“Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m caught up on orders. I can hang out up here with you all day.”
There’s no point in fighting heron this. She will do what she says. At least until I open up. She always has to play mother hen to everyone. It’s not a bad thing, it’s who she is. It used to be my role in my family until I got tired of babying grown adults. Although, I never had to do that with Pierce. He’s above all that if you ask anyone. Even when he did need help, I was too intimidated to do anything.
“What is it that you want to know?” Maybe if I open up a tiny bit, she won’t pry too much.
“What happened on your trip? I mean you weren’t exactly a ball of sunshine when you went, but you weren’t this, either.” She waves her hand toward me. “Did Tristan do something to upset you? Or, was it something with your family.”
Damn. She hit the nail on the head. Sometimes I wonder if she’s psychic. She always seems to know what people are going through without them saying anything. It’s one of the many things that make her a great step-mom.
“Both?” I groan before placing my arms on the counter and burying my face in them.
“Can you elaborate?”
It would be so much easier to do this without facing her, but I know she won’t be able to hear anything I say. Kai has the music up louder than normal which is irritating. But I’m pretty sure he’s doing it to get under his sister’s skin. The joys of having siblings. Lifting my head, I turn toward her.
“I should have never taken Tristan as my fakeboyfriend. Not when I started having feelings for him prior to going, and knowing he had feelings for me. Even though we became an actual couple while down there.”
Her grin speaks volumes. “That’s amazing.” But when she sees my face, she back tracks. “Or, maybe it’s not?”
“No, it is. But we both made some missteps, and now I don’t know where we stand.”
“Have you talked to him about it?” It’s the obvious question, I know that. But it doesn’t make it sting any less.
“Um, no?” I tighten my ponytail then take a sip of water to stall. “I don’t like confrontation. He pretty much put the ball in my court. I’m so used to trying to please everyone, I don’t know if that’s the only reason I want to be with him, or if I need to figure out my own shit. I’ve never done this whole relationship thing.”
“You should probably talk to him.” She doesn’t say anything for a few moments. “And how did things go with your family?”
“Shockingly, most of the time was fun. There were two instances with my big brother that weren’t great. One led to an argument with Tristan. And here I am.”
“Is he still pressuring you to work at Starlit Fields?”
“Yep. And I told him I’d think about it. Which isn’t exactly true, and why Tristan was upset.”
Emily scrunches her eyebrows together. “Why would that matter to him?”
“It was one of the conditions we had before we left.He would go as my fake boyfriend if I told my family how I really felt about working at the winery.” In the end I didn’t fulfill my part of the bargain.
“I see.” She taps her fingers on the counter. “Do you love him?”
“Pierce? Of course, I do. He’s my brother.”
She gives me a pointed stare. I know who she meant, but I don’t know if I’m ready to cross that emotional bridge. Maybe if I wait her out, I won’t have to answer.
The look is so much like the one my mom used to give me when I was teenager, I break within minutes. “Fine. I don’t know if it’s full-fledged love. But I do know I was, am, falling hard for him. The entire trip he always put me first. My well-being, my decisions, all of it.”
She glances over at my phone and points to it. “I hate to break it to you, but that is far more than falling. You really need to talk to him and set things straight. Trust me, I know all about not talking about things. You don’t want to go down that road and have regrets.”
She’s told me about what happened with her and Alex. It was all because of some bullshit her dad did, and he was a scared teenager. Actually, now that I think about it, him and Tristan are a lot alike. I’ve always been slightly envious of her relationship. Except when something similar happens with me, I push it away with everything I have. I’m so not normal.
“I’ll talk to him. But, I may need some supplies before I do.”
“Just name it.” She slides off the stool, and turns forthe hallway. “I should probably go back to building orders.”
“I thought you didn’t have anything to do.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I had a feeling you needed my time more.”
With that parting remark, she walks away. She really is a psychic. Now to figure out a way to talk to Tristan without getting defensive. That will be my biggest hurdle yet.
