AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right,” Jack says sarcastically. “Because you had nothing better to do.”
I wave him away as I push off the car, needing to walk away before he starts talking about last night. It had been weird enough him and Lauren walking in and seeing us there and the last thing I need is a debrief from him now about exactly what happened.
“Well, while you’re here,” Jack says, falling into step beside me. “Maybe you can help with some stuff over at Apple Jacks?”
I glance sideways at him, wondering if this is for real or just some excuse. “Sure, what do you need done?”
Jack waves a hand in the direction of the cider house. “Just moving some stuff to get ready for the opening. But that’s not important,” he says, grinning at me. “What’s important is what the hell you and Penny were doing having dinner together last night? You know the not-date,” he adds, air quoting the last part.
“Jack,” I say in warning.
“I mean, it’s obvious youwereon a date, which is cool, I get it,” he says, apparently ignoring me. “What I want to know is why you’re saying it wasn’t a date? Why are you so against dating her? You obviously like her and from what Lu says, it’s pretty clear she likes you too, so—”
“Wait, what?” I ask.
Jack grins. “I knew you fucking liked her!” he half shouts, as he fist pumps the air.
“Shut up,” I say, my jaw tight.
Jack glances around at the empty fields before turning back to me. “Why are you so anti-Penny?”
“I’m not,” I reply, my tone a little defensive.
“Oh really?” he asks sarcastically, his eyes wide and letting me know he doesn’t believe me.
I let out a frustrated exhale, shoving a hand through my hair as we continue to walk over to Apple Jacks. “I’m not anti-Penny,” I repeat, having no idea why I’m even having this conversation. “I’m just…just…”
“Full sentences, Tommy,” Jack says. “I can’t help if you don’t form full and coherent sentences.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my head at him as I finally just blurt out, “Look, I like her, okay? She’s fun and easy to talk to and we have a great time together.”
“But…” Jack says, rolling his hand in front of us as though to encourage me.
“But she works here,” I say.
Jack stops walking as he turns to face me, his hands on his head and his jaw hanging open. “Oh my fucking god,” he says dramatically. “She works here, shit, well that’s totally killed that idea, I meanimagine,” he says, emphasizing the last word, “actually falling for your co-worker. Shit.”
He shakes his head, a grimace on his face as he watches me. I know he’s being a sarcastic smart ass right now, that he of all people is walking proof of how two people can work and live together.
But it’s different for them.
“Fuck off,” I mumble as we both start walking again.
Jack chuckles. “Tell me what the real reason is,” he says, serious now. “I promise I won’t take the piss.”
I suck in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I contemplate admitting my real reasons for why I’m hesitant to get involved with Pen. Eventually, I just say it, figuring at this point, I’ve got nothing to lose.
“She’s ten years younger than me, Jack,” I blurt out, my gaze fixed on the cider house up ahead. “We’re at different stages of life, want different things. It wouldn’t work and when she left, I’d…”
I trail off, not wanting to admit how shit it will be the day Penny realizes there’s a whole world out there. A world that’s infinitely more exciting than living and working at a winery, where the closest town has a population of like eighty thousand, all of whom basically live and breathe wine making.
“Okay, first up,” Jack starts, reminding me he’s still here and I’ve just spilled my guts to him. “The age thing is bullshit. It’s just a number, Tommy and it doesn’t mean anything. I mean you think for one second that anyone really cares about the age?”
I shrug, knowing that when it came to Wine Queen, I was apparently okay with the whole age gap thing. But is Penny really okay with it? Will she still be okay with it in ten years when I’m in my forties?
“Right, so I’ll take that as a no. As for the other stuff, what makes you think Penny’s gonna leave?” he asks. “And even if she does, why can’t you go with her?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble, knowing I don’t really have any excuse other than I have a house and a job here, which suddenly sounds stupid when I consider the bigger picture.
