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“Sure,” Neo said, “we totally remember that one specific instance. As if it didn’t happen every other week.”
“Hey, asshole—” Marco stopped and turned to his mother, “—sorry, Mom—” then back to Neo, “—if you let me finish.”
With a wave of his hand, Neo indicated Marco should continue.
“That blonde from Syracuse. I went to visit you in college,” he told Neo, “and met her at—”
“I’d prefer not to hear that part,” Arlene said.
“Fair enough,” Marco said. “She was an only child, and Mom, I remember you made lasagna. And Min threatened to stab Neo in his hand with the fork if he took the last piece.”
“As if I hadn’t made two lasagnas,” his mother said.
“Apparently, she didn’t realize that. I think you scared the hell out of that girl, Min. She was worried about being attacked with a fork.”
“I’ve never actually stabbed anyone”—Min gave Marco a sheepish look—“yet.”
“That’s not actually true,” I threw in.
Min looked blankly at me. And then remembered. “That was totally not intentional.”
“My sister was making a s’more,” Cos told Brooke. “She tripped and her stick put a hole in Marco’s forearm.”
Marco held up his arm. “I have the scar to prove it.”
Brooke winced, “Ouch.”
For an hour we traded stories, and I nearly forgot about being Neo’s girlfriend. I was just a part of the Grado family, Min’s best friend. Why had I worried so fiercely about his parents being disappointed in the prospect of Neo and me? Clearly, judging by their reaction, I’d worried for nothing. At one point his mother caught my attention and winked, just as her son did often.
“Told you,” Neo whispered into my ear.
“You were right,” I whispered back.
“What are these, by the way?” Cos asked, picking up a charm.
I exchanged a glance with Neo. How incredibly thoughtful it was of him to buy them, though I didn’t know when he’d snuck back to the store. “I saw them in downtown Skaneateles and almost bought them. I’m a sucker for anything with a quote or saying on it. I was thinking of using them as a model for our own, which could potentially be given to wine club members. Maybe with a word or saying on one side and GVV on the back.”
“I love that idea.” Brooke leaned forward to take one. “We could use them in other ways too, I think. This one says ‘believe.’ It’s so perfect.”
“Take it,” I said, stepping forward and grabbing the others. I handed Arlenestrength. “This one should be yours. I don’t know a stronger woman alive.”
She took it, thanked me, and said, “I do.”
It was clear she meant me, but I absolutely refused to cry right now.
“And for you,” I said, giving one to Min. “Courage.” While the others might not know the meaning behind that one, Min and I did. It was perfect for her.
“Which one did you keep?” Neo asked. I held open my hand so he could see. “Love.” And then the man full-on kissed me, in front of his family.
We were going to have to talk about his penchant for PDA. But not today. Kissing him felt too damn good.
TWENTY-NINE
neo
I was aboutto open the door to Thayle’s house, on the outskirts of town, when a memory flooded back. The last time I’d been on this doorstep, just a few weeks ago, my life had been completely different. I was happy enough—pleased by the harvest and ready for a much-needed break, and thus embracing the idea of the tour. But the anger I’d felt at seeing Thayle in Garrett’s arms should have been a catalyst.
Why hadn’t I made a move sooner?
