“Pierce, I appreciate that you want me to help, but I have a job. I like what I do.”
“But that isn’t where you belong,” he argues and takes a step forward. “This is what we’ve always known we were supposed to do.”
Paula takes a moment to look at each of her siblings, then her parents, studying their expressions. All of them seem to be embarrassed but also hopeful. She doesn’t acknowledge me, though.
She turns her focus to her big brother. “I’ll think about it. Will that satisfy you for now?”
He nods. “We have time. I only wanted to see where you stand.”
“Thanks.”
She doesn’t argue with him, or tell him how she really feels about working in the winery. She gives him an answer to put it off. All this tells me is she will likelyend up doing something she isn’t passionate about to appease her family.
After everything she’s told me, she still can’t stand up to them. It looks like they were getting into a much better place. Like maybe Pierce wasn’t going to put pressure on her to do this. I know I said I wasn’t going to fight her battles for her, but damn it. I can’t let her do this. But I’m not an asshole, unlike her brother. I’ll wait until we’re alone to see what the hell she’s thinking. Until we go to bed, the only thing I can do is grin and bear it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
paula
Leaveit to my brother to single me out in front of everyone. I don’t know why I expected any less. This was exactly the kind of thing he would do. He knows I won’t say no in front of everyone. I felt Tristan’s body stiffen the moment I said I’d think about it.
A small part of me thought he’d step in. That he’d tell my brother where to shove it, but he didn’t. It’s not his fault. He told me he wouldn’t. He said he’d be by my side for support, but I would have to take the last steps on my own.
“I’m gonna hit the hay,” Dad says and stands. “We have to be out of here early in the morning and I don’t want to wake up late.”
The rest of us follow suit. Mom grabs the glasses off the coffee table and takes them to the kitchen. Piper jumps up to help her. Maybe she feels the tension hanging in the air since Pierce’s little speech, despite all of us doing our best to ignore it.
Tristan and I head to our room. As much as I want to delay the inevitable, I know there’s about to be a showdown. I only hope we can come through it without destroying the both of us.
I walk into the room and begin putting away the things gathered earlier. The drive home is going to be awkward no matter what happens tonight, and I want to get out of here as soon as possible. If it wasn’t so late, I’d suggest we leave tonight. Forget that little comment ever happened.
The door clicks shut behind me. It takes him all of two seconds to open his mouth. “What the hell was that?”
“Do we really have to do this right now?”
“When else do we suggest we discuss it?” He’s frustrated, and I don’t blame him. I would be if the roles were reversed.
“I would be good if we never brought it up again. It’s not like I’m going to go through with it.” I keep packing as if there isn’t a five hundred pound weight on me.
“That’s too bad, Paula.” I feel his hands on my shoulders, but he doesn’t force me to turn around. He’s waiting for me to take the step. Even when he’s upset with me, he doesn’t force anything on me.
“Look, I know that didn’t go down how either of us wanted, but he put me on the spot. What was I supposed to do?”
As much as I want to turn around, let him wrap his arms around me, and comfort me, I won’t. Mostly because I can’t stand to see the disappointment, I knowis written all over his face. I’m the one who put it there, and I don’t have the stomach to face the fact I disappointed yet another person.
“You were supposed to tell them you don’t want to be a part of the company.”
“It’s not that easy when your entire family is in the room.” As much as he’s trying to help, this isn’t something he’ll ever understand. He doesn’t have a massive family. He also doesn’t have a family that’s owned a company for multiple generations. The ability to stand up to all of them at once is terrifying.
“I get th?—”
“No, you don’t.” How could he? “When you’ve been in the same position as me, then you can have commentary on how I handle it.”
He says nothing and I know I’ve punched him in the gut. Now, I turn around. I need to see him.
“Damn it, Paula. I’m not trying to be like your brother. But that was part of the deal. You would finally stand up for yourself.”
So, he was waiting until he had my full attention to act like an ass.
