“Taking the plunge,” Thayle smiled.
Min sighed. “We want, I want, to take him seriously. It’s just, like you said. His reputation. And he doesn’t seem to take anything seriously himself.”
“Except the brewery,” Thayle added quietly.
“Except the brewery,” Min agreed.
All three of us were silent, each, I assumed, thinking different things. I couldn’t say for sure what Min and Thayle were feeling right now, but for me, though I was marginally comforted since Min pulled me by the hand into the Barn, things still felt shitty.
Marco’s embrace with that woman was more than just one cozy scene I’d witnessed. Knowing him, knowing his reputation...would it always be like this? That lingering doubt about Marco and other women? Would he ever really be satisfied with just one? Just me?
It was a question I hadn’t wanted to think too carefully on until now. I’d just been enjoying myself, letting Marco be there to lean on as I found my way here in the valley. But maybe I leaned on him too much.
Maybe it was time for me to find my own way...all by myself.
THIRTY
marco
“Marco, you’ve barely said a word.”
Eight faces stared back at me at my mother’s words. Of all nights for a family dinner...if my parents weren’t just back from vacation, I’d have made an excuse not to come. But that would only raise red flags that I had no desire to discuss.
“I’m just tired,” I said, to which Min looked at me a little too hard. As if maybe she knew why Rae canceled on me this afternoon.
“Min,” I said, knowing I shouldn’t. Not in front of everyone. But that little shit knew something. “What are you not saying?”
Like ping pong balls, everyone’s head turned to my sister who was sitting between Dad and Hudson at the other end of the table. Neo reached forward for another meatball and Brooke asked if he could pass the grated cheese.
“Let’s talk after dinner,” Min said, all but admitting she did know something.
“Let’s talk now,” I countered, “they’ll find out soon enough.”
“Find out what?” my dad asked.
“I’ve been dating Rachel Watson. The daughter of Howard Watson from Sunset.”
“Oh dear,” my mother motioned for Brooke to hand her the cheese.
“She’s nothing like her father,” I headed off the obvious question. “Actually, he’s not involved at all in the business.”
“I did get the sense he was more of a silent partner,” Dad refilled his water glass.
“He is. Or was. He went into business with an old friend—”
“Jerry Reed,” my mother finished.
“Yes. But he only did it because Rae—”
“Who’s Rae?” Dad asked.
“Rachel,” Thayle said. “That’s her nickname. She’s really nice. And super smart too.”
“And still with you?” Dad teased. Usually, I didn’t care about being the butt of everyone’s laughter. I brought it on myself. But tonight, it irked me.
“Maybe not,” I said irritably.
“Come on, Marco,” Cos said, as if disappointed. “What did you do?”