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“Of course,” I said. “Oh, that’s right, she lived close by here, didn’t she?”
“Yep, literally about three minutes from here. She couldn’t travel well by then, so we took the party to her.” Neo looked at me as if puzzled. “I can’t imagine you never came to visit with Min. Or weren’t invited to that party.”
“We did visit once, with your parents, a few years ago. And now that you mention it, I do remember their anniversary party, but I was out of town at the time and didn’t attend.”
Neo opened his mouth and then closed it. “Your dad,” he said after a moment. “That was a month before...”
He trailed off, but I was used to it. People never quite knew how to talk about it, even someone like Neo who was an old friend.
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “I don’t mind talking about it.”
“I know you don’t,” he said. “I just—” He shook his head. “You were dealt a shitty hand, Thayle.”
“A lot less shitty than some,” I reminded him. Which was true. It was all a matter of perspective. “Had I wanted to lose my mom when I was six? Of course not. Had I wanted to have an alcoholic father? I’d have much preferred not to worry if his breath stank when he talked to my friends’ parents or my teachers. I’d have loved not to have to have to do homework at a table in the back corner of KC’s Taphouse while he drank at the bar. But—” I took a deep breath, “—it happened. I am who I am because of it, and I’ve had a long time to process it all. I’m still processing everything. But dwelling on it, being bitter? That would get me nowhere.”
The waitress took away our plates.
“I’ve said this before but will say it again: you are honestly the most self-aware person I know. Seriously,” Neo said.
“Not by chance.”
“I know. And one of these days I’ll read some of the books you recommended.”
“No, you won’t.” I took a sip of water. Having wine-tasted throughout the day, we both had only a single glass with dinner.
“You’re right,” he admitted without hesitation, grinning widely.
He might tease me sometimes, but he would never lie to me. If you looked up the word genuine in the dictionary, Neo’s face would be there. And that smile, good grief. His smile could bring a girl to her knees and warm her heart at the same time.
This whole trip was honestly the worst idea in the world.
“Looks like our wedding is heading out,” he said, turning toward the courtyard. Sure enough, the bride and groom were departing followed by the bridal party as they disappeared between two of the cottages.
“Can I get you anything else?” the waitress asked.
I looked at Neo curiously. It was still early, just before sunset. But we’d never actually eaten lunch, just some munchies at the wineries, so by the time we checked in, both Neo and I were starving. Or mostly me, maybe. Neo only said he was peckish. I, on the other hand, was ravenous. I couldn’t go a few hours without being hungry.
“We’re good,” he said when I didn’t jump in. It was probably for the best we went our separate ways. Back to the room or wherever. “I want to show you something,” he added after the server walked away.
Sounded promising.
I kept that retort in my head, for obvious reasons. If I were smart, I’d have run off to my own room already, alone. And yet, I found myself saying, “Does it have to do with the spa downstairs? If it does, count me in.”
This place was known as much for their spa as they were for the accommodations.
“It doesn’t, but what treatment would you get if it did?”
I didn’t hesitate for a second. “Are you kidding me? A massage. Duh.”
“Never had one, so I can’t say it was so obvious for me. Although I guess that makes sense. Women seem to love massages.”
Oh lord, did he mean to say it like that, so seductive? Whenever Neo and I drifted into what could be considered flirty territory, I had no idea how to respond.
“We do,” I said as Neo signed the credit card receipt. It felt weird to not even offer to pay, but he’d made it crystal clear in the truck. I wasn’t allowed to even leave a tip or buy a package of trail mix in a winery. He’d threatened to take my wallet if I did. It being a work trip and all.
I felt a bit like a kept woman. I chuckled over how much I wished the sex part of that were true, then realized he thought I was laughing at his massage comment. As always, he looked at me like a big brother would, partially amused by my antics and partially as if he wanted to bust my chops. Instead, he changed the topic.
“Do you remember Min trying to convince Cos and me to install wine taps in the Barn?”
