Page 42 of Love Among Vines

The entitlement in Nate’s voice would have been detectable from the opposite shore of the twenty-mile-long lake.

Scooter looked at Rett, who shook his head.

“No, you’re not,” Scooter said. “Now I suggest you leave the premises. Unless you’d rather leave in handcuffs.”

“This is discrimination,” Nate announced to the crowd. “You’re all witnesses.”

“The last time I checked, ‘Douchebag Status’ was not a protected class in the state of New York.”

That was Gemma, who had come to stand next to Cindy.

Nate tried to juke around Rett, but he blocked him.

“Jade,” he said, barely visible peeking over Rett’s shoulder.

“I know you don’t want this—whatever this is—with this guy, or with the others.

I know it’s not serious. You want a relationship.

You want love. And you had that with me.

You could have it again. We could have a future together. You need me.”

Jade’s fingers clenched tightly. “And you think I’m going to find what I’m looking for with you, a cheating fuckboy with less remorse than your average serial killer?”

“Come on,” Nate called. “You know we belong together. You’re not like other girls, Jade. You’re different—alive, colorful, wild. We would be unstoppable together. Come with me. Let’s go home.” He extended a hand toward her.

Rett’s shoulders tensed.

It would take fifteen spiral-bound notebooks to unpack all the insanity in his last comment.

“Let’s get something straight here.” Jade stepped out from behind Rett and drew herself up to her full height.

“First of all, I’m exactly like other girls. Women are powerful, beautiful, wonderful beings who have had to deal with toxic men like you pitting us against each other for our entire lives.” She took a step closer to him, filled with a deep rage.

“You use people. You chew them up and spit them out when they don’t serve you anymore, or when the interest fades away. Even Ashley, who’s about to be a whole-ass doctor. Nothing and no one will ever be enough for you. I realize that now.”

She took another step. Rett’s hand landed on her shoulder, and she dropped her pointy rage finger.

“Even if I’ve forgotten it at some point in the past two years, I am smart. I’m capable. I’m worthy of love, of partnership. But I don’t want any of those things with you. And I definitely don’t need you. Now get the fuck out of my town before I shatter a wine bottle over your over-inflated head.”

“She’s threatening me. You all heard it,” Nate said to the crowd.

“Anyone hear Jade say something?” Scooter asked.

Ted from the bakery shook his head. “Not a word. You might need to get your hearing checked, son.”

Others in the crowd shook their heads too.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Elena said, pushing her way into the circle. She must have finished up her shift at the hospital.

Nate took a step back, eyes darting from one side of the crowd to the other. “She doesn’t love you,” he said, one shaking finger pointed to Rett. “You’ll see.”

Scooter pulled his baton from his utility belt.

Nate eyed it up and took a step back, then another, before he dove through the crowd and beelined for the lake.

“And stay out!” Scooter called after him.

The crowd dispersed. Rett stared off in the direction that Nate left as if to make sure the scoundrel never returned.

Margie came up to Jade and clasped her cheeks in both hands. “You all right, sweet pea?”

Jade nodded. The adrenaline was starting to wear off. And she had just aired her dirty laundry to the entire town.

“I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up here,” she muttered.

“Well, you’d be a hard one to let go,” Margie said with a pointed glance at Rett. He didn’t seem to notice as he was still scanning the crowd.

“Speaking of which,” she continued, “did I hear you call this place ‘your town’? Does that mean you’re thinking about staying?”

Rett stopped his scanning and turned around. Their eyes locked.

Jade hesitated. If she was being honest with herself, she had seen a glimmer of a different life here, full of possibility.

It would be insane to uproot her entire life and move to a tiny town five hours away.

She couldn’t give up the only home she had ever known to chase some belief that there was magic and promise in this glacier-carved lake.

Hammondsport didn’t have Michelin-star restaurants or world-renowned art museums. There was no Broadway, no subway, no real public transportation to speak of.

And yet, it could be beautiful. The entire town had just rallied around her when her evil ex-boyfriend rolled into town.

They knew her name, greeted her on the street.

There could be a yard for Penny. Backpack cheese and wine.

Real friends. A book club. She could leave the anonymity of the city behind and become a part of something that was technically smaller, but bigger and richer in so many important ways. A place where she truly belonged.

And of course, Hammondsport had Rett. But what if he didn’t want her to stay? Or if she did stay, but he didn’t want to be with her? Could she live in the same town as him and watch as he fell in love with someone else?

Their agreement was always meant to be temporary. But the last few days hadn’t felt temporary. They felt like a calling.

Shit. She should probably say something.

Jade deflated. “I don’t know. Nothing is set in stone.”

“Well,” Margie said with a sad smile. “The guest house is yours for as long as you want it. I’d love to have you long-term. We always have room for another server at the café if you need to start over.”

“Thank you, Margie.” Jade squeezed her hand.

Margie was so similar to her mom. Truly kind, generous to a fault. Willing to bend over backward for someone in need, even if they were just the random artist behind their favorite muffin painting. She was remarkable.

Rett slid a hand around her waist and pulled her in. She leaned her head on his shoulder. The confrontation had taken a lot out of her.

“I have an idea,” he announced.

“Hmm?” she asked.

“Why don’t we pack up early?” He turned to the crowd of friends around them. Damian and Tom had appeared out of nowhere. “I’ll get the grill out. We can do a cookout at my place like we used to.”

Jade straightened up. Had Mr. Workaholic just suggested closing up shop early?

Cindy’s eyes sparkled. “Absolutely. We’ll get the meat.”

“I’ve got buns and condiments,” Damian chimed in.

Elena bit her lip. “I should really get back to my abuela.”

“Bring her,” Rett said. “I’ve got a whole case of that pinot she likes.”

“Sold. I’ll bring my abuela and some street corn salad.” Elena set off like she was on a mission.

Tom came up to Rett and grabbed him by the face. He kissed him full on the mouth before announcing, “We’re slapping the bag tonight, mate.”

“No way,” Rett said with a chuckle.

“Yes, we are,” Tom said. “Relax, I’ll put it in the esky.” He pointed at the cooler. “I’m not an animal.”

“So what do we bring?” Jade said to Rett as Tom disappeared in the direction of home.

“Sides,” he said.

“You’re not worried about getting back to the winery?”

He shook his head. “I think the crew can handle it. Most of the foot traffic is down here anyway. Don’t make me second-guess it.”

“No, no,” she said hurriedly. “Let’s go.”

They packed the remainder of the wine into the truck. Silence fell as they buckled their seatbelts. How would she even begin to unpack what had just happened?

“I’m sorry about the Nate thing,” she said.

Maybe that was what had temporarily rendered him speechless.

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re apologizing again.”

Shit.

“Right—uh, never mind. Events transpired today, and I won’t apologize for them because they weren’t my fault.”

“Exactly. It’s not like you asked him to come.”

She considered the ripples on the water as they rounded the tip of the lake. “I would have sooner invited my Great-Aunt Mildred who was notorious for turning a day trip into a month-long stay.”

Rett smiled. “As annoying as it was to see your ex-boyfriend today, I was really glad to hear some of the things you said to him.”

“What do you mean? I mostly just threatened him with violence.”

“You said you were worthy of love and partnership. That’s what I wanted for you to remember.”

“Well, you’ve ruined one-night stands for me. Now I want a relationship again. Do you know how much harder that’s going to make my life?”

“It’s what you deserve,” he said quietly.

“A difficult life?” She raised an eyebrow.

“No. Love.”

Her heart staggered in her chest. He wasn’t saying what she thought he was saying. Was he?