Page 68 of One Wild Wish

If I didn’t need to end my family’s lies, I’d bow out of the contest and give her my spot. Even if I won, I’d pass on the job. But it was more than putting things right. My parents had come between Rachel and me once, with nothing but a phone call. I wouldn’t let it happen again.

The past week, Rachel and I had fucked and tasted every inch of each other, filling in the gaps with laughs and stories, sharing the details of our lives. The extent of my feelings, my love for her, floored me. And scared the hell out of me. I never thought I’d let myself feel this again, give someone the power to hurt me. But here I was, in love with this amazing woman. No way would I lose that. Not this time. Not her. She meant more to me than Sophia ever had.

I kissed Rachel’s forehead, swallowing down my rising mix of emotions. I worried about where she’d go from here, hoping she wouldn’t shy away from a career in viticulture like I’d ditched my Master Sommelier status. Something I needed to rectify. If I wanted her to chase her dreams, I couldn’t keep avoiding mine.

I’d thought more about organizing events for boutique wineries, using my education and whatever contacts I still had to build a festival. Events highlighting smaller producers. Soon, I’d make plans, but Rachel and the contest came first.

I glanced up to find Lydia watching us…with longing? Her brown eyes were glazed, her pinched mouth softer. Her pearls rose and fell on a deep breath.

She scrutinized her daughter. “Everything all right?”

Rachel squeezed closer to my side. “Just some bad news. But Jimmy’s helping me figure it out. Nothing to worry about.”

Lydia studied us, long enough I actually ventured toward the onion dip. Bad idea. It burned the roof of my mouth, the thick mixture nothing but mayonnaise and raw onion. Eyes watering, I forced it down, preferring Lydia’s withering glance to that horror show.

She nodded once, as though coming to a decision. “I’m glad you’ve found someone supportive, Rachel. It’s lovely to see.”

Rachel pressed her hand over her heart. “Thanks, Ma. That means the world.”

Warmth crept over me, uncomfortable in its intensity. Lydia’s acceptance shouldn’t have mattered. I’d stopped caring what others thought two years ago. Still, heat flooded my cheeks like I was a kid again, glowing from parental praise. It felt nice. Better than nice. It was a reminder my family had stolen more than my future. They’d cheated me out of basic affection, but Lydia sent it rushing back. Even at thirty, I soaked it in…and an idea caught, a way to run with her approval and pull the shards of my life together.

I leaned my elbows on my knees, nudging Stanley away from my crotch. “If you’re in a bind for bartenders, I might be able to help.”

Lydia’s response came slowly. “The company we hired went out of business. We have a few others in mind, but the timeline is tight. Was there someone specific you’d recommend?”

“Not exactly. I’ve been wanting to promote smaller vineyards in the area. This type of event could be great exposure. You could market it as a ‘diamond in the rough’ thing. Let guests know they’ll be sampling from the best boutique wineries. We’d have to spin it, maybe have them pouring from private collections at set stations, something to wow the crowd. Even do the wine tasting blind and have guests guess the grape, with prizes for the winners.” I pushed my hand through my hair. “Sorry. Just thinking out loud.”

Lydia didn’t seem to mind. “Supportive and smart. I should have known better than to question my Rachel.” She leaned back and clasped her hands. “I’d like to discuss this further, but I bet the girls would love the idea.”

Pride rushed through me again, along with a sting of longing. If mending fences with my mother were as simple as proving I wasn’t a selfish meathead, maybe I could suck up my anger and return her endless calls. Unfortunately, ours wasn’t a trivial misunderstanding. You were a mistake, my father had claimed. A disappointment. She hadn’t once stood up for me. No point wishing for the impossible.

But this, right now—my first taste of belonging in too long—was because of Rachel. Because she’d screamed pussy and had walked into The Blue Door and entertained my advances. Because she trusted herself with me. I’d have to do the same with her. Tell her about my plan and why I’d really joined the contest, but my excuses kept piling up. Delay tactics.

She would be pissed. No avoiding that. If hanging up on my mother had shoved a wedge between us, this stunt of mine had the power to ruin what we had. It all felt more fragile now. With my heart in the mix, it felt downright brittle. Like everything we had could shatter at any moment.

I’d still have to come clean, about the contest and the extent of my feelings. I should do it tonight. Get it over with and hope for the best. Neck tense, I sipped my wine.

Mitch whistled a low note. “If Mom came around that quickly to your biker boyfriend, it might be a good time to tell her Cora’s pregnant.”

Thatwas unexpected.

Rachel squealed, the sound so jarring, I nearly spat out my wine.

“Mitch!” Cora buried her face in her hands.

Lydia frowned at her son. “Stop being a pot stirrer, Mitchell. That’s nothing to joke about.”

Mitchell didn’t take it back, and Cora’s hands dropped to her belly.

“Oh my God. How could you not tell me?” Rachel didn’t wait for a reply. She was up in seconds, pulling Cora into a hug.

Lydia fanned her face. “A baby? But when? How? You’re not even married.”

Mitchell beamed at Cora as Rachel pressed her hands to Cora’s stomach. He shrugged at his mother. “Yes, a baby. When—she’s six weeks along. How—I could get into it, but Rachel might stick her fingers in her ears and sing songs like when she was a kid. As for the married part, we’re not in a rush. We weren’t expecting this surprise, but we’re thrilled. The rest will come later.”

Rachel jumped, chanting, “I’m going to be an aunt,” while Lydia tossed more questions at the couple, shocked Mitchell hadn’t proposed, wondering if they’d planned to move to a bigger place and where and when and listing all the ways she’d help.

Rachel may have been scared of her mother’s reaction to us, but I’d bet Cora and Mitchell had been shitting bricks, terrified to break their news. Unnecessarily. Lydia proved she was a woman whose sun rose and set by her kids. She’d already started coming around to me, and she’d no doubt spoil her grandchild rotten, whether or not her son followed a traditional path.

I stood and shook Mitchell’s hand, thrust into this nutty family. Everything with Rachel was a wild ride, but this was special. And tough. Some sadness would follow; her father wasn’t here. He’d miss this important milestone, which meant tonight wasn’t the best time to confess about the contest, or my love. Saying the latter wouldn’t feel right with lies between us. It would all have to wait.