the last couple of years. It’s probably been what, two years since we last had a cookout?”

Gemma nodded.

“Right. I really buried myself in work when my grandmother passed. Taking over the winery felt like an impossible, all-encompassing task. But I think I’m starting to see the other side.” He glanced down at Jade with a smile, and a thrill ran through her.

“I appreciate all of you for sticking with me. I don’t know that I deserve it, but I’m really grateful for all your friendships.”

“You’re right, mate. You don’t deserve us,” Tom announced. Cindy smacked him. “But we love you anyway,” he added.

“To us.” Rett raised his glass.

“To us,” they all parroted.

“And to Jade because she’s the one who reminded you there’s more to life than work,” Elena announced loudly.

Jade smiled, and the others toasted to her.

As they ate, conversation ebbed and flowed like the current of the lake behind them.

“So then,” Cindy said in the middle of a lengthy soliloquy, “Rett was never one to turn down a dare, right?”

Gemma nodded enthusiastically.

Rett planted a hand over his face. “Do we have to tell this story in front of Antonia?”

“Yes.” Cindy patted the bag of wine, of which she had recently become the keeper. “So when Tony Bianchi dared him to strip naked and run down Market Street at four in the morning, he just ripped all his clothes off and took off. Until he got cocky, turned to look over his shoulder, and ran headlong into a parked police car.”

“And that is the story of how my mom had to fly back from Hollywood and attend several fundraising events for the local police force in order to save my juvenile criminal record,” Rett said. “She still talks about it.”

“Gemma,” Cindy said with a strong, pointed finger. “Slap the bag.”

“Ugh, fine.” Her gaze drifted in the direction of Damian, who had driven his boat over shortly after everyone arrived.

He took a long sip of the pinot noir Rett had brought out and raised his eyes over the rim of the glass. Gemma went pink and turned away from him. These two were clearly destined to marry each other—or kill each other.

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