“Romance.”
”—writing ways.“ I plop onto my bed with a dramatic flair that will make Macy proud. “What if she says something to me?”
“So what if she does?” Macy sits beside me. “You have people who support you, Sadie. Me, Isabel, Mateo—“
“Mateo,” I say his name without meaning to.
“Yeah, Mateo.” Macy’s eyebrow arches. “Who stayed on your couch last night. Again. And who has been at the shop every single morning this week. He’s literally been your personal security guard most days.”
“He’s a good friend.”
“Sure, that’s what we’ll call him for now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just that he’s areallygood friend who looks at you like you’re the only person in the room. A good friend who drops everything to rescue you from your toxic ex last night, and he would have, too, if you hadn’t gotten rid of Owen yourself. A good—“
“Okay, I get it.” My cheeks flush. “Can we not do this right now?”
“Fine. But for the record? If a man that hot looked at me the way Mateo looks at you, I would not be calling him a good friend. I’d be screaming his name in bed while he rammed into me without a degree of gentleness or mercy.” She stands, pulling me with her. “Now come on. We’re going to Sips & Stars. We’re going to drink wine, look at the sky, and if Judith says one word to you, I’m going to accidentally spill Cabernet on her white blazer.”
I laugh. “She loves that fuckin’ blazer.”
“Yeah, well, I hate it.” Macy pulls me toward the door. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”
We hop in her car and drive to Sunset Mesa Winery. It feels weird, though, being in her car and not Mateo’s truck.
The winery is beautiful at night. String lights crisscross the outdoor courtyard where round tables are scattered beneath a wooden pergola draped with grapevines. The air has that desert evening warmth that lingers even after sunset, and overhead, the first stars are appearing in the darkening sky above the Red Rock Cliffs.
I spot Isabel first. She waves from a table near the edge of the courtyard, two wine glasses already waiting.
“Sadie! Macy! Over here!”
We weave through the crowd. I recognize most of the faces—some smile and wave, others pretend not to see me. Mrs. Patterson from the other day walks past without acknowledgment, her lips spread flat in a disapproving line.
I force myself to keep walking.
“Ignore them,” Macy mutters.
When we reach the table, Isabel pulls me into a quick hug. “You made it! I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“But you did. That’s what matters.” She pushes a glass of wine toward me. “Drink. It’ll help.”
I take a sip. It’s smooth and warm.
“Where’s Mateo?” Macy asks, scanning the courtyard.
“He texted. Said he’d be here soon. He said he had to get something before coming—“ Isabel stops mid-sentence, her eyes going wide. “Oh.”
I turn to follow her gaze.
Mateo is making his way through the crowd toward our table.
And beside him, pulling a small carry-on suitcase, is Jess.
My body hums with joy.
