Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
A crease forms between his brows. “No. My son failed to mention that. Though I should have realized something was up when I caught wind of that picnic he set up in the vineyard the other week. The guys were ribbing him about it.”
At the mention of that night, I glance down at my feet, slightly uncomfortable. “It was nice of him.”
“Well I’m sure he’ll be glad you stopped by.”
“If he’s busy, I can come back.”
Mr. Garnett pats my shoulder and I peer up again. “Nah, that boy’s not too busy for you.” Then he turns back to address the group. “If you all’d like to follow me, we can head over to the bottling room and you can see the exclusive labels we’ve printed for your wines. Sawyer, you can catch up with us in a bit.”
The group trickles out after Mr. Garnett, but Sawyer lingers, waiting until the door swings shut behind the last person, and then finally, he looks at me. We’re still half a room away from each other, far enough that I can’t discern the look in his eyes, but I see his jaw tense.
He speaks first. “If you’re coming to try to apologize again, I don’t want to hear it.”
I chuckle. Point taken. I guess we’re being straight shooters today. “All right.”
“And if you’ve come here wanting me to apologize, you won’t be getting that either.” His hands on his hips prove he’s in an obstinate mood.
I chance a little smile, trying to ease the tension a bit. “Well there goes all my negotiating power. I was prepared to arrive with my tail between my legs and give you a proper explanation for everything. It was foolish of me to even entertain Kendra’s silly idea, but I did and that’s my fault.”
His eyes narrow suspiciously. “Now see that sounds an awful lot like an apology to me.”
I almost laugh, but I manage to keep a straight face. “It’s not okay what I did. I should have never agreed to go out with you under those circumstances.”
He hums, annoyed that I’m pressing the issue, but if this is my one chance to put everything out there, I need to air it all: the good, the bad, the ugly.
“It’s true that I agreed to our first date because she pressured me into it, but truth be told, I was interested in you. It didn’t take long for me to realize what a horrible idea—”
He cuts me off. “I did way worse to you.” His dark brows furrow in frustration. “And I feel guilty as hell for the way I treated you once I found out about your silly plan with Kendra. It’s why I’m ashamed to even discuss it. Don’t keep apologizing or I’ll only feel worse.”
I smile and tip my head to the side, wondering about something, a question that’s been running through my mind the last few days. “Why’d you bring that coffee over to Queenie’s house the other morning?”
He straightens and squares his shoulders. It looks almost like he’s erecting armor around himself. “I wanted to check up on you. It’s not every day a girl gets arrested…”
“We didn’t get arrested!” I exclaim, annoyed that everyone keeps saying so.
He flashes his dimples. “No, instead we had to listen to Officer White reprimand us about practicing safe sex, which was worse if you ask me. I’d have rather been tossed in the slammer. We upset Santa Claus.” He says the last part in a whisper like we’ve committed a deeply shameful offense.
I burst out laughing and give in to the urge to walk toward him, glad when he meets me halfway.
“I’ll never be able to look him in the eye again. And forget about going to the Christmas parade.”
“It was dark,” Sawyer insists. “I doubt he saw anything.”
“Just my butt cheeks,” I tease.
Sawyer shakes his head, still grinning.
“What’d Queenie have to say about it?”
The mention of Queenie brings a flood of panic about the hard parts of our conversation we’ve yet to get to. I chew on my bottom lip wondering if this is the perfect segue to launch into it. I’d rather not, of course. We’ve reached a sort of tenuous peace here, one that might last if I only walk away here and now. I’m almost tempted to take the coward’s way out and make this a problem for future Madison, but I spent the weekend agonizing and I can’t let this continue to draw out, appealing as it might be.
Sawyer’s expression sobers as he sees me warring with indecision. I realize I’ve been wringing my hands and I let them drop back by my sides. “Queenie didn’t say much. It’s not like she can ground me or anything…” Now. Do it. “But there is something else I need to tell you.”
My heart pounds ceaselessly in my chest, so fast and out of control it almost hurts.