Page 18 of Love Among Vines

“Oh, I?—”

“Jade.” Someone tapped her shoulder. Her heart lifted an inch, and she turned, half-expecting to find Rett. But no. It was just Nate.

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if I could talk to you for a second.”

The word no was on the tip of her tongue. Which was the lesser of two evils—an uncomfortable chat with Nate or being grilled by a bunch of adults who were perpetually disappointed in her?

She glanced across the table at Kenya with a plea in her eye.

Kenya screamed, and the dinner party crashed to a halt.

One of the groomsmen ducked under the table. Camila leapt onto her chair. Everyone else frantically searched the room.

“What? What is it?” Ashley’s dad, Frank, had jumped out of his seat with his hand on his hip. Had he really brought a gun to the table? What kind of trouble was he expecting in a pink bed-and-breakfast in the middle of wine country?

“Sorry, I thought I saw a mouse. But I think it was just a shadow.”

There was a collective sigh of relief. Several people chuckled.

“Thank you,” Jade mouthed across the table. Surely that was enough of a diversion to keep anyone else from asking more questions.

Kenya nodded and raised her glass in a silent toast.

“Jade?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. She whirled around again. Nate was still standing there. Her hand curled into a fist.

“Yes?”

“Can we? Talk?”

She would rather be tossed face-first into a dumpster outside a daycare.

“I really don’t think that’s appropriate,” she said in a low voice.

“Come on. Please?”

He looked sincere. But he had also looked sincere the day he asked her to move in with him.

“What were we talking about? Before the imaginary mouse? Oh, right.” Ashley’s mom turned back to Jade, a question on her lips.

“Fine,” Jade said to Nate. She pushed her chair back and stood up before she could change her mind.

“Maybe outside would be best?” he asked.

“Whatever.”

She followed him on a winding path through the dining area and outside. It had started to rain at some point, so they were trapped under the awning. Perfect.

“Sorry. I know my dad can be a lot.” He smoothed a hand over his slicked-back hair and set his gaze on her.

Those blue eyes used to make her come undone. Now they just made her want to lace up boxing gloves.

“It’s fine. I knew I’d get the third degree all weekend long.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared across the rows of cars. Vehicles zipped by on the highway, but there was no view of the lake from here to soothe her frazzled nerves.

She had been so stupid to agree to this.

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