Page 1 of Meet Me in the Vines
Chapter One
AUDREY
10 YEARS AGO
“Donovan James King.”
The entire auditorium erupts in a rip-roaring cheer. Oakwood Valley’s golden boy struts down the stage with his winning grin, flashing his charm and confidence all over the place. The entire soccer team is pumping their fists as they chant his name. The administrative staff applaud with endearing respect—I swear I even saw a tear or two shed by the PTA moms. There’s no use in holding back my smile. The boy is contagious. That’s what the Donovan King effect does to you.
Donovan strides over to Mr. Frommling, earning a beam of pride from Oakwood Valley’s notoriously tough-nut principal with a firm handshake.
Stop thinking about what else those hands can do, Audrey.
My heart races as I watch him take his diploma and pump his fist over his head, exposing his perfectly sinewy forearm. Instinctively, I lick my lips.
“I love you, Mom!” he yells into the crowd of families, causing a wave of laughs and sighs of adoration. I turn aroundto see my grandparents sitting near Donovan’s family. We lock eyes and I give an enthusiastic wave in their direction. The smile in their eyes says it all. My heart instantly warms at the glow on their faces as they blow me a kiss. I blow a kiss in return, turning around in my seat to face the stage.
A swarm of butterflies takes flight in my stomach as I observe Donovan warmly hugging his teachers and sharing high-fives with our peers on his way off the stage.
He shuffles his way through a row of classmates to get back to his seat, beaming a smile that has my heart going a mile a minute.
My attention draws to Jess Taylor and Rosie Teak sitting in front of me, whispering salaciously to each other.
“Are you gonna hook up with Donovan at his grad party tonight?” Rosie smirks at Jess. Jess has the attention of every boy in this town. Her silky blonde locks cascade down her slender shoulders, stopping past her massive tits—like DDs since the seventh grade. Icy blue eyes frame the feminine features on her face: a perfectly slant nose and full lips. It’s so annoying how hot she is. Not only does she have the beauty, she’s got the brains too. Oh, and money. Lots of it.
Her family owns the largest vineyard operation in Oakwood Valley, sitting pretty on a whopping two hundred and fifty acres. Although we live in a small town, wine country competition is a real thing. Donovan’s family has the second largest vineyard, automatically crowning them the Napa County Prince and Princess. Gag. Officially, they never dated—but the rumor mill would have you believe otherwise.
“Oh my god, Rosie, have some class,” Jess says sarcastically, giggling under her breath. “But yes,” she whispers with a hair toss, “I am totally gonna go all the way with him tonight.”
I roll my eyes and feel a sudden wave of sadness—and a bit of jealousy. I never get invited to parties; I didn’t even know theKings were throwing one. And that says a lot, considering how small our town is. I only have myself to blame for not trying hard enough to put myself out there these past four years. It wasn’t like Gran and Pop were keeping me from socializing or anything. I just preferred the company of characters in books and getting lost in whatever world I was imagining versus my reality. I truly only had one real friend, and she moved to Texas our sophomore year. She was the only one who could get me out of my books. Well, her…and a certain blue-eyed boy who holds the entire town in the palm of his hand.
Donovan King has been every girl’s crush since elementary school. Including mine. Still is. There’s no way to avoid his effortless charm—how it naturally drapes around him like a superhero cape—or his stunning smile that makes the world rotate on its axis. The best part about him? Zero god complex. Not an ounce of conceit in his gorgeous body, even if it looks like it’s been sculpted by Zeus himself. Anytime he’s in my vicinity, on a scale of one to can’t function? I’m at can’t fucking function.
I fidget with the ends of my academic cord wrapped around my neck, my eyes fixed on Donovan in the distance as he laughs with the classmates near him. I’d love to make him laugh one day. Those dimples he sports would be the death of me. I’ve always loved those dimples.
The first time I saw them, I was sitting on the balcony outside my room reading a book when I heard footsteps approaching below. I glanced up for a moment to see the sweetest matching dimples smiling at my pop. My first glimpse of Donovan King. And lucky me, I got to steal plenty of looks at Donovan, both at school and when he’d come to our estate to work with his dad. My family’s winery uses the King’s grapes for production and has for generations.
Although we ran in different circles, our interactions were subtle, yet memorable. At least for me. It’d be brief exchangesof kind smiles or a simple“hey”in the classes we shared. Every time it made my heart flutter.
My shoulders jump as the announcer lists off the Ws, directing us to stand from our chairs and head towards the stage. “You can do this, Audrey,” I whisper to myself. I chose a low, chunky heel this morning to prevent myself from eating shit on stage. I summon all the confidence within me, proud of my achievement of graduating Summa Cum Laude at the top of our class.
“Isabel Nicole Whitt.” Shit. I’m next.
Feet don’t fail me now.
I take a deep breath, roll my shoulders back, and steel my spine. I scan the crowd to find my grandparents. As my eyes wander, a beautiful set of blue eyes finds mine. Donovan is smiling at me. That irresistible, impossible-not-to-faint smile. Time stands still. He’s clapping, our gazes locked onto one another. The beauty of this boy is so unfair. God truly has his favorites. The sound in the gym dampens as Donovan and I hold each other in an intense stare. My mouth falls open as I bite my lower lip, utterly captivated by his deep, blue gaze. His hand motions forward while he mouths, “Go!”
“Ahem…Audrey Wren Winthrop.”
I snap out of my trance and awkwardly hustle along the stage, stumbling when I get to Mr. Frommling. Kill me now. The principal catches my arm and stabilizes me, giving me a concerned smile. I don’t make eye contact out of embarrassment, ignoring the raucous sound of my classmates’ laughter. I shake his hand with haste, grab my diploma, and get the fuck off stage. I slink back to my seat, cheeks burning with humiliation.
I see Jess and Rosie whisper something to each other, look back at me, then laugh again. An unexpected wave of rage surfaces.
“Something funny?” I ask.
They turn back, shocked that I’m talking to them.
“Excuse me? Are you talking to us?” Jess asks with her eyebrows nearly up to her hairline.
