AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So what happened today?”
“I confronted her in her office. Told her she had to confess to Min, today. And sis overheard.”
“You are such a colossal idiot. Did you really give her an ultimatum?”
I thought back to the conversation. “Not really. I mean, sort of. I just really wanted it out in the open. I don’t give a shit about the no-fraternization policy, Cos,” I warned him. “We are two consenting adults who’ve known each other all our lives. I’ve loved her for years, and I won’t rush a proposal just for the sake of appearances.”
Cos gave me a pointed look. “I won’t take offense.”
“Good, because I don’t mean any. You guys were a totally different story. Brooke had to know you were serious about having her remain in your life. She needed a reason to remain here, at Grado. Thayle knows that already. She knows me as well as anyone. To be honest, I’m still so fucking surprised she feels the same way about me that it feels like...” This was as deep of a conversation about women as Cos and I had ever had. And at the risk of sounding like a goofball, I’d say it anyway. “It feels like I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Cos looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s not a great look, with the employer thing and all, but who am I to judge? And you’re right, it is a different scenario. I’m just glad the two of you figured it out before we had to intervene. Brooke and I were debating about our next move if you didn’t. Talk about awkward.”
The thought of Cosimo playing matchmaker made me laugh, despite the fact that I felt more on edge as every second passed. “They should be done talking by now. Thayle insisted on doing it alone.”
Cos threw up his hands. “Don’t look at me to explain it. I’m still trying to learn the ins and outs of Brooke Ellis. Not putting your girl on my plate too.”
My girl.
I liked the sound of that. With luck, I hadn’t screwed everything up by shooting my mouth off in her office. What if Min was as upset as Thayle thought she would be? I’d dismissed the idea out of hand, but I was starting to wonder if I’d misjudged the situation.
Finally, just as I was about to ask Cos if he would taste some wines with me, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket to see a text from Thayle.
We’re done.
TWENTY-SIX
thayle
“Maybe you should close the door,”I told Min as she watched Neo leave. She did and then came to sit down by me. “Is anyone out there?”
“Not at the moment, no. The new private tasting room chairs came, but the delivery people are gone. And I doubt we’ll get customers this early.”
Just after opening, on a Monday in November? It definitely would be slow. I’d be a fool to ignore the obvious: there would be no better opportunity than this.
While I was not thrilled about how this was going down, I knew Neo was right. I’d been delaying the inevitable.
Taking a breath, I blurted it all out at once.
“I’ve had a crush on Neo since middle school.” Letting her take that in, I waited for Min’s jaw to drop. When it didn’t, and she just waited for me to finish, I forged ahead. “I never told you because I didn’t want it to be awkward. Everyone said I was like the second Grado sister, so the whole thing was rather, I dunno, weird. As if I was doing something wrong. But I couldn’t help it. I thought it would go away, but it never did.”
“Never?” Min asked. She didn’t seem like she was going to murder me, but she’d only heard part of the story.
“I mean, maybe a teeny bit when he went away to college, or when I was dating someone but...” Who was I kidding? “No, it really didn’t.”
I could read Min like a book. She didn’t seem upset. Like, at all.
“So what happened last week?” Her smile was slight, but knowing, and suddenly I wanted to cry. To throw myself in my friend’s arms and ask how I deserved her. She was not mad, just curious.
“We sort of figured out that we both felt the same way.”
Min did get upset then, crossing her arms. “And you didn’t tell me the second you came back because...?”
This one was tougher. “Neo wanted to, but I convinced him to wait. So that I could find the right time.” Tears began to well in my eyes then. “I was so scared. Of having lied to you for so long. Of you being upset with me or thinking that’s the kind of person I am, one who could sustain a lie for nearly ten years.” Forget welling, the tears fell down my cheeks. I was full-on crying and couldn’t stop them. “I was terrified you might disown me.”
Min rushed over to my side, holding me as I sat in the chair, her arms so familiar from having grown up with her, her scent one I associated with childhood. The dam really burst then. And I told her what I’d kept from Neo.
“I worried I wasn’t worthy of being a real part of the family. He says he loves me, Min.” I twisted closer to her in the chair, soaking my poor friend’s sweater. “And I love him, so much. But I work here, and he’s my boss, and—” I couldn’t talk any longer.
