Page 21 of Wassailing We Will Go
Oh, he is one hundred percent scared of you, says Harrison.
What, why?
I guess you guys met at a winery show a few months back? And after you introduced yourself and got to chatting, you got right into business lingo, and he was apparently very intimidated. I mean, Ryan went to school for interior design. But I guess all of this is the exact opposite of what you just told me to do, he says. Cider business stays with you, friend stuff stays with them. Gotcha. He gives me a thumbs-up.
I’m sorry, I say. They seem nice and like good friends. I just need to do what’s best for the cidery.
I get that, he says. And they are good friends. When Emma broke up with me a few weeks ago, Ryan invited me to come here as soon as the season over there was over. I loved BC, but I needed to get out of there. I mean, Emma was the bartender at my favourite pub, so I didn’t even have that going for me after the breakup. Coming out here, especially for Christmas, for a lifesaver, honestly.
I’m sorry. That is shitty, I agree. I went through a breakup this year, too, but it was months ago now, and honestly, it was probably for the best. Yours sounds worse.
Not a competition, he says with a shrug. But for the record, if it was, I’d totally win. She started dating her boss.
I gasp audibly, both out of concern for Harrison and because, honestly, this level of drama is on par with the yacht reality TV show.
Also, sorry, that was the turn. I’m still a little buzzed and forgot I was supposed to be giving you directions, he adds, rubbing his temple. I slow and do a three-point turn, except it’s actually like a nine-point turn because it’s dark, and I’m nervous about ending up in a ditch. When the car’s turned all the way around, I pull over to the shoulder and idle for a moment. I know it’s bad for the environment, but I need a moment here to process all this without having to worry about driving into a deer.
I’m…sorry. I’m glad you came here, though. And…I’m grateful to Ryan and Britt for bringing you here. Let me think about the party thing some more, okay? I sigh.
That’s really nice of you, but I didn’t tell you my sob story to win points for them, he says. Just thought I’d fill you in on what you’re dealing with over here. As he says this, he gestures to his whole general self.
I mean, you’ve been great on the job so far, I say. Haven’t been crying into the cider hardly at all.
He laughs. I’m fine at work. It feels the most natural thing in the world to be back out in the orchards and in the cidery. I’m more telling you all of this…for you. Just in case you’d ever like to reconsider our barbecue date. Or any other type of date of your choosing. I mean, not that I’m really selling myself well right now.
I stare ahead for a moment, tapping the wheel with my thumbs. I had been daydreaming about this opportunity, but now that it’s here, all the reasons that this is also a bad idea are flooding my brain.
Harrison, I was pretty sold within four seconds of meeting you. The problem is that eight minutes after meeting you, I offered you a job, and now you’re helping us through what would have been a minor crisis. And then, presumably, you’re leaving? So, there’s…a lot to unpack here, I say and finally turn to meet his gaze. That was all a lot easier to say when I wasn’t looking at his face.
I don’t know what I’m going to do after this, he says. Going back to Penticton is deeply unappealing, I’ll tell you that much. But no, I also can’t promise I’m going to stay in the County forever, either, as it’s still pretty early days here. So, I get not wanting to…go much further here, on a lot of fronts. I shall abstain from any further flirtations, though it will take a lot of personal self-restraint because you’re fun to flirt with, Kate.
I snort at this. Absolutely no one has said that, ever.
It’s true! You ignore it, like, eighty percent of the time, but then when I get a really good one in, your whole face lights up, or you blush, and it’s cute. The odds make it more fun.
Right, so no gambling for you, ever. Also, it’s just that eighty percent of the time, I genuinely don’t realize when someone is flirting with me! I clearly don’t even notice it with you, and you’re a very obvious flirt. Also, you flirt with everyone! I pause and continue. You actually might want to slow down a little on poor Daniel before you really start breaking hearts. Also, Liz from the tasting bar. She had swoony eyes earlier, too, when you complimented her T-shirt.
It was a brilliant shirt, though! It had a quote from Die Hard on it, he protests. I wasn’t even trying to flirt then.
I’m pretty sure you flirt when you breathe, I say. You just sort of radiate an aura of flirtation. It’s charming, and you’re going to make a zillion dollars in tips at the tasting bar. But not everyone’s inoculated to it like I am.
Inoculated. Such a way with words. Like I’m a contagious virus just overtaking the cidery with my excessive flirtation, and only you are immune. Probably after having to hear about my rash so much, which is honestly fair.
Okay, not a good choice of words. I told you I was bad at flirting! I say.
So, you are trying to flirt with me, then. He grins. Wait, sorry, that right there was me flirting, too. I hear it now. Wow. I’m a monster.
Like I said, save it for the tasting bar, and then retire early, I laugh and move the car back into Drive. I should get you home. Which turn was it again?
It was up there, on the left. Well, right now. I mean, now that we’ve turned around, turn right up there. I need more water before I go to bed, he says and leans back in the passenger seat.
Ryan and Britt’s house is only a few more minutes down the road, and we pull into a cute farmhouse bedecked with those retro big-bulb Christmas lights, and it looks for all the world like a Christmas card. As we pull up, a motion-sensor light turns on and floods the place, and we hear a dog bark.
No sneaky entrances here, I say.
None at all, he says. Thanks for the ride home. But, um, just one last thing before I go in. No flirting, all business from now on. Yes?
All business, I confirm. Well, as much as is within your capacity, anyway. And thanks again for saving me up there onstage earlier. And for doing the MCing for the evening. All of tonight, really.
