Page 32 of Give Me a Reason

Bosque Verde was simply breathtaking. Anne wanted Joe and Coraline’s bachelor-slash-bachelorette weekend to be perfect, so she had spent countless hours searching for the perfect location, and she’d found it.

Even as she blushed at the smug thought, she truly believed she’d outdone herself.

Then she blushed harder because she had a selfish motive for choosing this particular location.

She’d lived in California for more than twenty years, but she’d never visited Bosque Verde despite wanting to for as long as she could remember.

Well, she had left for Seoul soon after she turned twenty-one and had only returned less than six months ago.

She shouldn’t feel too bad about neglecting it until now.

Even so, she couldn’t help feeling a little bad because she’d been missing out.

Anne intended to make up for not visiting this gem sooner by enjoying this trip to the fullest. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a real vacation. Besides, her motives weren’t purely selfish.

Bosque Verde was drenched in romance. The bride and groom wouldn’t be able to help but fall even more in love with each other.

With over two hundred wineries, the scenic wine country would also provide the perfect escape for their party of hardworking professionals and students.

They would have every opportunity to properly unwined during their long weekend here.

“Let the Galentine’s-Valentine’s-Bachelor-Bachelorette-Presidents’-Day-Weekend party begin.” Bethany whooped, swinging her fist in the air.

“I prefer to call it the Let’s-Drink-a-Shit-Ton-of-Wine party,” Tessa groused from next to Anne in the back seat.

“Same difference,” Bethany said, undeterred, maneuvering up the winding dirt road to their B&B with one hand. “Besides, wine drinking is a given. We’re in the premier wine country of the Central Coast. I doubt they even have water here.”

“Either one works for me, as long as it doesn’t turn into a Soon-to-Be-Bride-Dies-in-a-Tragic-Car-Crash party.

” Coraline grabbed her younger sister’s hand from the air and placed it firmly back on the steering wheel.

It was probably a wise call. The narrow, unpaved road was very bumpy, and they were climbing a steep hill.

“So please get us to the B&B in one piece.”

Anne laughed at their antics as she peered out the window. She couldn’t get enough of the beautiful view. The recent barrage of rain in California had turned its hills and valleys lush and green, and an abundance of grapevines dotted the land in satisfyingly neat rows and columns.

And the weather gods had smiled upon them this weekend because there wasn’t a single rain cloud in sight. But honestly, she agreed with Bethany and Tessa—a glass of wine would be the perfect accompaniment to this trip.

“You’re quiet. Well, more quiet than usual.” Her sister leaned close to her. “Something on your mind?”

“Oh, this and that.” With this being Frederick and that also being Frederick.

Anne hadn’t seen him, or heard from him, since Christmas night. He obviously hadn’t sought her out. She ignored the unreasonable disappointment sinking her stomach. It made sense that he hadn’t reached out to her. Why would he? She hadn’t reached out to him either.

But she thought about him often , her heart breaking every time his words echoed through her mind. You wrecked me when you left me. Years of his life left in shambles because of her. She would give anything for a chance to make it up to him.

She couldn’t help but remember how he’d enveloped her in his arms, pressing her against the wall of his chest, and how his husky voice had caressed her name later. Her hand rose to her throat as a shiver ran down her spine, a rush of restless desire sweeping through her.

It didn’t mean anything. All she’d done was give Frederick the closure he needed.

And closure meant the end, not a new beginning…

The best she could hope for was that her confession would thaw his icy anger toward her and make being around each other—which was unavoidable, thanks to Coraline and Joe’s wedding—a little less harrowing.

But no matter how much she told herself this, her heart had other, more wildly hopeful, ideas.

At any rate, she couldn’t tell her little sister any of that, so she settled for murmuring, “I’m just distracted by this view.”

“Mm-hmm.” Tessa nodded, her mind already elsewhere.

Anne brushed aside her disappointment that her sister didn’t really care what was on her mind. She sighed, impatient with herself. It was her job to care for her younger sister, not the other way around. It wouldn’t hurt to be cared for in return , a small voice said inside her.

She ignored the voice and asked, “How’s everything going with you?”

