Page 15

Avery stared down at the table, her lips in a tight line. Well, this might be it for their flirting lessons.

“I don’t really want to talk about this, but fine,” she said eventually. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do when it comes toflirting. And I guess I’m worried that people will say—in so many words—‘why the hell areyoutalking tome,’ and then just turn around and walk away.”

Taylor laughed softly.

“Ah, so just a perfectly normal fear of rejection, got it. And I totally understand. But the thing about flirting with people—and about making friends, for that matter, since I know that’s something else you want to do—is that you have to put yourself out there. Which is hard. But also worth it, because you don’t get anything if you don’t try. Remember that you’re in the driver’s seat in this, too. It’s not all about you putting yourself out there and waiting for people to reject you—part of this is for you to get more comfortable talking to people, so you can decide if they’re even worth your time. Like, do you want to keep talking tothem? Trust your instincts with people.”

Avery shook her head.

“No. My instincts are off. I have a terrible ex-boyfriend, remember?”

Now Taylor was even more determined to help Avery find the great new girlfriend she deserved.

“Yeah, but didn’t you know in your heart that he was terrible? And you ignored your instincts? This is what I mean: listen to yourself next time. Like, think about the people you talked to tonight. There were conversations that went better than others, weren’t there?”

Avery thought for a moment, then nodded.

“I guess so. Especially one woman I talked to in line to get the books. She’s new to Napa, she moved here with her fiancée and doesn’t know anyone, and she talked about maybe doing a class at the local community garden, which I didn’t even know existed.And she sort of invited me to go along with her, but then it was her turn to pay, so I’m not sure if she was serious, or…”

“Go!” Taylor said. “Yeah, you don’t know if she was serious, but isn’t it better to go and maybe do something fun, rather than stay home out of fear? This is low stakes, it’s a gardening class. If it’s weird or whatever, you just leave! And I get it, rejection sucks and is scary. But the only thing to make it less scary is to face it, over and over.”

Avery put her head in her hands.

“That sounds terrible.”

“I know. But really, that’s how you learn that it’s not all that bad, that life will go on afterward. So, okay, some of our lessons have to work on that fear of rejection. I have some ideas about how we’ll do that.”

Avery raised her head. She looked alarmed, as Taylor had known she would.

“And might I ask what those ideas are?”

Taylor grinned.

“You can certainlyask.”

Avery groaned.

Three

Taylor’s phone buzzed in herpocket as she left the winery on Thursday evening. She glanced at it to see texts from Erica.

Erica

You free for dinner? if so, come over!

Or wait, are you busy? have I already won the bet?

Taylor rolled her eyes.

Taylor

I am free for dinner, but if I wasn’t that wouldn’t mean you won. having dinner with someone does not equal sleeping with them

Erica responded to that before Taylor had even gotten to her car.

Erica

When it’s you it does.