“You say tomato…” He gives me a disparaging look that makes me smile. “Honestly, what do you think it is?”
I think back to the relationship I maintained with my family before my life changed in the last few months. “I’d love to lay the blame completely at Bryce’s feet, but I have to accept some of it as mine.” Disgust fills my voice because I was so wrapped up in pleasing Bryce.
“That happens in relationships,” Troy points out gently.
I let my fork clatter against the side of my plate. “The worst part is they understood. They love me, so they took a step back.” I sigh with regret. “I kept the toxic player in the game and benched some of the best members of my team.”
“Look at you with the sports lingo,” Troy teases. “Next thing you’ll be telling me is you’re going to trade in your telephoto lens for a mic next to the chains.”
“I can see myself now. It’s fourth and ten. Time to send in our special teams for a rescue.”
His eyes meet mine. “Special teams is always game for rescuing the team.”
The air shifts between us, softer yet more charged than it was earlier when Troy offers, “If you want to bring your family here, you know you’re welcome to.”
“That’s a generous offer.” And reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to ask him. “I haven’t seen other guests around. Do you not normally serve them dinner?”
He looks uncomfortable for a moment before admitting, “We don’t usually accept guests at this time of year.”
Say what?
17
FIRST DOWN – OFFENSE SUCCESSFULLY GAINS 10 YARDS.
“What do you mean you normally don’t have guests at this time of year?” Maya demands.
I swallow the rest of my wine in a single gulp, suspecting I’m going to need the fortification. “That’s right.”
Her tone remains calm, but her eyes are anything but. They’re sparking blue flames. Still, she calmly takes a sip ofher own drink before she poses her question. “Why make an exception for me?”
I should have expected Maya would put two and two together. Maybe then I could have eked out a response better than, “It didn’t seem right to say no to one of my friends.”
“It didn’t seemright,” she emphasizes.
“We’re friends.” I want to carve my heart out with a rusty pair of pruning shears. Maya means so much more to me than just a friend, but I don’t want her to latch on to me because I kicked and my shot bounced off the goalpost. No, I want to support her and, if she’s ever ready, tuck her under my arm and run in for a Super Bowl-worthy touchdown. “I wanted you here. It’s no more complicated than that.”
She crosses her arms across her chest. Her voice drips with scorn. “So, you’re giving yourself all this additional work during harvest for little ole’ me?”
“Sounds bad, doesn’t it?” I wince.
“Sure does. Know why?”
“Why?” I’m dreading her answer.
“Because I know if the roles were reversed, and I’d done the same for you, you’d resent me for it. You’d be wondering, like I am right now, if it was pity, for your dearfriend.” Her eyes are feral as she emphasizes the last word.
I open my mouth to respond, but I have no comeback. Because what am I supposed to say? That when I saw her name on the reservation form, I didn’t give a shit if it meant helping the team by harvesting ripe grapes from their vines while carrying Maya on my every second I needed to walk the fields. I wanted her here with me.
I’d do anything to keep her with me, but only if that’s what she wants. Telling my heart to shut up, my mind tries to figure out the right words to placate her. I’m pulled from my desperate musing by the sound of her chair scraping against the stone.
Then her voice comes out, sharp as glass. “Let’s talk about being friends.”
Fuck.
“All night, you’ve been the perfect host?—”
I gulp as she steadily walks around to my side of the table. Her heels rap against the floor in a perfect staccato. Sweat beads on my forehead. “I?—”
