I looked down at the vineyard for a second, watching the workers move.
“I want him there,” I said quietly. “I do. As much as I’m still mad he almost killed my man… I want him to see me. To know I made the right choice.”
Orim didn’t interrupt.
“But I just don’t know if I trust him not to ruin it,” I added. “I don’t know if I want that angry version of him around Elias. He doesn’t deserve to be a part of any stress.”
“You already sound like a mom,” she said.
I nodded once. “Yeah.”
She reached over and squeezed my arm once.
“Call him,” she said. “Or don’t. But stop sitting in the middle.”
I looked at her.
“You’re so aggressive.”
“And you’re so avoidant,” she shot back.
“Wow.”
“Am I wrong?”
I opened my mouth then I closed it.
“…no.”
“Exactly.”
“Girl, fuck you.”
She stuck out her tongue and stepped back, putting her sunglasses back on fully.
“I’m going inside to fix your seating chart before I assign your ex to sit next to y’all on purpose.”
“You my ex, dumby.”
“Oh yeah...”
I watched her walk off, shaking my head. Then I looked down at my phone, exhaled and hit call.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
Of course.
I swallowed, lifting the phone closer.
“Hey…” I started, then paused. I hadn’t actually planned what I was going to say. Which was probably for the best.
