CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Finn
We stood on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant, neither one of us knowing what to do next.
Instead of the fight we were expecting, Mike had greeted us warmly and invited us to watch him pack the delivery truck. We'd taken notes on what was coming, even opened a few of the cases to take photos of the bottle count with our phones.
All of the wines we'd ordered were packed and ready to be driven over right now. Mike had let us climb into the truck ourselves and double-check that he wasn't screwing us, then closed it up and locked it tight before following behind us back to the restaurant.
But we'd driven fast to get here first.
"So here it is," Jackson mused, staring at the handwritten list we'd made up at the vineyard. "I'm folding it up and putting it in my pocket right now, okay?"
I nodded and clenched my fists, looking into the restaurant.
Mike wasn't screwing us.
Which meant someone else was.
"Do we confront him?" Jackson asked.
I stopped pacing for a second to consider.
But I had no plan.
Not yet.
Kyle's silhouette passed across the window then paused. I clenched my fist and started to move, "I'm gonna fucking break his..."
"Hey!" Jackson grabbed me by the arm and spun me around. "We're not absolutely sure yet."
"I'm pretty fucking sure," I reminded him.
He grimaced. "I know. Me too. But we can't risk fucking everything over for just a hunch."
"So what are we supposed to do, just go ask him?" I hissed. I was pissed off, livid actually. At Kyle, at the situation.
But more than that, I was angry at myself.
"I don't know yet."
I paced in a tight circle. Kyle's shadow darkened the window again, and now I was sure he was watching. Probably wondering why we hadn't come in yet after our unexpected errand.
"Dude, we have to do something, or he's gonna get spooked."
I glanced back up again. The sound of heavy wheels and a squeaky axle made me sigh with relief even before I saw Bee's van bouncing its way down the street.
Bee rolled up next to us and peered out, and some of my agitation gave way upon seeing her sweet face.
"What are you boys doing out here?" she called.
"Waiting for you!" Jackson called back with a grin.
"Nice line," I muttered.
"Better than you," Jackson hissed back.
So I shoulder checked him out of the way and went to her first.
She came to me with a smile, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down for a long, deep kiss. I sighed against her mouth, pressing myself against her, pulling her small body as close to me as I possibly could. My hands traced the line of her curves, from the swell of her ripe, round ass, up the swaying curve of her back to cup her face. "I've missed you," I told her as I pulled away.
Jackson reached out and touched her face, and I stepped back, allowing the two of them to have their reunion, and if I was at all surprised by how okay I was with all of this, I was more surprised by how much I liked seeing my best friend so in love.
In love? Was that what this was?
I shook my head, trying to clear it. "I missed you too," Jackson told her, echoing my sentiment.
She chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "It's only been a day, guys. Geez."
I shook my head. "Yeah, but it's been a pretty shitty day."
She looked up at me, curious. "What's going on?"
I looked over at Jackson, who shrugged. ""We are not a hundred percent sure yet, baby girl. But if it's true..."
"We're fucked," I finished.
At that, we heard the sound of wheels crunching on the pavement, and turned to see another truck rolling down our street. Jasper Hill Winery was painted on the side in swooping purple script. From the driver's seat, Mike lifted two fingers off the steering wheel in greeting.
"Here we go," I muttered, waving back to him. "Should we go in?"
"Nah man, let him get it checked in," Jackson reminded me. "That's the whole fucking point."
"You've got the list?" I asked again.
"Yes," Jackson sighed. "I told you. I have it right here." He patted his pants pocket.
Bee was watching us with curious eyes, but she didn't ask any more questions, which made me want to kiss her even more than I already did.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. "I'm too fucking jumpy to hang around here," I told her. "Let's do something else. Before I punch a hole in the wall or something."
"What do you have in mind?" she asked, with a cheeky grin.
I turned, and waggled my eyebrows at her suggestively. "I know what will help get my mind off my troubles," I said, squeezing her by the waist.
She laughed and batted me in the chest. "How about we go for a walk instead?" she said.
"Sounds boring," I complained.
But she'd already twined her fingers in mine. "Come on," she urged. "You know I've lived here for four months now, and I've barely noticed there's a fucking lake right here?"
I laughed. This girl was the best. I freaking loved her.
Loved.
Jackson was laughing too. "You know something? I said basically the same thing to Finn this morning. It's like we all woke up from a trance and noticed the giant body of water down here today."
"It's pretty nice," Bee agreed, taking his hand. The three of us started walking all linked together this way, out on the wide, empty sidewalk where anyone could see.
And I didn't mind at all.
"So what have you been up to?" I asked her, squeezing her hand and lifting it to my lips.
She lifted her head proudly. "Helping a friend," she declared, with a big, beautiful smile.
"That's awesome," I told her.
"In fact," she went on, musing. "I've been meaning to ask you guys about her. You think you could do me a favor?"
"Anything," I said, at the same time that Jackson said, "Whatever you want." I glared at him for interrupting.
"You guys are the best," she sighed, resting her head on my shoulder as we made our way down to the pebbly shoreline.
"I know," Jackson declared. I reached behind Bee's head to smack him in the shoulder. She laughed and ducked as he launched himself towards my waist, sending me staggering several steps backwards. "Hey!" she called. "Don't kill each other until I tell you what I need!"
"Sorry," Jackson grunted, stepping back and wiping his hands across the front of his shirt.
"I think you broke my rib," I complained, delving at a tender place in my side.
"Is this what I have to deal with from now on?" Bee complained, rolling her eyes heavenward.
A wide grin spread over my face. I looked at Jackson, who gave a quick nod. "Yup," I told her.
And then we both tackled her to the ground.