Page 31 of Bordeaux Bombshell
“You alright, sugar?” Shelby, June’s wife, tugs on my hand to get my attention. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I let hersouthern drawl soothe me as she fusses until I sit beside her. She pours fresh tea into her cup and slides it toward me.
“Thanks.” I take it and sip, marveling for a moment that I’m sitting next to the woman June left Kel for, and we’re all here to celebrate his new life. I don’t want to admit that I know who Manon is, or why I care so much about her being here, so I change the subject. “Did you ever think we’d all be here one day?”
June, Kel, and Shelby are exceptions to the rule—there’s no way a normal person wouldn’t struggle with seeing their ex move on. And it’s definitely out of the ordinary to not only be okay with them creating a whole new family, but to be at the bridal shower? I can only imagine they’re here for Olive’s sake.
Shelby looks around, then smiles. “Well, why ever not? Kel is such a lovely person. He deserves an amazing woman like Maggie. We just love her, don’t we, honey?”
June leans forward to peer at me around Shelby. “We love Maggie and Kel together. She’s so good for him.”
Shaking my head, I excuse myself to hit up the bar I spotted in the corner. I need a drink if I’m going to deal with Manon being here. Settling in front of the marble bar top, I scan the bottles on the shelves behind the bartender. A workmanlike apron covers his striped shirt but not the sleeve of tattoos decorating his left arm.
“Wine? Champagne?” He offers me one of the already poured flutes, but I wave it away. “Something stronger?”
“No wine.” Anything to distract myself from once again thinking about Nate and Sunshine Cellars. “A gin and tonic, please.” Turning, I press my back to the bar to see if there’s anyone else I can take refuge with. Unfortunately, none of these women look like they want to talk about anything besides marriage and men—two topics I refuse to entertain today.
It’s bad enough that my brother is the topic of so much conversation. If the talk drifts to his best man—i.e., the man who fucked my brains out and then invited another woman to stay with him five minutes later—I can’t be held responsible for my actions.
Olive weaves through the tables, followed by a taller girl who looks vaguely familiar. When they stop at the table in front of Mom and Jackie, I realize she must be Maggie's niece, Ava. She has the same dark hair as Daisy, Maggie, and Ophie, the same heart-shaped face and small nose.
“Here you go, ma’am.” A tumbler appears beside me, fizzing delightfully.
“Thanks.” I turn my back on the shower and rest my elbows on the bar top, needing a break from the sweet and innocent atmosphere, even though I just got here. “You do a lot of bridal showers here?”
He shakes his head. “I just started working here last month—this is my first.” He glances around. “Are they always this…flowery?”
I take a long sip of my drink, letting the bite of the gin pull at the back of my throat. “No idea. Before today, I’ve only been to a baby shower, and I was in high school at the time.” A thought occurs to me, and I giggle, nearly inhaling carbonation up my nose. “Both showers have been for my big brother, actually.”
“None for you?” He pulls a glass out of the tray and starts wiping at the inside.
I snort and take another sip of my drink. “I’d have to be in a relationship longer than forty-eight hours for one of these shindigs.”
“You’ve never been in a relationship? I find that hard to believe. You’re gorgeous. How has no one snapped you up?” Glass polished, he sets it down before picking up another and doing the same.
It’s not strictly true. There was Josh in high school, who I dated for a few months despite Nate scaring him off and stealing my first kiss for himself. But high school boyfriends don’t really count. And the few guys I’d let take me out in college never had a chance—I was too hung up on my brother’s best friend.
And now?
Now I’m too angry to let a man into my life.
Especially Nate.
A loud voice calls everyone to attention. I turn back to the room to listen as Maggie’s sister Daisy explains the rules of some game we’re supposed to play. There’s a scramble for chairs, but I’m slowed down when I grab a champagne glass to add to my half-empty G&T. Every seat I try for is claimed until I reluctantly slide into the last open seat.
“Oh, ’allo. I’m Manon.” She holds out a hand for me to shake, her accent even more gorgeous close up. I’ve only ever seen her in photos or from afar, but it’s the same aquiline nose, tanned skin, and dark brown hair that’s been etched into my memory for years. She genuinely doesn’t seem to know who I am, and I can’t tell if I’m upset or relieved.
Taking a deep breath, I hold out my hand. “I’m Kel’s sister. Sydney. Nice to meet you.” There’s the tiniest squint of recognition around Manon’s eyes, but she clears it immediately. Again, I’m not sure how to feel about it, other than a bone-deep need to understand what was so charming about this woman that had Nate wrapped up in her arms not even a month after he’d told me he would never love anyone else.
“So lovely to meet you. Greg and Jackie have told me so much about you.” Her smile seems genuine, but I don’t believe it for a second. Greg and Jackie? Not Nate?
“Okay, ladies. My helpers are going to pass around this little quiz to see who knows the groom best.” Daisy’s voice cuts off anymore conversation, and Olive eagerly slips papers to the trollop and me before twirling away.
“Hmm, I do not know Kel very well. I think this might be a challenge.” Manon laughs, the twinkling sound grating on every nerve in my body.
“Have you never met him?” I can feign innocence too, bitch.
“Non, I am here visiting the Ridgefields. Jackie invited me to join in today.”
Swallowing a snort of disbelief, I scan the sheet to see how easy the questions are going to be.
