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“God, you say some weird shit,” I mutter. “But yeah, kind of.”
“You shared any personal details or pictures?” He raises his brows in question as he gives me a grin.
“No, that’s kinda the whole point of the app, isn’t it?”
“So like, no titty pics?” Jack sounds half disgusted and half disappointed and I can’t help but laugh.
“No, it’s kinda not our thing.”
“I thought tits were every guy’s thing?” Jack says and now I know he’s wondering what the hell is wrong with me.
“Whatever,” I say, waving his question away. “The point is, do you think I should be worried she doesn’t want to meet yet or should I let it go?”
Jack shrugs as he reaches for another tray of glasses to stack in the fridge. “I don’t know, I mean, maybe she’s nervous so yeah, she wants to wait. You could just continue to have fun chatting with her and see what happens.”
“You think?”
“Does make for lonely nights though,” Jack continues, as though he hasn’t even heard my question. “So, I guess your other option is to find someone else to have fun with while you wait for this chick to wanna hook up.”
“What?” I practically shout.
Jack laughs. “I mean, there’s no rule here, right? It’s not like you’re being exclusive or anything.”
“Well, I’m not chatting with anyone else, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Is she?” he asks, glancing over at me.
“I dunno,” I admit. “I’ve never asked.”
“Right,” Jack says. “So, just have some fun then.”
“With?” I ask, my eyes roaming the room as if to emphasize my point. Jack’s grin widens and I groan, because I know exactly what he’s going to say. “Don’t,” I say, holding up a hand to him. “Don’t even go there.”
“What?” he asks, his voice laced with mock innocence as he holds his arms out to me. “You know you fancy her. Just fucking ask her out?”
“Oh my fucking god, I don’t know why I bother.”
“Tommy, come on, seriously,” Jack starts, but the rest of whatever else he was about to say is cut off by Lauren running into the tasting room and throwing herself at Jack.
He immediately wraps her in his arms, kissing her enthusiastically as she tries to tell him something she’s clearly excited about. As weird as it is to stand here and watch them, it’s also hard to look away. Hard to not see what they have and want the same thing.
I turn back to the box of cider bottles, finish stacking them in the fridge as I gather up all the cardboard and head out the back to the recycling. As I flatten all the boxes, my mind turns over Jack’s comments, wondering if I should push meeting up with Wine Queen or just leave it and hope she comes around. I mean, it’s not like this whole sex drought is a new thing. I’ve been single for months now. Doesn’t mean I like it though.
After I throw the last of the boxes in, I grab my hat and puffer can from the shed and head into the orchard, making my way over to the beehives to check on how things are going.
I’m half-hoping Penny will be there, but I’m pretty sure she’s working now and when I reach the hives, I can see the place is deserted, nothing but the quiet hum of our bees filling the air.
Despite knowing I look ridiculous, I pull on the netted hat and spray the area with smoke, before lifting the lid of the first hive.
“Holy shit,” I say when I see just how much honey has now been made.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I carefully position the inserts and snap a couple of shots, before replacing them inside the hive. I check the others, amazed at how much has changed in the short time we’ve had them up and running.
Once I’m done, I pull off the stupid hat Penny enjoys laughing at me in and fire off a quick text, attaching a couple of the photos I’ve taken.
Me: check this out…might nearly be time to start making that mead you’ve been talking about.
Penny: holy shit! Our bees are making honey!
