Page 31 of Love on the Vine
“You also confirmed a wedding in the works. The whole town is waiting for an invitation.” Callie giggled. She was taking way too much pleasure in this situation.
“Can you please tell them not to mention any of this to Jake?” I begged. How was I going to show my face back atthe house if he caught wind of this? But when Callie explained the misunderstanding, Michel only laughed harder, clapping his hand on his knees, and speaking so rapidly I couldn’t make anything out at all.
“Too late.” Callie grimaced. “They had a chat this morning.”
“No!” That meant the entire time we’d been together today he’d known and hadn’t said anything. I buried my face in my hands while everyone laughed, even little Isa, the traitor. Chantal came to my side to comfort me.
“She says not to worry. If he didn’t deny it, there’s still hope,” Callie explained. “She has a few tricks up her sleeve that she used to snare Michel and she’ll share them with you.”
The idea of lessons in seduction from Chantal was too much. “No, no. Thank you, but there’s no hope.Fini. Basta. Caput.” I mimed cutting my throat.
Eventually, I was able to turn the topic away from Jake and tried to concentrate on the food. Chantal served homemade gnocchi and ragout followed by an apricotclafoutibut I hardly ate anything, only managing to down a shot of Michel’sdigestif—a homemade plum liquor that nearly ripped a hole in my esophagus.
As we were leaving, he made me take a bottle for the road. I refused, but he insisted, pressing the bottle into my hands. “For the wedding!” Laughing heartily, he closed the door.
When we arrived back at the house, I was relieved to find everything dark. There was no way I could face Jake tonight. And I had no idea what I would say to him tomorrow.
“Callie,” I said, after we had each taken a shower, brushed our teeth, and snuggled up in bed like it was a middle school slumber party. “I think I’m going to have to go back to Paris with you.”
“Don’t be silly, Liv. Chantal was right when she said it was a good sign if he didn’t deny it. Maybe he’s just waiting to make his move.” She rubbed my arm.
I snorted. “You’re dreaming. But thanks for trying to cheer me up.”
My phone buzzed and Callie giggled. I opened our group chat to find that she’d already messaged Levi about tonight’s events.
Callie: You missed the big news, Levi.
Levi: Did you finally learn how to tie your shoes?
Callie: Ha ha. No, bigger than that. Liv’s getting married!
Levi: ???!
I glared at her and wrote back:Just ignore her, Levi. I have my phone back, btw.
Levi: Yeah, I noticed. It was so peaceful around here last week without my pocket constantly buzzing.
Callie: Ah, you missed us. Admit it.
Chapter 10
OLIVIA
Sunlight streamed through the window, and I snuggled deeper under the blankets. I smiled at Callie’s golden hair on the pillow next to mine and closed my eyes, listening to the birds singing in the trees outside. Ah, if only every morning could be like this . . .
“Arghh!” I buried my face in the pillow as Michel’s hysterical laughter filled my mind.
“What is it, Liv?” Callie asked groggily.
“Oh, nothing.” My voice was muffled by the pillow. If only I could curl my entire body in it and hide. “I just have to get through the day without running into the man who thinks I told the entire town he’s my fiancé. He probably thinks I’m obsessed and delusional.”
“Well, you are obsessed.” Callie yawned. I threw the pillow at her, and she laughed.
“It’s just a crush,” I protested. “How many of yours have I lived through?”
“The difference is that my crushes usually turn into something, whereas yours become giant‘what ifs’that will haunt you one day in your nursing home.”
Where relationships were concerned, Callie and I were polar opposites. I’d only had two boyfriends since high school, ahandful ofmehdates that went nowhere, and one disastrous one-night stand that she still loved to tease me about. She, on the other hand, met people easily, and had guys dripping from her manicured fingernails.
