Page 3 of Lessons in Lemonade

I didn’t expect to feel this way today, and the quicker this passes, the better off we’ll all be.

The hum of an engine catches my attention and I watch as a small tractor makes its way across the back of the property, heading toward the barn. When Shelby was here, she talked about how the people work from sunup to sundown, and even today with the party about to be in full swing, they still aren’t stopping. They never stop. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be to run a place like this, but it’s been in Zach’s family for years, and well, if you tasted his wines, you’d see he was born for this.

Now, this will soon be Shelby’s home, too, as she’s decided to explore new ventures away from the restaurant and away from Charleston.

The restaurant we started together three years ago.

Don’t get me wrong, I am elated for her; I’m just also feeling a little sorry for myself. We met in college and I’ve loved having her by my side for almost ten years, but all good things must come to an end eventually. I’m over the moon for all the exciting opportunities that are coming her way in this next chapter of her life.

As for me, I’ll be all right. I always am.

Remember the lemon martinis?

Tasty, right?

And strong.

I’ve always known working for Food Network was her dream, and I’ve done a great job over the last two years reminding myself of this as she’s begun taking on projects for them and making a name for herself. She is amazing, and it was only a matter of time before they realized it, too. Now that I’ve allowed myself to wallow for these five minutes, I shake out of it, pull my shoulders back, and suck in a deep breath of the lavender-scented air.

Today is her day, and I am officially one hundred percent here for her, just like she has always been there for me.

Walking back into the main tasting room, I find her standing next to Zach, and my heart fills with joy at how stunning they look together. She’s wearing a pale pink dress with a pair of tall sparkly Gianvito Rossi heels, and he’s wearing a gray suit with the top button open on his dress shirt. She looks couture, he looks GQ, and they are smiling at each other like lovestruck goons.

I clear my throat, startling them, and they both turn to look at me. They hadn’t even realized I had joined them.

“Sorry!” Zach says as he holds out his hand. “We haven’t properly met yet. Hi, I’m Zach.” His smile is so large and genuine I falter briefly. No wonder she fell under his spell; when he turns on the charisma, it’s impossible not to feel light-headed.

“Meg. Nice to finally meet you,” I respond, slipping my hand into his. He towers over me, but then again, most do. On my best day, in my tallest shoes, I’m only five-foot-five. “This is quite a place you have here, Zach.” Behind him, sunlight pours in through the arched ornamental windows that line the front wall.

“I think so,” he says proudly as he releases my hand and looks around.

I do the same, taking in more of the details of the tasting room. It’s exquisitely put together, and with its arched ceilings and massive columns, it matches the overall baroque feel one usually sees in European castles.

“Shelby was a lucky girl to get to spend two weeks here. A castle that has endless amounts of free wine—I can’t think of anywhere better.” I wink at her, and we share a knowing, heartfelt look honed over years of friendship. Then I turn back to Zach with a stunning smile of my own.

He laughs, and in my peripheral vision, I see Shelby take in a deep breath. She’s happy that the two of us are getting along. I’m not surprised that we are. She loves him, and I know I’m looking at her future, one I’m so happy for. She deserves this more than anyone I know.

“Actually, I’m the lucky one,” he says affectionately. He pulls his hand out of his pocket and reaches over for one of hers. Bringing it to his mouth, he kisses the back, and she sighs with hearts in her eyes. Peas and carrots, I have heart eyes too.

Love might not be in the cards for me, but it sure looks good on them.

“Zach!” From behind him, he gets slapped on the shoulder, and we turn to see two new guys have approached us.

“Hey, Shelby,” says the tall drink of water with dark hair and deep chocolate eyes as his gaze drops to their connected hands. He grins and gives Zach an I told you so look before turning his attention to me.

Electrical charges start firing, and I feel shocked.

Neither of us moves or says anything, and I can feel all four of them looking at me. This guy . . . his expression slowly brightens as if he’s just found the best piece of candy in the candy shop, and I narrow my eyes in a way that says, Don’t even think about it.

He smirks, completely unfazed by my unspoken warning.

“And hello, gorgeous,” he says smoothly, shifting to face me a little more after the silence between us and the stare-down has stretched into awkwardness.

I’m not normally thrown off by meeting new guys—in fact, I’m known to be a bit of a maneater with my anti-forever policy—but for some reason I can’t get my brain and my tongue to work together right now.

“I’m glad y’all could make it,” Zach says, breaking the silence after I don’t respond. Then he turns toward the second guy, who has yet to say anything.

Tearing my eyes off of Mr. Dark Adonis, I find Mr. Blond Adonis, another handsome addition to the room. Seriously, why is it that the beautiful ones always flock together? Where do they even find each other?