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“Listen, Tom,” Jack says, putting a hand on my shoulder as we reach the front doors of the cider house. “When Lu was finally ready to admit she fancied me and we got together, you think she wasn’t scared about the fact that I was here on a working visa? That I had a life and a job and whatever back in Oz?”
He pauses as though waiting for my answer and all I can do is lift a shoulder as though to say, I don’t know.
“She was, okay? Terrified of it actually.”
“And?” I finally ask. “What’d you say to her to convince her?”
Jack grins, dropping his hand from my shoulder. “Well, I mean, please, I’m pretty convincing already,” he says, even as I roll my eyes at his arrogance. “But what I told her and what I still mean to this day is that my home is withher. And it doesn’t matter where that is, here, back in Oz or on the fucking moon, as long as I’m with her, I’m good. More than good.”
I don’t say anything as Jack’s words roll around inside my head, taunting me with the possibility that they could be real.
“I’m not saying it’s easy being away from my friends and family and sure there are times when I miss living in Australia, but at the end of the day, Lu means more to me than any of that. And hey, we go back there at least once a year, so you know, it’s not like I never get to see the place.”
He moves to the doors, unlocking them as we both walk inside. I still haven’t said anything in response to his advice and to be honest, I’m not even sure I know what to say. My mind is a swirling mess of thoughts and questions and possibilities and I can’t even begin to process if I could risk trying what he’s suggesting.
“Oh, and one more thing,” he says as he throws the keys onto the bar. “Pen’s a catch, Tommy. Everyone knows that. If you don’t do something soon, I can guarantee someone else will.”
It’s early afternoon by the time Jack and I finish up and while we didn’t speak any more about the whole Penny situation, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about all the things he said to me.
I know Penny’s a catch, I mean fuck, she’s gorgeous, she’s easy going, she’s fun to be around, great to talk to and shit…amazing in bed too. I’d be stupid to ignore all of that and the chemistry that I know is between us.
And the thought of her with someone else, of having to watch them together…fuck, it’s more than I can bear.
I spend the whole walk back to Somerville’s trying to convince myself that I’m doing the right thing by not pursuing anything with Penny. But my brain apparently doesn’t get the memo when I walk right past my car and into the winery, my feet carrying me straight toward the tasting room.
There’s still another couple of hours or so until we close and the place is pumping when I walk inside. I stop in the doorway and watch as Penny moves between the groups at the bar area, a smile on her face and a bottle of wine in each hand.
She’s a natural at this type of thing, engaging the customers and keeping them happy, all while keeping track of which wines they’ve tasted, and which ones are next.
Just as I’m about to walk over, I spy that little shit Dylan behind the counter, his eyes on Penny even as he pretends to be working.
Scowling, I walk over, moving behind the bar as I walk up to him. “What are you doing here?” I whisper, my words low.
Dylan glances up, a surprised look on his face. “Helping out,” he says. “Pen’s getting slammed and Terra’s out sick or something. I thought I’d—”
“You thought you’d come in here and help, huh?” I say, air quoting the word help. “Or is it more like—”
My words are cut off though when Penny suddenly grabs my arm and yanks me away. I don’t miss the jolt of electricity that shoots up my arm at her touch, the way her fingers feel curled around my wrist as she practically drags me toward the back storeroom.
“What are you doing?” she hisses, her brows narrowed.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I scowl.
Penny throws her hands up. “What are you talking about?”
I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest as I tilt my head toward the door. “Dylan’s just here helping out, is he?” I ask.
Penny shakes her head, shoving me a little as she leans in and says, “He is actually.”
“Right,” I say, dragging the word out. “Pretty sure helping out is not the end game here.”
“Oh my god, Tommy,” she half shouts. “He’s just been dumped by this girl. He wants her back. He was actually here asking me for ideas on how to do that when it got busy. Now if you don’t mind.”
She moves to walk past me, her shoulder brushing mine. Before she can though, I take a step sideways so I’m standing in front of her. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly, knowing that was a total overreaction on my part. “I was…”
“Being a dick?” she suggests.
I shrug, even though that’s probably a pretty fair description.
