Page 75 of Rare Blend
She gives me an exasperated look, and I fiddle with the remaining fries on my plate, ignoring her.
“I don’t like him. We’re friends.”
She takes a long, loud slurp of lemonade. “If I looked at my male friends the way you look at Ethan, then I never would’ve married Archie. There’s something there between you two, whether you want to admit it or not.”
I cross my arms, suddenly feeling defensive. “It’s too soon. I’m still processing the whole Brandon thing.”
Hillary twists her mouth, grimacing. “Oh, please. That’s bullshit and you know it. You were already falling out of love while you guys were still together. The only reason you were still with him was because you thought it was time to settle down and Brandon sounds good on paper.”
Was I really with Brandon because he sounded good or because I loved him? Where was all this advice when I was still with the guy?
“Either way, it doesn’t matter because if I get this job, then I’m moving back to Seattle, and Ethan has to stay in Red Mountain because the winery is there. So, what then? I give into the feelings only to fall for him and then have to move? I’m not doing long distance just to get broken up with months later over a text message.”
“Wow, you’ve really thought about this, huh?”
“I’m being a realist.”
“Whatever you say. All I’m saying is it might be worth it. Even if it’s just for fun, he’s hot and you’re hot. Two hot people should be having wild sex.”
“I see you’re still horny as ever.”
“Always,” she says with a wink.
“Do you think you’re going to get the job?” Ethan asks as we begin our journey back to Red Mountain.
I look down, twisting my fingers in my lap. I was so caught off guard to hear from Zoe and get called in for an interview, I haven’t had time to sit in my thoughts and really mull it over. It’s exactly what I said I wanted. This was the plan. But now, when I think of actually getting the job, and leaving, it doesn’t feel like I thought it would. I’m starting to question what I even want anymore. In truth, I’m feeling lost.
I smile, but it’s not genuine. “I guess we’ll see.”
“I like your friend Hillary,” Ethan says, changing the subject. “She was looking at me a little odd, though.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I swear she’s usually so normal. The pregnancy has made her weird.”
He nods, taking in my words. “How did she and her husband meet? Seems like kind of an odd pairing.”
Hillary and Archie have a love story for the ages. It honestly sounds like the plot of a movie.
“Hillary was dating this rich app developer douche and, like, three months into dating, he whisked her away for a European vacation. They started in Spain and then hit France and eventually made their way up to the UK. At some point things started to take a turn. He started showing his true colors, and they began arguing a lot more. They were in a pub, and he was drunk off his ass and got handsy with her. Then he straight up slapped her across the face.”
Ethan’s head whips to me, his face painted with shock.
“I know,” I continue. “It was so bad. Anyway, emerging from the shadows comes Archie, her knight in shining armor. Him and his buddies roughed him up and threw him out of the pub, and Archie swooped in to make sure she was okay. He couldn’t let her go back to him, it obviously wasn’t safe, but Hillary had almost no money on her. She was screwed. She ended up crashing at Archie’s, and he basically saved her. He helped her get another passport, which the douche was holding hostage as a tactic to get her back. It was a whole thing. And then I don’t know, they fell in love, and he flew back with her. And then she flew to him. They went back and forth for a bit, and eventually, he decided to move here.”
“That’s quite the story.”
“I told her if I ever write a book, I’m stealing their story.” I smile, suddenly feeling tired, the trip finally hitting me. “I think some people are meant for epic love stories while the rest of us have to settle for mediocre.”
Ethan swallows audibly, his throat bobbing. “Do you think you’re someone that’s going to have to settle?” His voice is quiet, almost a whisper.
I yawn, wiggling further into my seat. “That’s all I’ve ever done. I settle.” My eyes start to feel heavy. “I don’t even think I know what it feels like to not settle.”
I wake up as we’re passing through the Yakima River Valley, the very same road I was on almost a month ago, full of nerves and worry. It’s hard to believe it wasn’t that long ago when it feels like another lifetime. My time in Red Mountain has felt a lot fuller than I anticipated, and the longer I stay, the more I think about not leaving. Which is crazy. Leaving has been and will continue to be the plan. Seattle is my home, this is limbo, this isn’t real life.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Ethan says quietly when he notices me stir.
My eyes glance at the clock on the dash. Seven o’clock in the evening is far from morning.
I give him a small smile but stay quiet.
