Page 68 of This Thing Between Us

“Fine, fine, fine.Mercy,” I yelled right into her ear, forcing her to release me.

Savannah sat back on her heels, the picture of innocence.

“You’re the worst. You know that, right?”

My sister huffed. “Oh, please. You’re the grown ass woman who can’t handle being tickled. That’s on you.” She crossed her arms, waiting for me to finally spill the beans.

I took my time getting comfortable again, tucking the sheets and warm duvet under myself like a cocoon.

It didn’t help my nerves.

“What happened between you and Jack?” my sister asked, humor no longer in her voice. Her brows were pinched and her lips thin as a line. She was worried about me.

I cleared my throat. “Well, we were looking at venues, as you know.” Savannah nodded and made the motion for me to continue my story. “And we kind of got trapped at his vineyard during the tornado warning.” I started to fill her in and then thought about something. “Wait a minute, you knew Jack owned a winery and you didn’t tell me? Why is that?”

Savannah glared at me. “Every time I’ve tried to bring up Jack over the past ten years you turned into a toddler, covering your ears and screaming until I changed the subject.”

It was my turn to look a little sheepish. “I’mnotthat bad.”

Savannah leveled me a look that said,uh, yes you are.

“He’s been like a brother to me, and I feel like I’m in the middle of this ridiculous civil war between you two. I’m tired of being in this position because you are too stubborn to sit down and have a conversation with him.”

I crossed my arms. “I did have a conversation with him.”

Savannah jumped off the bed. “You did? This is incredible! Unless it’s not since you practically ran away from him once you got here.”

“Well, that’s because I need to process things.”

Savannah nodded. “Processing is good. That’s healthy. Running away from Jack again, though, please don’t do that. Take the night, but then you need to face him tomorrow.”

I nodded, my younger sister treating me like she was the grown up in the situation.

She pointed to my mouth. “Well at least this explains why your teeth are a little purple.” I immediately covered my mouth with my hand, then pulled out my phone and switched on selfie mode to look at the damage.

Damn, she wasn’t exaggerating.

Savannah pulled a blanket off the end of the bed, covering herself with it. “What exactly happened when you got to the vineyard?”

I smiled a little, thinking about how beautiful the tasting room was and how relieved I had been to learn that Jack didn’t actually sleep with Katie Kooney on grad night. Well, relieved and foolish for not at least trying to let him explain himself. For never even giving him the opportunity.

I blinked away the tears.

“We toured the space before bunkering down in the cellar. It’s stunning and definitely where we are going to host the gala, but since we had to stay down there for so long, Jack made sure I tried the wines. We caught up as we did.”

Savannah’s face lit up. “It’s about damn time.”

I put my hand out. “Slow your roll.”

Savannah shot me an exasperated look. She leaned in. “So…what did he say to you?”

I swallowed. “He told me he didn’t sleep with Katie Kooney on grad night.” Something flashed quickly across Savannah’s face. One second it was there, the next it was gone. I got the sense she had already known this, but maybe it was something else.

I bit my lip, not sure if I wanted to tell her this, but I needed to tell someone.

“And he kissed me.” I shut my eyes, then slowly opened one to gauge her reaction.

“AHHHH, that’s amazing!” She screamed, bouncing on the bed and happy as a kid on Christmas morning.

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