Nope. I couldn’t stay in this room all night.
I grabbed the itinerary from the desk. Evening winery tour with paired dinner. 5:45 p.m. departure. That was in fifteen minutes.
If I hurried…
I brushed on some mascara, dabbed on lip gloss, fluffed my curls with my fingers, and added a spritz of perfume I’d almost forgotten I packed.
And when I stepped outside, the bus was still rumbling in front of the hotel.
Guess I was going to the winery after all.
DANGEROUSLY DRINKABLE
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d come.”
Tay’s tone wasn’t accusatory. Just shocked.
I gave her a small shrug because I didn’t want it to be a big deal. “Had a second wind.”
The bus buzzed with chatter. Everyone was a little more dressed up than usual—lipstick, flowy tops, freshly pressed capris—and the air held a whiff of perfume that reminded me of my mom.
Babs was sitting with Mrs. Grady again, a bright green scarf tied around her riotous gray curls, and let out a little cheer. “I knew you’d rally!”
But when my eyes landed on the seats across the aisle—the ones Noah had shared with me the day before—they were both empty.
The only other vacant spots were Roger and Helen’s.
Did my grin maybe fall just a little?
Maybe.
If Noah was late, he was really late. Because I’d almost been late. And Tay’s schedule didn’t leave much room for error.
“You look so pretty tonight!” Marla smiled from her spot beside her sister.
“Thanks,” I murmured, sliding into the window seat and placing my bag on the floor. I stupidly left the other seat open.
For Noah.
You know, in case.
“Helen texted me this afternoon,” Josie said. “Roger’s doing fine but she’s terribly disappointed to have to miss the rest of the trip, so I promised we’d post lots of pictures in the group.”
“Is everybody ready for a little wine tasting tonight?” Tay’s voice rang out over her microphone.
The bus door hissed closed.
The engine roared to life.
I instinctively raised my hand to say something—what, I wasn’t sure—but then let it drop.
“Isn’t Noah coming?” Babs asked, saving me from having to.
Bless her.
Mrs. Grady looked up from rummaging through her handbag. “He said he needed to make a few phone calls tonight.”
She didn’t look at me when she said it.
