Page 49 of Love Unspoken

"No," I said sincerely. "I broke up with Ann."

"And? You think Naya will be your rebound, you asshole?"

"No, fuck no. I'm…I feel something. I feel something for her."

I heard Darren release an elaborate sigh. "Her favorite Cab Franc is…are you writing this down?"

"Yes."

He told me the names of her favorite wines and what else he thought she'd like. "She doesn't care how much it costs. She only cares how it tastes."

"As I'd expect her to." Yeah, she wouldn't give a shit if a wine cost fifty or five dollars. For Naya, I was starting to learn it would be about what was inside and how she felt about it.

"Westbrook, she doesn't deserve any more pain."

"I know."

"What the fuck do you think you know?"

"I know she was in an accident. I know she has scars. I'm not going to ask you to tell me about any of this. I want her to trust me and tell me."

There was silence on Darren's side and then another spate of coughing.

"If she trusts you, you’d be the luckiest man alive."

"I know. Thanks, Darren."

"Don't disappoint me 'cause I will come and fuck you up…if I live through this virus."

"And I'll deserve it," I admitted.

I liked wine, but I was no expert. I knew someone who was.

I took Hayes to Back Bay Wine Spirits and Craft Beer.

"You ended one relationship and you're jumping into another."

"I've been trying to end it with Ann for a few weeks now," I confessed.

"Then why didn't you?"

"I didn't want to hurt her feelings and as you said it was easy to be in a relationship with her."

"You and I have very different ideas of what's easy." He picked up a bottle of Cab Franc. "Naya will like this."

I looked at the label Sadie Family Mev. Kirsten Chenin Blanc 2022. I'd just have to trust Hayes. I had already picked up the Cab Franc Darren had recommended but the Chenin Blanc he'd told me Naya would like wasn't in the store.

"I've known Ann for years."

"And you still dated her? There is no accounting for bad taste."

"She said that she noticed how I watched Naya. I did, didn't I?"

Hayes picked up another bottle of wine and looked at it. "You did."

"How come I never saw it?"

"Because she's not your type. Or rather you think she's not your type. The truth is, Amias, you've never tried to find out what your type is. You've been too busy growing your business. You'd have some sex here and there, and then Ann would rope you back right in. I've got to say for a woman as self-obsessed as Ann, I'm surprised she noticed your attention was wandering."