Page 17 of Always Yours

Lauren leads the way, taking us back up to the sheds we passed on the drive into the property. I grab Ellen’s hand as wefollow her, smiling when she squeezes it in thanks. Our tour is filled with references to Jack, the boy from Australia and all the annoying things he apparently did to her at each location we walk past. It makes Ellen and me smile, even if we both try to put on a serious face for Lauren’s sake.

Ultimately we end up in the grapevines, Lauren scowling as she points out the huge puddle of mud that Jack pushed her into only days ago.

“You know,” I say, hands on her shoulders. “It actually kinda sounds like he likes you.”

Lauren shakes her head. “No,” she says, stubbornness back. “He was a jerk. All he did was annoy me.”

I laugh. “Yeah, but that’s what boys do,” I tell her. “We act like jerks when we like someone.”

Lauren looks up at me, a questioning look on her face as though she’s trying to figure out if I’m being serious or if I’m really just giving her shit like her sister’s been doing.

“Seriously,” I add. “I mean, I totally gave your sister shit when we first met.”

Lauren cocks an eyebrow now, glancing sideways at Ellen before looking back at me. “How?” she asks skeptically.

I grin. “Well, she did totally get nailed by a skunk, remember?” I say, giving Ellen’s side a pinch, teasing her a little. “While she was completely hungover and doing the walk of shame back to her car. I mean there was so much material to work with.”

Ellen shakes her head, a smile on her face even as she buries her face in her hands in mock embarrassment.

Lauren turns to her. “Is that true?” she asks.

“Yep,” Ellen says, looking up. “It is. He still doesn’t let me live it down, even now.”

“And you’re okay with that?” she asks, still doubtful.

Ellen looks over at me and I grin, winking as she stares at me as if seriously contemplating her answer. “I am,” she eventually says.

“Why?” Lauren asks.

My grin widens as I step closer and pull Ellen into my arms. “Because she’s crazy about me,” I say, kissing her cheek. “Like I am about her,” I add. “And, like Jack is about you.”

Lauren blushes now, turning on her heel as she stares off into the distance, watching the sun slowly setting over rows and rows of grapevines.

“You know, you could write to him,” I suggest. Lauren glances at me over her shoulder and I smile. “I’ll bet you anything he’s missing you just as much as you’re missing him right now.”

She swallows hard, her face a mix of confusion and embarrassment as she takes in my words.

“Go on,” I tell her. “What’s the worst that could happen? He never writes back? So what, it’s not like you’ll ever have to see him again.”

Lauren says nothing as Ellen and I stand here watching her. Eventually she nods once, before turning and walking back toward the cottages.

I turn to follow her, but Ellen grabs my hand, stopping me. “You okay?” I ask.

She stares up at me, a look on her face that I can’t read. I reach out and brush a strand of hair back from her face and she smiles, pushing up on her toes to press her lips to mine.

“Yeah,” she whispers, mouth against mine. “I’m really great.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon and evening chatting with her parents on the back deck of their house over dinner. It’s easy and relaxed, just like it was on the drive home fromthe airport and both of her parents get a good laugh out of my version of events regarding the skunk and Ellen’s car.

Despite Ellen’s worries and the apparently difficult phone call she made explaining it all to them, they seem remarkably chill about the fact their daughter was drinking. I guess growing up at a winery makes you a little more casual and open about alcohol.

By the time we all go to bed, it’s late, her parents bidding me goodnight as Ellen walks me next door to the guest cottage, because there’s not a chance in hell I’m sharing a bedroom with her in her family’s house.

“Your family are great,” I say, pulling her into my arms.

Ellen smiles up at me. “They really like you,” she says, arms around my waist. “And Lauren clearly thinks the sun shines out of your ass,” she adds, chuckling. “Thanks for being so nice to her today, even if she was a total grump.”

I laugh. “She’s sad and depressed,” I say. “Her true love has left her.”

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