Tessa’s shoulders sagged, her expression suddenly haggard. “My advisor doesn’t like any of my dissertation ideas. She’s being so picky.”

“It can’t be all that bad.” Anne squeezed her sister’s hand. “Professor Peterson has always been so supportive of you. She probably wants to make sure you succeed.”

“Yeah, I know.” Tessa squeezed Anne’s hand back. “It’s stressful now, but it’ll all be worth it in the end.”

“Attagirl.” Anne wrapped her arm around Tessa, and she dropped her head on her shoulder. “You’re not my smarty-pants sister for nothing.”

“Thank you.” Her sister snuggled closer to her. “I don’t know how I managed all these years without you. It’s so good to have you home, Unni.”

“I’m happy to be home, kiddo.” Anne kissed the top of Tessa’s head.

Leaving Frederick was the biggest mistake of her life, but she’d made the right choice in accepting that role in Korea.

Anne had taken care of her baby sister just as she’d promised her mom.

She probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive herself if she’d stood by and done nothing while their family home was repossessed.

She and her sisters had grown up in that house.

It was the last place her mom had lived.

She couldn’t regret protecting those memories.

And maybe moving on from the past wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. She loved Frederick and would always love him, but he’d made it clear he didn’t want her back. She had to respect his wishes.

Hadn’t she already done enough damage? You wrecked me. She blew out a shaky breath. Anne would never be whole without him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find happiness in other ways. That didn’t mean she would always have to be alone.

“Ladies,” Bethany said, “I think we’re here.”

“We sure are,” Anne breathed, staring at the stunning sight outside.

The hacienda was even more gorgeous than it had been in the pictures. The afternoon sun warmed its smooth white walls and stained its tiled roof a golden red, giving the villa an otherworldly air. And the beautiful vineyards stretching past the hacienda added to its boundless charm.

The four of them rushed out of the car to get a better look at the two-story hacienda and the vineyards surrounding it. They were all speechless for a moment, gaping at their home away from home. An incredulous giggle bubbled out of Tessa, breaking the shocked silence.

“Holy shit.” Coraline covered her mouth with her hands. “You went all out. Anne, how much…”

“Please don’t worry about that.” Anne squeezed her cousin’s arm.

“But—”

“Zip it, Cora.” The maid of honor stepped in, frowning menacingly at the cringing bride. “Stop worrying, okay? Everyone pitched in. No one’s going bankrupt. And this isn’t just for you and Joe. We’re all going to enjoy this trip.”

“Damn straight.” Tessa bumped her fist against Bethany’s, then they bumped hips for good measure. “Luxury and debauchery shall be ours.”

“Woot-woot.” The girls swiveled their hips and moved their bodies in an appropriately hedonistic dance.

“Oh, fine.” Coraline threw her hands up in surrender and joined in the dance. “Let’s live it up, ladies!”

Anne shook her head with indulgent affection while she scanned the driveway for the tenth time.

It wasn’t as though she could miss an entire car in the small, flat driveway, but she looked again anyway.

Nope, he’s still not here. She couldn’t decide whether she was relieved or disappointed. Probably a little of both.

Once the girls were done dancing, Anne punched in the security code and led them inside the hacienda.

She sighed dreamily as she walked down the hallway into the living room.

The cream, yellow, and brick-red interior was as luxurious as it was warm and welcoming.

From the exquisite area rugs to the tasteful paintings adorning the walls, someone had decorated this place with care and affection.

“It’s hard to believe this is a vacation rental.” Anne ran her hand over the soft leather of the couch. She didn’t even blush as she said, “I really have outdone myself.”

Three pairs of astounded eyes landed on her. Bethany was the first to regain her ability to speak. “Did our perfect, angelic unni just boast ?”

“She did.” Tessa frowned in confusion, then her lips slowly spread into a huge grin. “She did .”

“Girls.” Coraline sniffed, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. “She’s human after all.”

“Oh, get over yourselves.” Anne laughed past her embarrassment. There was nothing wrong with being human. It actually felt pretty good being a little boastful… being a little selfish. It felt good to take up space.

“Who are you? And what have you done with my sister?” Tessa deadpanned, and their cousins chortled.