Page 26 of My Brother's Best Friends

“Oh, it’s a beautiful city. Crowded as hell in the touristy areas, but there are some parts that are timeless and charming. I think you’ll love Kensington Gardens, among other things,” Oscar replies. “You used to love going to art exhibits, right?”

“I still do.”

“Then you’ll want to hit the museums. The National Gallery and MoMA are incredible,” he says—and I’m almost proud of him. “You were a history buff too, right? Bryan had to sign off on that field trip your senior year.”

“Right—the dig site in Indiana.” Makayla laughs softly. “I was obsessed with archaeology and anthropology back then. I took a few college courses for extra credit but never had the nerve to pursue it seriously.”

“How so?”

“I’ve always loved wine more.”

Alex and I trade a confused look. Catching it, Makayla shrugs. “The winemaking process—the agricultural and scientific sides. From seedling to bottle. Even the sommelier angle…”

“Right—Bryan wasn’t thrilled about that, seeing as you were underage,” I say with a wry smile.

“I’m pretty sure he was glad to let you go off to Indiana instead,” Oscar replies.

Conversation ebbs and flows as we head toward the restaurant, and with every minute my faith in Oscar returns. “Last year saw a slight drop in our revenue, which is why we’re putting in a little extra effort this year,” he tells her at one point while recounting our business development milestones with Bryan.

“Are you always working?” she teases.

“Pretty much.” He shrugs. “Owning a company’s no small thing, and even with Bryan, Alex, and Kellan pulling their weight, there’s always more to do. Right now we’re drafting a pitch for a promising start-up that just hit the market.”

I’m done with the gory work details, so I cut in. “Tell us what you’ve been up to, Makayla. There’s got to be more to your life than a horrible boss.”

Oscar gives us a curious look. “Horrible boss?”

“Oh, that’s a long story,” Makayla says. “But thank you for asking, Oscar. I have more going on in my life than just the job. As of last week, I’ve been putting together a business plan for my winery,” she replies, surprising all three of us.

“Already?” Alex arches a brow.

“Strike while the iron’s hot, right?” she quips.

“You want to open a winery?” Oscar asks.

“Yes.” She stops in the middle of the hallway. “It’s always sounded romantic—growing your own grapes and building a label. Wine’s one of my favorite things in the world, so it makes sense, right?”

“They do say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” Oscar agrees.

I realize we’ve arrived at the elevator already, and don’t want this conversation to end. “How far along are you on that? Do you have a business plan?”

“Not yet,” she admits, “but my parents left me a generous patch of land out in the California countryside. My uncle still manages it. There’s a small house, though it’s been vacant for years. In their will Mom and Dad said I could do whatever I wanted with it, and a winery feels perfect.”

“That’s fantastic,” Oscar exclaims.

“Thanks,” she says. “I think so.”

“We have a client who owns a winery,” Oscar offers. “I could get you a meeting.”

“That would be great,” Makayla says, her eyes lighting up.

“Sure.” Oscar jabs the elevator button. “He can walk you through everything—equipment, logistics, which grapes suit your soil. If you’re doing this, you’ll want to do it right.”

“That would help so much,” Makayla says.

The elevator doors open and we all pile in. We have a thousand questions about the land and her plans for it. We each take turns grilling her, so that by the time we arrive in the hotel restaurant, we’re fully versed.

Makayla might’ve been disappointed we couldn’t go further earlier, but the moment she spots Bryan everything else fades. He sits between a massive fireplace and a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the slopes. The restaurant hums with conversation.

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