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“Jack!” Lauren calls out, smacking him on the arm again. “Have you not listened to anything she’s said?” She shakes her head and mouths the words “I’m sorry” to me, like I’m actually bothered by Jack’s suggestion. I’m not, far from it, because after working with Jack for more than a year now, I know he has the best of intentions. “And anyway, how rude of you to suggest that Penny join an app that has no pictures of the people, like she isn’t absolutely adorable.”
“Take it easy, Lu,” Jack says, his hands held up defensively as he uses his sweet little nickname for her. “I was simply suggesting she join because she is so pretty and maybe this would actually attract a better quality of men.” He’s firm in his words, defending himself and making me feel good in the process. I’ll take the compliment.
“Or maybe it would attract an even worse group,” Lauren laments, wrinkling up her nose in disgust.
“Well, it’s not like I’ve had the best luck on my own. I should have Jack create my profile and vet everyone that comes through,” I joke, but bordering on serious. Maybe he would do better than I could. “But like I said before, no guys. I’m done for a while.”
I flit my hand, brushing off the idea of using a dating app or dating in general. This is a great time to focus on myself and figure out if running the tasting room at Somerville’s is something I see myself doing long-term or if there’s something better out there.
One thing I know is California is where I was meant to live. No more cold New England winters or shoveling snow, and as of right now I can’t see myself ever wanting to leave Somerville’s.
“Well, I gotta get to work,” I announce, even though I’m several hours early for my shift. The grounds here are absolutely beautiful and I love that Lauren, Jack or Ellen don’t think it’s weird that I come in early and wander the property. I swear each day I’m here I find something new I love about it, especially now that the orchard next door has been purchased and the cider production is nearly up and running.
“You’re three hours early,” Lauren says, winking at me. “You going to stroll around and take it all in?” She knows how much I love it here, because not a day goes by that she isn’t doing the exact same thing.
She and Jack were married under her favorite tree, a tree that holds all her childhood memories from growing up at this vineyard. I’ve found her just sitting on the handmade swing that hangs from its branches on a number of occasions. But while she loves the tree and the swing and all the quiet stillness of it being away from the hustle and bustle of tourists, I love the small lake that sits in the middle of the property.
In the mornings when my life feels crazy and whatever guy I’m dating has pushed me over the edge, I sit down by the lake and just relax. It’s like the entire outside world disappears, leaving me with the stillness of the water and just the sounds of nature.
“I’m going to read a book by the lake,” I tell Lauren, smiling at the fact that most people are confined to an office at their job. Most people don’t have the luxury of walking outside and finding some of the most beautiful scenery in all of California.
I live in a tiny apartment above an Italian restaurant in downtown Napa. It’s noisy and touristy and smells like pasta sauce twenty-four hours a day. Somerville’s is my sanctuary.
I tell Lauren and Jack goodbye and just as I’m about to leave their office Tommy Andrews, one of the property maintenance guys, walks by calling into me through the open window.
“Good, you’re here!” he yells. “I need you to grab the delivery that just came in. It’s shit that needs to be stocked in the tasting room.” He’s harsh and bossy and sometimes I just want to flip him off, but it’s also fun to give him shit.
“I don’t start for another three hours,” I call back.
“Then what the hell are you doing here?” he asks, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head at me.
“Not everyone can be as much of a go-getter as you, Tommy!” I yell, giving him a playful smile, but he regards me with an annoyed look.
He storms off, but he also knows I’ll get everything done as soon as my shift starts and we’ve come to this mutual agreement that he can tell me what to do, but I just tend to ignore him.
“You know, he’s single,” Lauren says with hesitation, but still a little more hopeful than I would like.
Jack again hits us with a hearty laugh. “There’s a reason he’s single.”
Jack and Tommy didn’t always get along and I get why. Lauren, Ellen and Tommy have been friends since they were kids. He’s protective of them and saw Jack as someone who was looking to cash in on Lauren’s success. Turns out he couldn’t have been more wrong, and he did eventually apologize to Jack, making things far less tense out here.
“I gotta agree with Jack on this one, Lauren,” I say, even though Tommy is good-looking, pretty hot actually with his muscular body and disheveled dark curly hair, and those striking green eyes. But he’s all work and no play, far too stuffy and demanding. Not my kind of guy by any means, because I no longer have a type.
No guys means no looking.
No guys means no dating apps.
Can I really do this?
Maybe Jack has a point? Maybe I do need to put aside what the person looks like and focus on what they have to offer? Fuck knows I haven’t based any of my past boyfriends on their ability to hold down a conversation. I deserve better than that.
And as I sit down by the lake, I find myself looking up this dating app before my ass has even hit the bench.
What the hell am I doing?
Chapter Two
Tommy
